Academics

Educator Profiles

Ray Padilla

7th Grade Science Teacher
MS Academics
Santa Fe, NM

I have a BS in Agriculture and Animal Science, with a minor in Biology, from New Mexico State University. I also have a Master’s degree in Integration Technologies from University of New Mexico and another Master’s in Educational Administration from New Mexico Highlands University.

I have taught science for over 25 years. The majority of that time was teaching for Pojoaque Valley Public Schools, where I taught at both the middle school and high school levels. Most of that time, I was teaching biology and life sciences, but I have also taught other science classes.

I believe learning is not a by-product of teaching, but rather a triumph over the distractions that society imposes on the young minds today. An effective teacher utilizes effective classroom practices and minimizes distractive influences, but at the same time maximizes individual performance. As a teacher, I set high standards and use data driven methodologies that allow students to meet those expectations.

At Santa Fe Indian School, I am the 7^th grade science teacher. I have had friends who retired from public schools and then came to teach at Santa Fe Indian School. As someone who still has a lot of energy, and as a single dad putting my daughter through college, it was a unique opportunity to retire and then teach at SFIS. Santa Fe Indian School is a good place to teach; I feel like I died and went to heaven!

The core value I think is most important is respect. If you think about it, it really encompasses everything else. Respect incorporates all the other core values: respect self, respect others, and respect the right to education.

I have two passions. One is teaching; I plan to be here at least ten years, maybe twelve. I love the kids and I think the feeling is mutual. Even though we are just a few weeks into the school year, we’ve already built great rapport with each other. I feel like they learn from me because of that rapport. My other passion is horses. I am an avid horse trainer: calf roper and team roper. I am a proud rodeo queen dad; my daughter, Larissa, is Miss Rodeo New Mexico Teen. Our weekends are spent going to rodeos, fairs and parades. I also love the outdoors – hunting and fishing take up a lot of my time.