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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
School Principal Killed in Rollover
By Andrea Schoellkopf
Journal Staff Writer
The 24-year principal of Albuquerque's School on Wheels, known for his work with at-risk students, was killed Sunday in a rollover crash on an icy patch of Interstate 40 east of Gallup.
Felipe Perea, 60, knew the name and story of every student in his school, which is conducted in the style of a one-room schoolhouse.
"His heart was always with kids that needed more support and help than other kids," said APS chief academic officer Linda Sink, who worked with Perea at Albuquerque High in the 1970s. "I think he made a difference in their lives."
According to the McKinley County Sheriff's Office, Perea and five family members were westbound on I-40 when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy patch near mile marker 42 just east of Gallup, colliding with another car that had veered off the side. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Perea and his wife, Rita, had left their Los Lunas home early Sunday for a spring break trip to a resort in Laughlin, Nev., with their two sons, a daughter-in-law and seven of their 10 grandchildren in two cars, said son Philippe Perea of Albuquerque, who was driving in front of his father on Sunday. They had planned to fish and jet ski on the Colorado River.
Rita, his wife of 35 years, remains at Gallup Indian Medical Center, where she was expected to be upgraded from intensive care. She is dean of instruction at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School.
It's unusual for any principal to be at the same place for 24 years, but people who knew Perea said he was a natural.
School employees "knew how to build relationships with students where hope was almost gone," associate superintendent Eddie Soto said. "They knew how to make them hopeful again and get them on a path towards graduation."
Perea's legacy, teacher Vince Case said, was creating a family environment for his students.
"Even when they made mistakes, Felipe was one of the ones saying 'You don't want to quit. You have to make some changes. We want you to be here,' " Case said.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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