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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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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I’m an educator with a passion for shaping the next generation of leaders, whether it’s in the classroom, through mentorship, by fostering real-world experiences, or by empowering students with leadership opportunities that prepare them for success in both their careers and communities. My career spans a variety of fields, including Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology,
Career and Technical Education (CTE), Healthcare, and Business Administration. Throughout it all, my mission has remained the same: to provide students with the tools, knowledge, and experiences they need to excel in their future endeavors.

Currently, I teach Project Based Learning- Science, Biomedical Sciences, Leadership Skills, and Career Readiness at Health Leadership High School in Albuquerque, NM, where I also serve as a
DECA Advisor, Johns Hopkins Advisor, Dream Makers Advisor, Project Insight Advisor, Harbor Freight Advisor, and CTE Coordinator. I have a deep commitment to guiding my students through leadership development, business competitions, internships, and community
engagement. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch my students develop valuable business acumen, leadership skills, and a strong sense of confidence as they navigate competitions and prepare for
their futures. Additionally, I coordinate internships and CTE programs, creating partnerships with local businesses to give students hands-on learning experiences that enrich their education and prepare them for the workforce.
Before transitioning to high school education, I spent over a decade in higher education as a Lead Certified Pharmacy Technician Instructor at Carrington College and Pima in Albuquerque. In this role, I taught Pharmacology, Nuclear Pharmacy, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry and
Communication Skills, preparing students for national certification exams. I also managed recruitment efforts and coordinated internships with local healthcare facilities, ensuring students
had real-world experience to complement their classroom learning. My work in pharmacy education deepened my passion for helping students grow both academically and professionally
in the healthcare field.

In addition to my work in education, I have extensive experience in the biomedical sector. I’ve worked with organizations like the American Red Cross, and United Blood Services, where I led successful blood drives, created educational campaigns, and engaged with the community to
raise awareness about the importance of blood donation with the community and taught at high schools. These experiences helped me build strong leadership, team management, and community engagement skills.
As an educator, I’m always seeking ways to push the envelope. Over the past two years, I had the honor of representing my school in the prestigious Johns Hopkins National Showcase, where only one out of five schools were selected to participate. This experience highlighted my commitment to excellence and reinforced my belief in providing students with opportunities to
showcase their talents on a national level. Whether it’s through developing innovative
curriculum, fostering leadership experiences, or encouraging students to challenge themselves, I’m committed to preparing them for success in a rapidly changing world.

My career is grounded in mentorship, leadership, and a relentless drive to inspire others to reach their full potential. Whether it's through teaching, coordinating programs, or engaging with the
community, my goal is to empower students to be the best versions of themselves, both in school
and in life. I am deeply committed to creating an environment that nurtures growth, builds confidence, and equips students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive.

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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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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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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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