Los Lunas Schools
LLS
LLS Leadership
Susan D. Chavez
Superintendent
Susan D. Chavez is a proud graduate of Los Lunas Schools. She is in her 23rd year of education, all with the Los Lunas Schools. Mrs. Chavez graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary and Special Education. Her Masters of Arts Degree is in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies from the University of New Mexico. Mrs. Chavez leads the Special Services Department which includes the following: Early Childhood Education, Educational Technology, Federal Programs, Medicaid in the Schools, Social Emotional Learning, Special Education and Technology. Mrs. Chavez is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Administrators in Special Education and the International Society for Technology in Education. One of her greatest accomplishments is serving the community that she was raised in and continues to reside. In her spare time Mrs. Chavez enjoys watching sports, traveling, and spending time with her husband and family.
Andrew Saiz
Assistant Superintendent
Personnel and Athletics
Mr. Andrew Saiz is a lifelong resident of Valencia County. He earned and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Education from New Mexico Highlands University in 1995. In 2008, he added a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from New Mexico Highlands University to his educational background. Mr. Saiz currently serves as the Chief Personnel Officer for Los Lunas Schools. He has filled many roles in his 29 years with Los Lunas Schools. Throughout his tenure with Los Lunas Schools, he has also devotedly served as: Special Education Teacher at the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels, Athletic Coach, IEP Facilitator, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Director of Personnel. Mr. Saiz has had the privilege of observing thousands of students navigate the halls and campuses of our Los Lunas Schools. He considers it an honor to have been able to guide and support students as they excel in their public-school endeavors. Throughout the years he has been able to establish and maintain many meaningful and worthwhile relationships with students, colleagues, families, and community members. Mr. Saiz has maintained membership to many professional organizations throughout his career. He is a current member of the New Mexico School Personnel Association. He serves the American Association of School Personnel Administrators, where he is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He is also a member of the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics. Andrew and his wife, Natalie, have two sons and a daughter. Their children are all proud products of Los Lunas Schools and are currently attending college at either New Mexico State University or the United States Naval Academy.
Jessica Montano
Assistant Superintendent
Curriculum, Instruction, Accountability and Assessment
Los Lunas Schools announced Jessica Montano as the Interim Chief Academic Officer in December 2023. Jessica has been the Director of Secondary Learning Innovations for Los Lunas Schools for two and a half years. Prior to that, she was the Principal for Katherine Gallegos Elementary. She also previously served as Assistant Principal for Los Lunas Middle School and Valencia High School. Jessica was a secondary classroom teacher for 15 years before getting into administration and has served Los Lunas Schools for more than 23 years. She earned an administrative certification from ENMU, a masters in counseling from NMHU and bachelors in education from UNM. Jessica, her husband and her daughter are all Los Lunas High School graduates and her son is a proud Jaguar at VMS.
Sandra Traczyk
Chief Finance Officer
Finance, Purchasing, and Student Nutrition
The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) plays a critical role in overseeing the financial operations of Los Lunas Schools, ensuring effective management of finance, purchasing, and student nutrition. With a Level 2 Business Official licensure from the New Mexico Public Education Department since 2013, the current CFO of Los Lunas Schools, appointed in February 2023, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of New Mexico in 1990, the CFO's career spans several key financial roles. Prior to becoming CFO, Sandra served as the Director of Finance at Los Lunas Schools from July 2010 to January 2023. Her experience also includes positions as a Financial Specialist in Curriculum & Instruction at LLS.
Before joining the educational sector, Sandra was the Senior Financial Analyst at Lovelace Sandia Health Systems, and held various accounting and managerial roles, including Divisional Accounting Manager at Sun Health Corporation and Accounting Supervisor at Horizon Healthcare Corporation. This extensive background equips the CFO with a robust understanding of both educational finance and broader financial management practices.
Sandra took a break from her career to be a stay at home mom until her daughter started Kindergarten. She also made a career shift from Private Accounting to working for Los Lunas Schools so she could work in the community where she lived and to be closer to her daughter's. Now, her plan is to continue to work at Los Lunas Schools until retirement.