Jennifer Otero to lead Valencia High School as principal

LOS LUNAS — Longtime Los Lunas Schools educator Jennifer Otero has been named the new principal of Valencia High School.

“I have 27 years of experience in public education within Los Lunas Schools, and I am honored to serve this vibrant community and look forward to working collaboratively to support our students’ growth and success,” Otero wrote in a letter shared to the district’s website.

Otero, a lifelong resident of Valencia County, has been assistant principal at VHS for the past four years, alongside VHS assistant principal Paul Carder. She was recently promoted after former VHS principal, Albert Aragon, transitioned to the role of LLS personnel director.

“It has been an honor to work with the amazing people who are committed to all individuals who walk through the doors of (VHS),” read a statement by Aragon, in part. “I specifically would like to thank families for their trust, and allowing us to make decisions in the best interests of our students. I would like to thank staff for their tireless work. I would like to thank students for allowing us to be a part of their growth and success.”

Prior to VHS, Otero taught various grades at the elementary level, and she also worked in health care management for six years. Her education includes a bachelor’s of arts degree in elementary and special education from New Mexico Highland University, a master’s degree in elementary reading education from the University of New Mexico, and a certificate in educational administration from Eastern New Mexico University.

Otero said her teaching experience has deepened her understanding of the diverse needs of the district’s students, and her time in health care management helped develop her skills “in leadership and organizational effectiveness that I believe will benefit our school community.”

“These qualifications and experiences reflect my commitment to continuous learning and my dedication to providing the best educational experience possible for our students,” she wrote.

Otero shared in an email that, going into the position, she has two key goals she would like to focus on, including enhancing career technical education (CTE) programs at VHS.

“VHS will soon have five courses that will have back-to-back classes during the school day, also known as a “block” for our second and third year level students in that pathway. This year, it has worked exceptionally well for our welding program. We have 13 welding students who will get certificates of completion from UNM-VC and have over 30 hours of college coursework,” she said. “Next school year, we will also add an instructional block for automotive, cosmetology, culinary, and pottery. This will allow students to have more time for in-depth projects and skill enhancement through complex tasks.”

Otero said she is also eager to address attendance rates, the decline of which is a nationwide issue.

“Los Lunas Schools have initiated an attendance task force recently which has been a positive support, but I believe we can make significant strides at Valencia High School by actively engaging students and families in our attendance improvement efforts,” she wrote.

“Students are missing out on valuable instruction when they are not in class. I know our students are capable of so much, however, it is not conveyed in our test scores, and I know one of our obstacles is inconsistent student attendance.”

Heading into the remaining days of the school year, Otero encourages open communication and partnership between home and school.

“I believe that is essential for our students’ success,” Otero’s letter read. “I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on how we can continue to uphold our core values and improve our school community. Together, I am confident that we can continue to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students at Valencia High School.”