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Bernalillo teacher first indigenous New Mexico Teacher of the Year
BERNALILLO — Bernalillo High School teacher Lorilei Chavez has been named the 2025 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, making her the first Native American educator to be selected for the honor.
“Congratulations to Lorilei Chavez on this incredible achievement,” said Public Education Secretary-Designate Mariana Padilla. “Lorilei’s dedication not only inspires her students but honors the rich traditions and wisdom of Native culture in every lesson she shares.”
The Thursday announcement was delivered as a surprise to the longtime teacher from her fellow Spartans.
“I would have prepared a better speech if someone told me this was happening today,” Chavez jokingly said. “But as everyone knows, I believe in speaking from my heart. In all of the work that I have done in multiple years, I believe that my ancestors and my creators can give me the words that I need to say.”
Teachers, students, the marching band, cheerleaders, Bernalillo Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Montaño, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and a lot of people hid in the Bernalillo Black Box Theater just to surprise Chavez with the news.
BHS Principal Alyssa Sanchez Padilla walked with Chavez into the theater, where she was immediately hit with cheers and music from the BHS marching band.
“Students, I wouldn’t be here today, right now, in these shoes, if it wasn’t for every single one of you,” Chavez said. “I am so thankful — and grateful — for every single one of you that has been a part of my journey.”
Chavez has been teaching for more than 10 years and currently teaches Native American Studies for BHS. She has also taught at Santo Domingo Middle School. She is from Kewa Pueblo — also known as Santo Domingo Pueblo — and served as BHS Native American liaison for seven years.
“She is very hard-working, and she’ll help you with whatever you are struggling with either at home or, like, in school,” former Chavez student Amberly Aguilar said. Chavez was Aguilar’s history teacher when she was in seventh grade.
In 2018, Chavez graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in Native American studies and a minor in history. She completed the New Mexico Public Education Department’s Alternative Teacher Licensure Program in 2020.
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The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association sponsors the New Mexico Teacher of the Year program and will support the travel needs and awarded Chavez $10,000 to help with professional development opportunities.
“I am so grateful to all my colleagues, to my district, to my friends, to my mentors, to my teachers, to my principals. You have all seen me from this little, little girl, young person who started at Bernalillo Public Schools when I was 19 years old,” Chavez said.
Since 1963 — the year that the New Mexico Teacher of the Year award was established — all New Mexico schools are invited to nominate a teacher who can win New Mexico’s Teacher of the Year and represent New Mexico in the National Teacher of the Year competition. Other duties with being New Mexico Teacher of the Year include acting as the spokesperson for the state’s teaching profession.
“The last thing I want to say is I am super passionate about teacher mental wellness and I am super passionate about making sure that we as teachers — and students, too — are taking care of our bodies, our minds, our hearts, our souls,” Chavez said.
