Sandia Prep leader builds middle school culture around belonging and trust

Susi Hochrein, Sandia Prep’s assistant head of school for middle school in Albuquerque, has spent nearly two decades shaping the school’s middle grades through relationships, high expectations, and service. Her leadership spans academics, family partnerships, and community outreach, including a growing reading and math program with a nearby elementary school.

Why it matters: - Susi Hochrein’s work at Sandia Prep shows how school leadership can shape student growth through connection, character, and consistent support. - Her approach centers on belonging, which can affect how students, families, and teachers experience a school community. - Her community-service model also extends Sandia Prep’s impact beyond campus.

What happened: - Hochrein serves as Assistant Head of School for Middle School at Sandia Prep in Albuquerque, New Mexico. - She has worked at Sandia Prep for nearly two decades. - She oversees the middle school program. - She stepped into her current leadership role in 2017. - Her path at Sandia Prep began in the classroom, where she taught mathematics full time in both the middle and high school divisions. - Before joining Sandia Prep, Hochrein taught math in the public school system.

The details: - Hochrein holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in mathematics. - She has completed multiple leadership trainings and workshops. - She is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. - Sandia Prep is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest. - Hochrein said her leadership style is rooted in authentic relationships with students, families, and colleagues. - She said she learned that effective leadership meant holding students to high standards while seeing them for who they are. - Her mentor, Bill Sinfield, told her not to be apologetic about who she is or how she leads. - Her advice to young women in education is to lead with heart, focus on strengths, take care of themselves, and be themselves. - She encourages educators to meet students where they are, maintain high expectations, and treat students as whole people. - She also stresses collaboration, creativity, and flexibility in teaching. - She views relationships as more important than titles or credentials in determining a teacher’s impact. - Through the Challenge Success partnership with Stanford University, the Sandia Prep team has used surveys, fishbowl sessions, and targeted programs to strengthen community cohesion. - Hochrein sees meaningful community service as something that should be part of the curriculum rather than an add-on. - She also says schools need flexibility in what and how they teach as student needs change. - Her service work includes a partnership with Los Ranchos Elementary, where Sandia Prep students help younger children with reading literacy and math. - That partnership started with 10 to 15 students from her Helping Hands service club. - It has grown to 70 Sandia Prep students visiting Los Ranchos once or twice a month. - The program now supports students in kindergarten through third grade. - Her broader community involvement includes Carrie Tingley Hospital, the University of New Mexico, Joy Junction, PB&J, Roadrunner Food Bank, and Watermelon Mountain Ranch. - She also shared her leadership story in an Influential Women article. - Her profile is available through her Influential Women page.

Between the lines: - Hochrein’s story reflects a leadership model that blends academic oversight with emotional intelligence and community engagement. - The emphasis on belonging suggests Sandia Prep sees school culture as part of student success, not separate from it. - Her long tenure also points to institutional continuity, which can help sustain programs and relationships over time.

What's next: - Hochrein said she remains committed to ongoing professional development. - She wants students and teachers to keep growing and to discover strengths they may not yet see in themselves. - The Sandia Prep-Los Ranchos partnership appears positioned to continue as a recurring service program. - Her broader focus on belonging and flexibility suggests the school will keep adjusting its approach as student needs evolve.