Terry Passalacqua – Head of School

Terry has taught in various capacities in Santa Fe over the past twenty years, including the last fourteen at Desert Academy. In that time, he has served as Dean of Faculty, Head of High School and Assistant Head of School. He has also taught Anthropology, IB Psychology, Government/Economics, History, and  served as Athletics Director for ten years. He is a certified International Baccalaureate Instructor in two disciplines; The Theory of Knowledge and Psychology. He is also a certified in International Baccalaureate Administration.  Terry has conducted various leadership workshops and seminars in Santa Fe, Denver and at the Omega Institute in New York. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University and is currently pursuing advanced degrees in Educational Leadership at the University of New Mexico. Among his many other accomplishments, Terry was voted “Most Influential Teacher” for the Santa Fe Super Scholar Program in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and was named “Most Inspiring Teacher” by a former student and finalist in the National 2007 Presidential Scholars Program. Terry also writes a column on educational issues for the New Mexico Free Press.

Prior to retiring from athletics in the Spring of 2007, Terry had spent twenty years coaching high school track & field in the Santa Fe area. The last twelve of those years have been at Desert Academy. He has a long history of athletic achievements including being voted as “The New Mexico Coach of the Year” in 1994, 1995, and 2003. Individual athletes from his teams have won over fifty state championships and his teams have competed and won awards at the state, national, and international levels. Terry was the founder of the Santa Fe-Los Alamos Track Club. In 1992, as the leader & head coach for the USA track & field team, he made a historic trip to China – it was the largest track contingent, at the time, to compete in China.

”I believe in the absolute power of the individual to achieve, grow and flourish as long as love and support are present”   – Terry Passalacqua

Contact Info:
Email: tpassalacqua@desertacademy.org
Phone: 992.8284 x 19

Amy Miller - Assistant Head of School

Amy has been a part of the Desert Academy Administrative Team since 2004, serving as Head of Middle School, Dean of Students, English Department Chair and as an English teacher before taking on the role of Assistant Head of School in the summer of 2008.  Amy earned her undergraduate degree in literature and secondary education from American University in Washington DC, her Masters of Liberal Studies from St. John's College, and her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Arizona State University.  Prior to Desert, Amy taught English, Composition, and Creative Writing on the middle, high school, and college levels and served as a middle school administrator.  Amy is a certified IB Theory of Knowledge instructor, IB Middle Years Programme Coordinator, and AP English teacher, and has attended programs in Middle School Leadership, overseeing student leadership and student publications.  She is also a published author.  Amy is a strong advocate of writing across the curriculum and using a well balanced liberal arts curriculum to address multiple intelligences.  Amy currently teaches Theory of Knowledge at Desert Academy.

Contact Info:
Email: amiller@desertacademy.org
Phone: 992.8284 x 12