Middle School

It is with deep gratitude that I begin my journey as the Middle School Principal at Santa Fe Indian School. Middle school is a special time of growth and discovery, and I am honored to support our students during this formative chapter.

 

I bring 18 years of experience as a principal and over three decades in education, having taught  and led in elementary, middle, and high school, in diverse communities across New Mexico, Hawaiʻi, the Central African Republic, Venezuela, and Turkey. I am proud to be part of a community where students feel safe, seen, and supported as they deepen their sense of purpose and begin to understand their role in the world around them.

 

I join SFIS after serving as an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership at the University of New Mexico, where I had the opportunity to prepare future principals and educational leaders across the state. My work focused on culturally responsive leadership, empathic leadership, educational equity, and building strong school-community partnerships.

Prior to that, I served as the elementary school principal at Kamehameha Schools Maui. Kamehameha Schools on three islands are committed to uplifting Native Hawaiian learners. There, I supported ʻāina-based education and Indigenous leadership development grounded in culture and place.

 

I was born in Lille, France, where all my relatives live in the north of France, mainly around Dunkerque. I was raised in the Colorado Rockies with 14 acres and a farm replete with horses, ponies, chickens, geese, goats, and a lot of dogs!  I hold a B.A. in French Literature, a B.A. in Media Communications, and my Masters in Secondary Education and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico. I’m fluent in French and have studied multiple languages throughout my life—including Hawaiian and Sango. I am passionate about culture, language, and story.

 

I’m excited to walk alongside our students, families, and staff this year as we support our young people through these transformative years. It’s a privilege to be part of a school with such a powerful mission and legacy, and I look forward to the journey ahead.

Warmly,

 

Dr. Yann Lussiez

Middle School Principal

Santa Fe Indian School