Administration
TERRY PASSALACQUA, Head of School
Terry has taught in various capacities in Santa Fe over the past twenty years, including the last fourteen at Desert Academy. In that time, he has served as Dean of Faculty, Head of High School and Assistant Head of School. He has also taught Anthropology, IB Psychology, Government/Economics, History, and served as Athletics Director for ten years. He is a certified International Baccalaureate Instructor in two disciplines, The Theory of Knowledge and Psychology. He is also a certified in International Baccalaureate Administration. Terry has conducted various leadership workshops and seminars in Santa Fe, Denver, and at the Omega Institute in New York. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership at the University of New Mexico. Among his many other accomplishments, Terry was voted “Most Influential Teacher” for the Santa Fe Super Scholar Program in 2006, 2007, and 2008, was named “Most Inspiring Teacher” by a student finalist in the National 2007 Presidential Scholars Program. Terry also writes a column on educational issues for the New Mexico Free Press.
Prior to retiring from athletics in the Spring of 2007, Terry had spent twenty years coaching high school track & field in the Santa Fe area. The last twelve of those years have been at Desert Academy. He has a long history of athletic achievements including being voted as “The New Mexico Coach of the Year” in 1994, 1995, and 2003. Individual athletes from his teams have won over fifty state championships and his teams have competed and won awards at the state, national, and international levels. Terry was the founder of the Santa Fe/Los Alamos Track Club. In 1992, as the leader and head coach for the USA track & field team, he made a historic trip to China – at the time, it was the largest track contingent to compete in China. tpassalacqua@desertacademy.org
“I believe in the absolute power of the individual to achieve, grow and flourish as long as love and support are present” – Terry Passalacqua
AMY MILLER, Assistant Head of School
Amy has been a part of the Desert Academy Administrative Team since 2004, serving as Head of Middle School, Dean of Students, English Department Chair and as an English teacher before taking on the role of Assistant Head of School in the summer of 2008. Amy earned her undergraduate degree in literature and secondary education from American University in Washington DC, her Masters of Liberal Studies from St. John’s College, and her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. Prior to Desert, Amy taught English, Composition, and Creative Writing on the middle, high school, and college levels and served as a middle school administrator. Amy is a certified IB Theory of Knowledge instructor, IB Middle Years Programme Coordinator, and AP English teacher, and has attended programs in Middle School Leadership, overseeing student leadership and student publications. She is also a published author. Amy is a strong advocate of writing across the curriculum and using a well balanced liberal arts curriculum to address multiple intelligences. Amy currently teaches Theory of Knowledge at Desert Academy. amiller@desertacademy.org
KAY RICE, Director of Development
Kay began teaching special needs students after graduating from the University of Texas. The next year she moved to Tererro, New Mexico, east of Santa Fe to continue her teaching career at Brush Ranch School, a boarding school for children and teens with learning disabilities. She also served as Director of Admission and eventually, Head of School. She received her Master’s Degree from the University of New Mexico in Learning Disabilities in 1985. Along with involvement in BRS came co-directing Brush Ranch Camps, with her husband Scott. Her family is the most important part of her life. Kay’s oldest son Connor, his wife Ellie and their daughter Piper, live in Albuquerque, as does her daughter Alden. Kay’s younger son Logan attends Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Hiking with the dogs, travel with anyone to anywhere, getting dirty while gardening and taking on new challenges keeps her going. krice@desertacademy.org
JUD OSBORN, Finance Director/Human Resources
Jud joined Desert Academy in the Summer of 2005. Jud earned his BA from the College of Santa Fe in 1993 and has served as Business Manager/Finance Director in NM private schools for over ten years. In the winter of 2006-07 Jud initiated the Middle School Winter Mountain Sports Programs and in the fall of 2007 he resumed teaching Creative Writing, a class he has taught in six of the past ten years. josborn@desertacademy.org
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