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DISTRICT APPOINTS NEW PRINCIPAL FOR MANDELA

Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Veronica García has appointed Benjamin Hairgrove as the principal of Mandela International Magnet School effective this June. Hairgrove, a native of Arlington, Texas, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is pursuing a doctorate of educational leadership at the University of North Texas.

Hairgrove worked as a child abuse investigator for the state of Texas after college before becoming a history teacher and tennis coach at Dunbar High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He later taught English in Debrecen, Hungary, at the Dienes Grammar School and then at Cedar Hill Collegiate High School in Texas. Later Hairgrove became an administrator at the same school. During his time on the leadership team at Cedar Hill Collegiate High School, the school was named the top early college high school in Texas and the No. 2 ranked high school in Texas according to Newsweek. He will replace Tony Gerlicz, who is retiring this year.

MORE GRADUATION CEREMONIES THIS WEEK

Wednesday, May 24, is the last day of school for Santa Fe Public Schools before summer break. At 9 a.m. Thursday, May 25, Capital High School holds its graduation ceremony on its campus at 4851 Paseo del Sol. At 9 a.m. Friday, May 26, Santa Fe High School holds its graduation ceremony on its campus at 2100 Yucca Road.

The Santa Fe Indian School will hold its graduation ceremony 10 a.m. Friday, May 26, on its Cerrillos Road campus. Check individual school websites for graduation and commencement ceremony schedules in May and June.