Councilor Chavez is an educator, community servant, and mental health advocate. She was born and raised on the south side of Santa Fe by her parents, Eliseo and Tomasita Chavez, who are retired from the New Mexico state government. Councilor Chavez attended Sweeney Elementary School, Turquoise Trail Elementary School, Capshaw Middle School, and graduated from Santa Fe High School in 2003. After high school, she moved to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. In 2007, she earned a double Bachelor's in Special Education K-12 and General Education K-8 with a minor in mathematics. Councilor Chavez then began teaching middle school in Albuquerque, focusing on students with significant barriers and challenges.

In 2013, she began a Master's Program at Grand Canyon University and earned a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership in 2015. Returning to Santa Fe in 2015, she taught special education at Amy Biehl Elementary School for two years before becoming assistant principal at César Chávez Elementary School. After a year, she became the principal, overseeing the school's transition to a community school. This experience motivated her to run for City Council to bring her experience of community efforts to city leadership.

In 2021, Councilor Chavez was promoted to Special Education Director at Santa Fe Public Schools, serving district-wide elementary and community schools, and high-needs programs. In 2023, she returned to working directly with students as Assistant Principal at Santa Fe High School, overseeing student supports. Councilor Chavez is committed to making a difference in both her roles as an educator and city official.