Craig DeYoung Is Socorro High’s New Principal

By John Larson
Socorro High School welcomes a new principal Thursday, July 16, according to a press release from Superintendent Cheryl Wilson.
Craig DeYoung comes to Socorro from Silver City, where he was interim principal of the charter school Aldo Leopold High School.
“I am very pleased to be able to add someone with such experience and energy to the leadership team of the school district,” Wilson said in the press release.
DeYoung began his science teaching career in the Silver Consolidated School District in the 1980s after attending Western New Mexico University. DeYoung also coached football, basketball, and baseball in Silver City.
“I was originally from Minnesota, and after teaching and coaching for six years in Silver City, moved to Lakeville, Minn., to teach science and coach,” DeYoung told the Mountain Mail in an interview Tuesday. “After 10 years of doing that, I served as the district activities director for six years.”
As activities director, DeYoung managed a staff of 150, with 1,500 seventh- to 12th-grade students participating annually in sports, fine arts and other co-curricular activities.
He also led curriculum efforts and co-curricular program development; worked directly with students in leadership groups; and was involved in student discipline, designed evaluation instruments and evaluated staff.
DeYoung also worked in Perris, Calif., for four years in central office administration.
“Mr. DeYoung’s depth and variety of leadership experiences in the curricular, co-curricular and district management areas have given him the skills to really lead Socorro High School,” Wilson said. “We are really delighted to be able to add him to our team.”
DeYoung said he looks forward to getting settled in Socorro before the beginning of the school year.
“I am very impressed with the people I met at the high school and with their passion and how they view education,” he said. “Socorro High School always has had good kids and a good reputation around the state for its school district.”
“I’ve worked over the years with different superintendents, and I’ve seen only a couple who inspire people the way Dr. Wilson does,” DeYoung said. “I am very anxious to get in there and see what’s going really well and also, what could use improvements. I look forward to connecting with the staff, the teachers, the custodians and the students.”
Wilson said she was pleased to know that another finalist for principal, Brenda Baca-Miller, may relocate to Socorro.
“She indicated that she is hoping to return to Socorro for family and other reasons anyway, so we would not be surprised to see her become part of the Socorro educator community soon,” Wilson said.

Craig DeYoung Is Socorro High’s New Principal