(NEW MEXICO)- School is back in session, and 16 teachers in New Mexico have been selected to address challenges in education, according to a press release from Teach Plus.
OpGov.News received a press release regarding the announcement on August 13.
Photo Credit: Facebook/Teach Plus
The news comes at a time when New Mexico is trying to combat low education rankings. New Mexico has ranked last in education since 2016, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book.
The situation pertains to Northern, Central, Western, and Southern New Mexico. According to the release, focus areas include early childhood attendance, equitable charter school funding, and career and technical education systems(CTE).
Elizabeth Leung, who teaches 3rd and 4th grade English Language Arts at Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School said the focus areas are significant to the current school year.
“All of these topics are ones that offer huge possibilities to make change that will have immediate positive impact on students and families, linking directly to Teach Plus New Mexico’s bigger goal of increased access to economic mobility,” Leung, who is entering her eighth year of teaching, said. “We have already identified opportunities in all three focus areas to advocate for students, and I am very excited to see what we can accomplish over the course of the fellowship.”
Leung told OpGov.News that she prioritizes high-quality instruction and intensive academic support to help students.
Leung said New Mexico has made improvements in math and literacy and provided her perspective on how education can improve.
“Addressing barriers to attendance especially in early grades, ensuring equitable funding for charter schools that are typically among the highest-performing schools in the state but often have to pull money from operating funds just to maintain their facilities, and bolstering CTE systems that help students prepare for the workforce are all next steps that will continue to move education,” Leung said.
TeachPlus, founded in 2016, believes the 16 teachers will help students during the school year. Teach Plus New Mexico Executive Director Hope Morales said teachers are essential to helping students learn.
Photo Credit: Teach Plus website
“Teachers are the ones who work directly with students and implement policies that are often decided outside their classrooms,” Morales said. “Having teacher leaders as key partners in policy development is vital for systems-level change.”
Morales believes the focus areas will be met during the school year. She applauds the teachers for their hard work.
“Utilizing areas of policy, implementation, and awareness campaigns, our teacher leaders will help create actionable change that improves equity and access for all students,” Morales said. “These projects are part of our larger effort to unlock meaningful career paths, build brighter futures, and improve economic mobility.”
Morales stated that there was a rigorous selection process for the teachers. The application process involves filling out a written application, interviewing, and a small activity.
Penasco Independent School District math teacher Mary Bissell was happy to join the selection of teachers after being contacted by Teach Plus New Mexico Staff.
Bissell has a strong relationship with Morales and completed a year with Teach Plus from 2022–2023. She teaches math from 8th grade to Pre-Calculus.
Bissell said she enjoys learning where students are with math. She believes math plays a significant role in a student's future education.
“High school Algebra I functions as a major gatekeeper to higher education, and about half of students who take college algebra don't earn a C or better,” Bissell said. “It's a major stumbling block for degree completion, including for non-STEM students.”
Bissell said CTE courses can help students build life skills and learn skilled trades for places like the military or college.
“If we can make students more invested in school by helping them understand that they are working toward their bigger life goals, we can better set them up for future success, Bissell said. “One of the biggest barriers to offering high-quality CTE courses in districts like mine is our small size and how remote we are. My working group is hoping to make CTE easier to offer so that all students, regardless of zip code, can take part.”
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