Administration

Matthew Pendrak
Principal

Mr. Matt Pendrak has been the Principal of Los Lunas Middle School since May 2025. Prior to that, he was the Principal of Los Lunas Elementary School since June of 2023, after serving as the Assistant Principal for the 2022-2023 school year.

Under Mr. Pendrak's leadership, Los Lunas Elementary has grew from 390 students to over 470 students, and boasts strong community connections with events such as Fall Fest, STEAM Night, Turkey Bingo, Courtyard of Lights, Family Dance, and a new Field Day format. 

Originally from the small town of Ilion, NY, Mr. Pendrak has a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Fredonia, in Fredonia, NY, a Masters Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a Masters Degree from the University of Kansas in Educational Leadership and Administration. 

Melissa Dyea
Assistant Principal

I was raised in Laguna Pueblo and attended the University of New Mexico where I received a BA in History. I then attended Arizona State University for graduate school with the intention of becoming a university professor. My first secondary teaching job was at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community as a Jr. High Native Studies teacher. I fell in love with the students and it changed my career path.

I returned home to raise my three children and began to teach special education, becoming certified in math, at Laguna Middle School. I spent a total of 22 years in the classroom, teaching all levels of math 6-12, New Mexico History, U.S. History, APUSH, APGOV, Digital Storytelling and Yearbook. My last 8 years of classroom teaching were at my alma mater, Laguna Acoma High School. I completed the New Mexico Public Education Department Administrator Leadership Development program in Spring 2020. Prior to joining the administrative team at Los Lunas Middle School, I served for two years as the Student Services Director at the Laguna Department of Education.