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Thursday, March 8, 2007

Principal of the Year Has Roots in Moriarty

By Matt Gomez
Mountain View Telegraph
    Allan Tapia, a middle school principal with roots in Moriarty, was recently named New Mexico Principal of the Year by the New Mexico Association of Secondary School Principals.
    Tapia, now the principal at Bernalillo Middle School and a graduate and former teacher of Moriarty High School, said he found out he had been selected as Principal of the Year in February after completing a lengthy application process.
    "I was excited, I really was," Tapia said Monday. "I was moved and honored to be selected."
    Although Tapia now lives in Albuquerque, he was born and raised in Moriarty and said the experience of going to high school there helped shape his career in administration.
    "I feel that I was definitely prepared for post-secondary school with my education from Moriarty High School," Tapia said.
    Two teachers in particular influenced Tapia's professional development, he said.
    Don Harvey, who was Tapia's science teacher in eighth grade and later taught him for two more years in high school, was "really instrumental" in his education, Tapia said.
    "He made science very interesting," Tapia said. "So much so that it was my minor in college."
    Tapia also spoke highly of his former athletic coach, John Wootten, who "showed me that hard work will be rewarded."
    Tapia graduated from Moriarty High in 1985. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1991.
    Before obtaining a master's degree in educational administration in 1996 from the University of New Mexico, Tapia taught science at Manzano High School from 1991 to 1993. He then taught science at Moriarty High from 1993 until 1996.
    His success as a principal stems from his dedication to academic excellence and providing a safe education environment, Tapia said.
    Tapia's application for Principal of the Year will be forwarded by the NMASSP to the association's national office for recognition with others who were named Principal of the Year in other states, according to a news release from Bernalillo Public Schools.
    Tapia is now in competition for selection as the nation's Principal of the Year, the release said.
    Tapia has already had an opportunity to shine because of his recent recognition.
    Tapia traveled to Santa Fe on March 1, where he was recognized for his selection as Principal of the Year by both Lt. Governor Diane Denish and state Sen. Lynda Lovejoy, he said.
    Tapia will travel to Washington, D.C., in August to accept his award, he wrote in a Feb. 27 letter to the Telegraph.