Learning Innovations

Every Los Lunas student will graduate equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attributes to pursue a path of their choice.

Chief Academic Officer of Instruction, Accountability & Innovation:

Dr. Deborah Elder joined the Los Lunas Schools as Chief Academic Officer of Instruction, Accountability, and Innovation in 2021. Her belief that NM students are capable of world-class performance has driven her actions throughout her 28 years of service. In LLS, she established the Learning Innovations office. The Learning Innovations team builds on the talent in LLS to implement instructional innovations that accelerate student learning. Prior to LLS, she led the Office of Innovation and School Choice in the Albuquerque Public Schools. As a school principal, her leadership in integrating technology learning practices resulted in an increase in the school letter grade from D to A. Her career began in the classroom teaching elementary students. Dr. Elder is dedicated to growing the potential of educators. She is a performance coach for principals with the NM Public Education Department and serves as Adjunct Faculty with the University of Southern California Master of Arts in Teaching program.

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Director of Professional Learning Innovations:

Alicia Himes has proudly served Los Lunas Schools for 16 years as a middle/high school ELA teacher, high school assistant principal, elementary principal, and Coordinator of Personnel. In her current role as Director of Professional Learning Innovations, her responsibilities include working with our district and site administrators, teachers, and other staff to provide professional development opportunities that will positively impact student learning. In addition to new teacher induction and mentoring programs, she oversees Multi-Layered Systems of Support (MLSS), district tuition reimbursement, and several grants, including Title I, Title II, and Family Income Index. She is an Apple Teacher, Learning Forward Academy 2024 cohort scholarship recipient, member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Certified Educator cohort, and a NM Public Education Department Thrive Performance Coach.

Director of Secondary Learning Innovations:

Jessica Montano is the Director of Secondary Learning Innovations for Los Lunas Schools in Los Lunas New Mexico. Prior to that she was the Principal for Katherine Gallegos Elementary. She has served as Assistant Principal for Los Lunas Middle School and Valencia High School. Jessica Montano was a secondary classroom teacher for 15 years before getting into administration and has served the Los Lunas Schools for 22 years. Jessica is an Apple District Leader, a member of the International Society for Technology in Education cohort, and a NM Public Education Department Thrive Performance Coach. Her responsibilities as Director of Secondary Learning Innovations include; Career Technology Education programs, dual credit and concurrent enrollment, secondary curriculum and materials, librarians, performance coaching and assisting the Learning Innovations team in developing and leading professional development.

Director of Assessment and Data:

Karla Dow, Director of Assessment Innovations and Accountability, has been an educator for 18 years. First as a classroom teacher with Belen Schools, then as an assistant principal and principal with Los Lunas Schools at Valencia Elementary. Karla has a BA in Advertising and Marketing, a BA in Spanish, Education Administration, and received her MBA in Education Leadership at the University of New Mexico as a Woodrow Wilson Foundation Fellow thru Anderson School of Management. Karla is an Apple Certified teacher, a member of the International Society for Technology in Education cohort, and a NM Public Education Department Thrive Performance Coach. Her responsibilities as director include assessments, Extended Learning Time programs, student transfer processes, PowerSchool Systems, registrations, state reporting, and performance coaching thru NM PED Thrive initiative. As part of the Learning Innovations team, Karla Dow also helps to plan professional development for Los Lunas Schools staff.

Director of Elementary Learning Innovations:

Katherine House is the Director of Elementary Learning Innovations for Los Lunas Schools. Prior to joining Los Lunas, Katherine served as a dual certified teacher, Special Education Instructional Leader, school site Assistant Principal, Principal and Principal Support Specialist between Rio Rancho and Albuquerque Public Schools. Additionally, Katherine has held adjunct faculty positions at both CNM and University or Phoenix within the MAED and Alternative Licensure Program. Katherine is a NM Public Education Department Thrive Performance Coach. Her responsibilities as Director of Elementary Learning Innovations include; elementary Career Awareness programs, elementary curriculum and materials, Fine Arts in Education Act Grant, District Literacy Plan, Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant, performance coaching and assisting the Learning Innovations team in developing and leading professional development.

Director of Language Innovations:

Elena Trodden is currently the Director of Language Innovations for Los Lunas Schools. She oversees language programs, Title III, and Title IV grants. She is an Apple Teacher, member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Certified Educator cohort, and is a performance coach with the New Mexico Public Education Department for school site administrators. During her 25 years with Los Lunas Schools, she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and has held various director positions. Elena has a B.S. in Elementary Education, a M.A. of Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Bilingual Education, and a M.Ed. in School Administration.

Learning Innovations

Learning Innovations

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