By Christopher Vargas
New Horizons Elementary School in Wellington began the new school year under the leadership of Principal Gloria Salazar, a veteran educator with deep connections to the community.
For Salazar, the position is not just a new role, but a return to familiar ground. She attended fifth grade at New Horizons as a child, and said those experiences continue to shape her career in education.
“This isn’t just another school to me,” Salazar said, reminiscing about her time at New Horizons. “It’s the place where my own educational journey took a significant step forward. Those positive memories have stayed with me.”
She grew up in Wellington and has lived in the community since she was a child. Salazar’s career in education began as a classroom teacher before she moved into administration, serving as an assistant principal and later as principal at Jupiter Elementary School for the past three years.
“My proudest accomplishment was leading the school to significant academic progress,” Salazar explained. “This was a direct result of a collaborative effort to ensure that every student received the support they needed to succeed.”
Under her leadership, Jupiter Elementary saw achievement gaps close among different student populations.
Salazar credits this progress to a strong culture of professional learning for teachers. She established weekly professional learning communities where educators could share best practices, collaborate on lesson plans and receive targeted coaching.
“This investment in our teachers’ craft directly contributed to our students’ academic progress,” she said.
Salazar’s return to New Horizons also aligns with the school’s well-known dual-language International Spanish Academy program. As a bilingual Hispanic who grew up in the western communities, she sees herself as “a natural bridge between the school and our Spanish-speaking families,” and hopes to serve as a positive role model for students.
“I know first-hand the immense importance of not only speaking two languages, but also becoming truly biliterate and bicultural,” Salazar said. “I want our students to see their heritage and language as assets to be proud of.”
For her first year, Salazar’s top priorities are student achievement, community engagement and creating a unified school culture. She does not plan immediate program changes, instead choosing to observe and listen before implementing new initiatives.
“I believe the most impactful and sustainable changes come from a deep understanding of a school’s strengths, challenges and culture,” she said. “I would be able to work collaboratively with the community to determine what is needed.”
Her approach to leadership emphasizes inclusivity and respect for all members of the school community.
“Students, staff and families deserve to feel safe, valued and respected,” Salazar said. “I see this as a foundational priority that influences every aspect of the school.”
Looking ahead, Salazar hopes to leave a lasting impact through collaboration and high expectations.
“As a new principal, I first want to learn from the community by listening to the students, staff and families about the school’s strengths, and what their hopes are for the future,” she said. “My goal is to use those insights to leave a lasting impact by building a culture of collaboration and fostering sustained student success, both academically and personally.”
The previous principal at New Horizons was Dana Pallaria, who is now the principal at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School in Martin County.
