Santa Fe Public Schools names Dr. Christine Griffin superintendent; one-year contract begins June 9

The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education voted May 1 to name Dr. Christine Griffin as its next superintendent and approved a contract that will place her as acting superintendent beginning June 9, 2025, and as superintendent beginning July 1, 2025. The board approved a prorated annual salary of $205,000 for the contract term, set from June 9, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and included a dedicated vehicle, benefits and leave consistent with other 12-month administrators and 25 days of annual leave.

The vote followed an executive session in which the board discussed a limited personnel matter under NMSA 1978 Section 10-15-1(H)(2). No action was taken during the executive session, and the formal appointment and contract terms were approved in open session. Board member Jose moved the appointment; the motion was seconded and the chair announced, “All those in favor? I. Those opposed? Motion carries.”

President Abeyta, who led the board through the search process, said the board sought a candidate who could support teachers and school leaders. “Dr. Christine Griffin impressed us all with her depth and nuanced understanding of the many issues facing Santa Fe Public Schools. Her knowledge, curiosity, and desire to understand issues, plus her creativity and collaborative approach to problem solving really stood out,” President Abeyta said.

Vice President Noble thanked the community for its participation in the search and urged support for the new superintendent. “I just hope, you know, as President Abeyta said, that we can all get behind the new superintendent, support her, buck the trends, and improve public education,” Vice President Noble said.

Board members also praised the search process and the three finalists. Board member Dr. Gonzales said the public engagement was “exceptional” and singled out staff support for the process. Board member Bose said she was “overwhelmed for our community and their participation and support of public education.” Board member Heffron called the public forums “a terrific idea” that helped the board understand community priorities.

The board’s motion sets the term June 9, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with Griffin serving as acting superintendent from June 9 and formally as superintendent starting July 1, 2025. The contract specifies a prorated annual salary of $205,000, use of a dedicated vehicle, and benefits and leave as provided to other 12-month administrators; annual leave will be accumulated and kept at 25 days to be consistent with other 12-month administrators. The motion language also states that “all other terms [will] substantially conform to the state model contract.”

The board thanked staff and community members who participated in the search, including interim superintendent Dr. Veronica Garcia, Chief of Staff Howard Usher, and the team that organized two community forums moderated by Tom Carroll of Carroll Strategies. The board noted the search began in February and included three finalists who met with the public in forums held the day before the vote.

The board also made a brief calendar change under advanced planning, canceling the May 6 meeting at 2 p.m.; the board retains a CRC meeting scheduled for May 7 and a regular board meeting with a tentative executive session on May 8.

Next steps: the contract term adopted by the board runs through June 30, 2026; the board did not record individual roll-call votes in the public remarks beyond the chair’s announcement that the motion carried. The board asked the Santa Fe Public Schools community to support the new superintendent during the transition period.