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Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Ed Boss Goes to Teachers For Ideas

By Russell Contreras
Journal Staff Writer
    State Education Secretary Veronica C. Garcia is taking her next "community conversation" to those fighting in the trenches— teachers.
    On Friday, Garcia will visit the American Federation of Teachers in New Mexico to discuss closing the state's student achievement gap.
    Garcia will show student performance data and ask participants to brainstorm about the root causes of the achievement gap.
    And teachers won't have any problem sharing their ideas, said Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation. The group is part of the American federation.
    Christine Trujillo, president of the American Federation of Teachers, New Mexico, agreed.
    "This is a great opportunity for us to help identify and employ initiatives that hold the greatest promise for moving all of our students, including students of color, poor students, rural and urban students and second-language learners to high levels of achievement," Trujillo said.
    The Albuquerque Educational Assistants, the New Mexico Parent Teachers Association and the League of Women Voters also have been invited to attend the meeting.
    Friday's conversation is part of the secretary's statewide tour on the student achievement gap. The conversations are part of Garcia's effort to "saturate the public" with data on the gap.
    For example, about 71 percent of New Mexico Anglo students tested proficient in reading in 2003-2004, compared to 46 percent of Latinos and 36 percent of Native Americans.
    Garcia said she hopes to find solutions to close this gap by listening to people from various parts of the state.
    The secretary already has had conversations with business leaders, school boards, school superintendents and charter school officials.
    She said her conversations will continue through the fall.
   
Conversation on Friday
    Education Secretary Veronica C. Garcia will hold a "community conversation" from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the American Federation of Teachers' Albuquerque office, 8009 Mountain Road. To reserve a spot, call or e-mail Jennifer Chavez at 222-4752 or jennifer.chavez@state.nm.us.