NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – An educator at Bernalillo High School is now New Mexico's Teacher of the Year. The Public Education Department presented the award to Lorilei Chavez during a surprise ceremony earlier on Thursday. APS shows the technology being used to keep schools safe She teaches Native American studies at Bernalillo High and brought Indigenous-based extracurricular activities to the school. As a member of the Santo Domingo Pueblo, she is the first Native American to receive the honor.