SANTA FE, N.M. – The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education is set to meet this Friday after sexual harassment allegations against the superintendent surfaced.

Amanda Chavez, a current Santa Fe city councilor, resigned last week from her job as assistant principal at Santa Fe High School. Chavez claims superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez sexually harassed her and retaliated against her. She also claims he sent her sexually explicit text messages and retaliated against her when she didn’t agree to his advances. 

She filed a complaint with the school board in December and plans to also sue. 

“He began this pattern of sending her these sexually harassing texts. She declined his sexual advances. After that, the school district began retaliating against her. She wouldn’t get job assignments that she wanted, it was made clear to her that she didn’t have a future there,” said John Day, a lawyer for Chavez. 

Chavez’s attorney says he is waiting on the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau to give them the green light to file that lawsuit.

Board President Roman Abeyta issued the following statement on behalf of the board:

“The Santa Fe Public Schools’ Board of Education works with the best interest of students and families as our central concern. We will look for a fair resolution so that everyone can focus on delivering the best possible education in our community… Regarding the claims by Amanda Chavez, the Board is committed to understanding the facts, context, ethics, and other relevant items under applicable law and policies, and to ensuring the rights of all parties involved.”