Faculty & Staff
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Denise C. Armenta, LISW, is a Clinical Social Worker with 35 years of experience serving the Albuquerque community through work in charter schools and private practice. A graduate of the University of New Mexico, her career began in Washington, D.C., as an intern for the United States Senate. She later joined the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), where she served as Affiliate Liaison and Director of Training, supporting 135 community-based organizations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. While in D.C., she volunteered to feed the homeless and teach ESL to Central American immigrants, and she contributed as a freelance writer and photographer for Hispanic magazines.
After returning to New Mexico, Denise worked with the NM Legislature and later joined Youth Development Inc. (YDI) as Program Director/Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. At YDI, she developed the “Target Cities” program, a community outreach initiative aimed at reducing substance abuse. While there, she earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and dedicated her efforts to at-risk youth through programs like the Juvenile Community Custody Program at the Albuquerque Partnership. Her career has included social work roles in charter schools focused on supporting at-risk youth. In 2004, she co-founded Albuquerque Behavioral Health, offering treatment for court-mandated clients and services for victims of domestic violence through the Bernalillo County Metro Court’s DVSTEP program.
Denise has also contributed as a member of the judging committee for IMPACT HOPE, a national think tank for charter schools. Beyond her professional work, she has maintained a small private practice specializing in trauma healing. Her community involvement includes leadership roles such as chairing the Alcohol Issues Consortium, serving on the NM Chapter of Planned Parenthood, and graduating from the Albuquerque Leadership program. She has volunteered with organizations like Healthcare for the Homeless and St. Martin’s Shelter. A devoted mother, Denise spends her free time traveling with her children, instilling in them values of gratitude and community service.
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I am proud to be a product of the New Mexico public education system. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Northern New Mexico where I was taught the importance of hard work and family. My mom and dad, an educator and rancher, instilled the importance of education. Upon graduating from high school, I attended Adams State College. It was here where I worked with our local BOCES program and first began teaching in a migrant school. Upon graduation, I attained my master’s from the University of New Mexico in Curriculum and Instruction. I spent 12 years with the Rio Rancho Public Schools as a classroom teacher, ELD Coordinator, SAT Coordinator, and Instructional Coach. I was named the 2014 Technology Champion, and Teacher of the Year in 2018. In 2019, I was named a Woodrow Scholar. I graduated with my administrative license from New Mexico Highlands in 2019 and was named Dean of Students at a local charter in the South Valley. In 2022, I was named the assistant principal and Cesar Chavez Elementary in Santa Fe, NM and then promoted to principal of Sweeney Elementary shortly after. Due to family, I had to make the difficult decision to return to Albuquerque and was given the opportunity to work at HLHS as the Director of Community Schools. I was then asked to oversee Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. In my 17 year as an educator in New Mexico, I have worked to ensure that I am continuously learning to ensure I am leading in a way that promotes student success and opportunity. I truly believe that education can change the trajectory of one’s life and open doors. I am grateful and honored to serve the HLHS community.
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Hi! My name is Gina Salazar and I am a school social worker for Health Leadership High School. I am originally from Mexico and moved to the United States when I was very young. I grew up in Farmington, New Mexico and attended San Juan College in which I obtained my Associates degree in Liberal Arts and Psychology, shortly afterwards I attended Highlands University and received my Bachelors in Psychology, and for my graduate level studies I went to Western New Mexico University and graduated with my Masters in Social Work.
What drew me to working in education has always been wanting to work with kids and making a difference. However, my personal inspiration was my school counselor in High School who motivated me into going in this direction in my life. I recall how her support, encouragement and kindness made a huge difference in my life at the time, and I wanted to pay it forward someday. Now as a school social worker myself, I strive to help students with social emotional needs, and teach coping skills to assist youth in effectively self-regulating for day to day life challenges.
My leadership philosophy entails being proactive and not reactive and modeling kindness, and compassion to assist in guiding the youth to doing the same for others in their community. Additionally, making student experiences a teachable moment by applying restorative justice methods, so students can learn and grow from personal experiences.
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My name is Itzel Olivas, and this is my second year teaching. I graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in general education and special education. I have been in the field of education for over 12 years, starting as an Educational Assistant in a special education class for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It was during this time that my passion for education blossomed, inspiring me to pursue a career in education and special education. Every day, I strive to learn and grow to become a better educator.
What drew me to Health Leadership High School (HLHS) is the student population, the passion of the directors, and the challenge of educating youth. During my student teaching at HLHS, it felt like home and the right place for me. Although I am new to Project-Based Learning (PBL), I am excited to discover something new about it every day. I firmly believe that learning is a lifelong journey—not just for students, but for educators as well. I am honored to be part of HLHS and look forward to contributing to our vibrant learning community.
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Angela Jarvis is a passionate and dedicated high school science teacher with a deep
love for inspiring curiosity and critical thinking in students. With a background in biology, chemistry, and physics with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from the University of New Mexico. With eleven years of teaching, my philosophy centers on making science accessible and exciting through hands-on experiments, interactive lessons, and real-world applications.
With my free time, I enjoy traveling, skiing, scuba diving and yoga, which often inspire
new lesson ideas and activities. My goal is to empower students to see themselves
reaching for higher goals not only in their professional lives, but achieving happiness
and stability going forward.
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With 16 years of experience in education, Kathy brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her dual roles as an Educational Assistant and Front Office Clerk at Health Leadership High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and is deeply passionate about supporting students and their success.
Kathy is also a proud mother of four and grandmother of three, skillfully balancing her professional career with her commitment to family. Her dedication to both her work and loved ones is a testament to her unwavering care and compassion.
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Dr. James Lujan is a seasoned educator with 30 years of experience dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments. His career began as a classroom teacher, where he honed his skills in engaging students and inspiring young minds. He later took on leadership roles, including principal, where he successfully implemented innovative programs to improve student outcomes and school culture. As Associate Superintendent of Schools for Santa Fe Public Schools, Dr. Lujan played a pivotal role in shaping district-wide policies that emphasized equity, diversity, and engagement, ensuring that every student had access to opportunities for success. His efforts have consistently bridged gaps in educational access and achievement.
In his most recent role as Chief Equity, Diversity, and Engagement Officer, Dr. Lujan led initiatives aimed at dismantling barriers to education while fostering a sense of belonging for students, staff, and families. With advanced degrees in education leadership, he is a sought-after speaker and consultant on issues of equity and diversity, known for his ability to inspire action through engaging presentations. Through his lifelong commitment to education and social justice, Dr. Lujan continues to make a profound impact on the educational community, advocating for a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
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Kayde has the privilege of serving the students, families, and community of Health Leadership High School as the Community Schools Coordinator. She graduated suma cum laude with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from New Mexico Highlands University in 2019 and received her Master of Social Work degree from the same college in 2020. Kayde is a licensed LMSW in the state of New Mexico. Kayde also holds a GED and has had her own struggles with engaging with education as a young person, and believes strongly that all young people deserve a quality and respectful education that engages students as partners in learning. Kayde is a continuous learner, and is open and engaged in self-improvement and growth as she continues to strive to be better for our students and community every day. Kayde believes strongly in growing and empowering youth leadership and helping them to see themselves as valuable and capable citizens. Kayde believes that the job of educators is to help students learn to be critical thinkers and reflective problem solvers so they can engage more meaningfully in their education while in Health Leadership High School as well as in their communities, in their internships, and in their future careers and higher education. Kayde values families and community stakeholders as partners in the school community whose values and voices need to be included in the vision and mission of the school.
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