ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After a long search, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education named Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey the new superintendent of the district.

The APS Board named Durán Blakey as the new superintendent Monday. She currently serves as the APS Chief of Operations Officer.

The board picked her for the job over Thomas Ahart, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools.

Durán Blakey, 48, signed a two-year contract. It is set to begin July 1, 2024, when she succeeds Scott Elder.

Durán Blakey attended Sandia Base Elementary, Van Buren Middle School and graduated from Highland High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from New Mexico State University, then an M.A. in education leadership and a doctorate of education from the University of New Mexico.

According to APS, she has served for more than 20 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and associate superintendent.

At $295,000 a year, Durán Blakey is the highest-paid sole superintendent of APS ever, dating back to 2003 when the district structured the role in its current form.

Durán Blakey will also get an APS-provided car and 12% of her salary – $35,400 – put into a retirement account at the end of each contract year.

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