Santa Fe Schools superintendent resigns over sexual harassment claims
SANTA FE, N.M. — The superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools is resigning in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against him.
SFPS Board President Roman Abeyta told board members he received a resignation letter Thursday night from superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez. The superintendent’s resignation is effective June 30 but he will be off the job immediately, using his accrued leave.
Veronica Garcia will take over as acting superintendent of the district. They hope to have a new superintendent hired by the start of July. Between now and then, the district will seek the community’s input on the hire.
Last week, Amanda Chavez, the former assistant principal at Santa Fe High School, claimed the superintendent sexually harassed her and retaliated against her. Chavez claims the superintendent sent her sexually explicit text messages and retaliated against her when she didn’t agree to his advances. The claims were raised after she resigned from her job as assistant principal.
Chavez filed a complaint with the school board in December and also plans to 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, her lawyer.
Her attorney said he is waiting on the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau to give them the green light to file that lawsuit.
During a special meeting Friday on the allegations, the board stated they couldn’t substantiate the claims. They are continuing to investigate.
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