San Xavier Mission School Announces New Principal, Plans to Reopen in August 2024

By Carissa Krautscheid

San Xavier Mission School will reopen to kindergarten through 2nd grade students in August 2024. The school temporarily suspended operations on August 12, 2022, citing decreased enrollment and lack of critical staff. With the goal of renovating, reorganizing, and reopening Fall 2024, efforts have been underway this past school year in cleaning out and renovating classrooms, lobby, and office spaces. The next step was to hire a principal for the school year 2023-24 to lead remaining renovations, plan academic programs, engage with the local community, and build a growing list of support – both locally and nationally. The hiring committee included local community member, Janice Norris, and San Xavier Pastor, Friar Ponchie Vasquez, OFM.

Minh Solorzano has accepted the position of principal for San Xavier Mission School, effective June 28, 2023. Solorzano brings 20 years of experience in education and previously served as the principal of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Tucson. “I am most excited about getting to know the community at San Xavier Mission,” said Solorzano. “I welcome the opportunity to learn about the culture and gifts that the families and community members bring to San Xavier Mission.”

Over the course of the 2023-24 school year, Solorzano will focus on preparations for the school’s reenrollment period, beginning in January 2024. Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Tucson, Sheri Dahl said, “She will collaborate with the Department of Catholic Schools in planning classroom spaces for kindergarten, first, and second grades; planning curriculum and programs, including local Tohono O’odham culture and traditions; building community partnerships; applying for grants and cultivating donors.”

“We are very excited and hopeful that the Tohono O’odham community will experience a ‘new’ San Xavier Mission School,” said Dahl, “focusing on a quality primary K-2 education that integrates the Tohono O’odham language and culture into its program; forming the children in the Catholic faith and teaching them how to be good stewards of their community resources will be primary focuses in addition to providing a safe, joyful learning environment. The children deserve nothing less!”

Facility renovations are underway, including installing new flooring in all classrooms, the lobby, and office spaces. Next will be electrical wiring updates, lighting, ceilings, and painting. Dahl expressed gratitude to Ignacio “Nacho” Franko for “his dedication in ensuring that the renovations go smoothly. Nacho is a graduate of San Xavier Mission School, well-respected in the community, and a full-time employee at the Mission.”

This classroom awaits electrical wiring, lighting, ceiling, and painting.

The considerable progress toward reopening San Xavier Mission School is made possible through the generous contributions of the Black and Indian Mission donation of $100,000 for renovations; Knights of Columbus donation of $41,200 for renovations to the library and learning center; and Department of Catholic Schools donation of $40,000 to assist with the principal’s salary this year. 

Diocesan architect, John Shaheen, shows Bishop Edward Weisenburger and Sheri Dahl the future library at San Xavier Mission School.

In a letter to Bishop Edward Weisenburger, the Knights of Columbus shared, “The members of our Board of Directors were deeply moved by their visit to San Xavier del Bac last fall. Having seen firsthand the school’s important service to the Tohono O’odham people and the Pascua Yaqui Nation, the Knights of Columbus are pleased to join the renovation effort as part of our Native American Solidarity Initiative.”

There is still a lot of work to be done before students arrive in August 2024. However, a strong foundation is being set to prepare for a high-quality, Catholic education that honors the culture of Native American communities. Anyone interested in contributing to this initiative is invited to contact principal, Minh Solorzano at [email protected].

“It is my hope,” said Solorzano, “that the students are immersed in the formation of the Catholic faith, knowing that God loves them unconditionally. Living out the Catholic faith is one aspect of school culture. The integration of Tohono O'odham culture, traditions, and language should be embedded into the vision, philosophy, and mission of the school. As a person who comes from multiple ethnicities, I believe that the preservation of one's heritage and culture can impact future generations of young adults in addition to receiving an academically robust education.”


The school's playground is in need of funding for renovations.



Superintendent Sheri Dahl shows Bishop Weisenburger the school's future lobby and reception area.


San Xavier del Bac Mission's Pastor, Friar Ponchie Ponchie Vasquez, OFM; Bishop Edward Weisenburger; Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Sheri Dahl; Ignacio "Nacho" Franko; and new Principal, Minh Solorzano stand in front of the Turtle Gate.


San Xavier Mission School is located directly west of San Xavier del Bac Mission in the Tohono O'odam Nation.

San Xavier Mission School's new Principal, Minh Solorzano, is joined by Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Sheri Dahl; Bishop Edward Weisenburger; Pastor, Friar Ponchie Ponchie Vasquez, OFM; Diocesan architect, John Shaheen; and Ignacio "Nacho" Franko.