Judy Montero

Here’s a press release from the DPS Communications office:

JoAnn Trujillo-Hays, current principal at North High School , will serve as the principal of Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, an elementary school she helped start back in 2001. Trujillo-Hays spent two years at North and she is credited for leading efforts that created the North/Valdez Campus of World Leadership, a preschool-through-12 grade campus in partnership with Valdez Elementary.

The district appointed Edwin Salem to serve as interim principal of North High School for the upcoming school year. Salem has more than 12 years of experience working in education and most recently served as assistant principal at Lincoln High School.

Debra Lucero Kraft, current principal at Sandoval, will continue to work with the district on Montessori initiatives as a principal on special assignment.

“I am excited about the new principals for these two schools,” said DPS Board of Education member Arturo Jimenez . “The North and Sandoval school communities have an opportunity, with these school leaders at the helm, to continue to focus all of their energy around increasing student achievement.”

Creating and sustaining high-quality schools throughout District 9 is one of Judy’s big concerns. She and District 1 councilman Rick Garcia were both involved in discussions to address the school situation in Northwest Denver, meeting several times with DPS Superintendent Michael Bennett, parents from Sandoval and North, school board representative Jimenez, and community representatives. She supports the changes announced here.