Sandia Preparatory School is an independent college preparatory school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico serving students in sixth through twelfth grade. The school is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and the New Mexico Public Education Department, and is a founding member of the Independent Curriculum Group and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
History
In 1958, Barbara Young Simms began to investigate the possibility of starting a girls day school in Albuquerque. In 1965, she secured land, established a board of trustees, and formed the Sandía School, a nonsectarian school. In late January 1966, the Rev. Paul G. Saunders, an Episcopal priest, was selected headmaster and, later that year, the school opened. The year began with 75 students in grades 5 through 10 (grade 11 was added the next year; grade 12 the year after), and finished with 82 students.
In 1969, Orell Phillips served as interim headmaster while the school’s board searched for a new head. In 1970, Mose Hale became third headmaster. Three years later, Sandía School became coeducational. In 1974, Elton Knutson was selected as fourth headmaster.
The school began to refer to itself as Sandia Preparatory School and expanded to a coeducational school during the 1974-75 academic year. Fifth-grade classes were discontinued in the 1985-86 school year. For the next academic year, Dick Heath joined Sandia Prep as its fifth headmaster.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Dick and Nancy Heath were Sandia Prep. Dick served as Headmaster from 1986 to 2010 -- New Mexico’s longest-serving independent school head at a time when the national average was five years. In the journey of life, he found a lifelong partner in Nancy, an educator herself, who served as an Albuquerque Public Schools kindergarten teacher until her retirement in 2014. Their three daughters, all Sandia Prep "lifers," carry on the tradition of education, with two becoming educators and one a social worker.
During his tenure, Dick accomplished significant milestones that left a lasting impact on the institution. He successfully grew enrollment from 270 to 660 students, a testament to his dedication and leadership. In 1990, he played a pivotal role in the acquisition of the current SPS campus from Albuquerque Academy, securing a stable and impressive location for the school's future. Remarkably, more than 90 percent of the facilities on Prep's expansive 30-acre campus were constructed under his guidance, a tangible representation of his commitment to enhancing the school's infrastructure.
Moreover, he demonstrated remarkable fundraising acumen, leading a series of highly successful capital campaigns that generated $21 million in capital improvements. These campaigns not only transformed the physical environment but also allowed him to formalize and expand Prep's holistic educational approach, which he aptly termed "The Five A's" - Academics, Arts, Athletics, Activities, and school Atmosphere. This comprehensive approach ensured a well-rounded education for Prep's students, enriching their experiences beyond the classroom.
Notably, Dick was not only dedicated to the students but also to the faculty and staff, creating a positive and supportive work environment for Prep's teachers. In recognition of his efforts, Prep received the American Psychological Association's National Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award and Best Practices Honors in 2009, making it one of only five employers in North America to receive this prestigious recognition. His visionary leadership, commitment to excellence, and unwavering support for both students and staff have left an indelible mark on the institution.
In recognition of the Heaths’ immense contributions, Sandia Prep honored them by naming its soccer, track and field, and baseball facilities the "Dick Heath Sports Complex." Furthermore, the Russell Student Center boasts the Dick Heath Board Room. It is because of the dedication shown by Dick and Nancy Heath that Prep is the groundbreaking place that it is today.
Since its founding in 1966, Sandia Prep has grown from a girls school serving 82 students in three buildings to a coeducational institution serving 670 students at its maximum in multiple buildings and facilities that fill a 30-acre (120,000 m2) campus. The first graduating class in 1969 consisted of six girls and has risen to roughly 80.