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Questions 1. Do you support efforts to evaluate teachers partly on the basis of their students’ test score improvement? Why or why not? 2. Do you support charter schools and the expansion of the charter school movement in Albuquerque? Why or why not? 3. As a school board member, would you be willing to conduct all board business on a public email address? Why or why not? 4. Do you support a state law mandating retention of third-graders who test below grade level in reading? Why or why not? 5. Please give your evaluation of Superintendent Winston Brooks’ performance. 6. Describe your approach and priorities in setting the APS budget. 7. What district policies, if any, would you wish to change or enact if elected to the board? 8. What is the biggest problem facing APS? 9. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? 10. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? 11. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. |
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Donald Duran
AGE: 67
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, University of Texas at El Paso; master’s California University at Long Beach; doctorate of education, University of New Mexico.
OCCUPATION: Retired Educator, Teaching Education Leadership classes at New Mexico Highlands University at Rio Rancho.
FAMILY: Married to Maria Duran for 41 years, and we have three children.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: Served as superintendent of Belen Consolidated Schools and served as the assistant secretary of education for the state of New Mexico.
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: As superintendent of the Belen Schools, I structured comprehensive budget analysis based on district goals/objectives; reallocated $100,000 from administrative salaries to direct classroom instructional needs; directed district from B-Bond to A-Bond rating; and lobbied New Mexico Legislature, including state agencies, resulting in $15 million district budget for needed infrastructure.
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: My personal educational accomplishment was receiving my doctorate of education from UNM in 2003.
1. I support using a comprehensive approach for evaluating teachers that would not exclusively use test scores. Teacher performance evaluation should include other authentic test measures, student input, and classroom observations.
2. I support including parental quality public choices, including charter schools. Charter schools are public schools and can be used as part of a broad policy to encourage quality school reform, innovation and increase the portfolio of public choices across the district.
3. I believe in transparency of public policy. I would adhere to the Open Meetings Law and the guidelines set by the attorney general. All public business should be conducted on public emails.
4. Retention can be a viable option when both the school and parents have agreed and exhausted all interventions that support a student’s progress. I do not support mandatory retention that fails to include resources to address the lack of academic progress.
5. As a former superintendent, I would actively support a transparent and public review of the performance measures set by the board. I do not have sufficient information how the board arrived at the performance measures or how those measures were evaluated. I look forward to working with the new board as we evaluate his performance.
6. The budget must reflect classroom and school priorities. Research is clear that educational reform and school success occurs in the classroom. The budget should reflect individual school reform priorities with authentic input of principals, teachers, school staff, parents and students.
7. I would work with the board to review district policies and adopt changes, as appropriate. I would seek policies that would focus our efforts in school reform at the local school community. I would seek policies that would elevate the voice of the school community in making decisions for their schools.
8. The issue of academic achievement for all students remains a challenge. I believe that we must provide resources and encourage our school communities to address the achievement gap and graduation rates with bold and sustainable solutions.
9. No.
10. No.
11. No.
Paula Maes (incumbent)
AGE: 59
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in journalism from the University of New Mexico, 1976.
OCCUPATION: President/CEO New Mexico Broadcasters Association.
FAMILY: Four sons: Michael Baker 28, Evan Baker 28, Joshua Baker, 26 and Christopher Baker, 25
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: 12 years on the APS school board
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Emmy Award winner; founding member of the National Association of Hispanic Broadcasters; past-president of the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: My family is major personal accomplishment, being the mother of four sons who are continuing to grow and are successful human beings. Last year, for the first time, I became a grandmother to Phoenix Paul Baker and he is given me a renewed purpose in life.
1. Many factors must be a part of teacher evaluations. Student success involves more than what happens in a classroom. We must consider their homes and families, the foundation of a student’s life. If the foundation is not strong and supportive, the job of being a teacher takes on a new facet of being a parent, caring not only for a child’s educational needs, but their emotional needs.
2. I support charter school and the options it gives the families of Albuquerque.
3. I use my personal email, paula@bakermaes.com and I am willing for all my emails to be open to the public. I am a former member of the New Mexico FOG (Foundation for Open Government) board.
4. We need to look at the needs of each student individually. No state law should mandate retention without knowing the issues a student is facing.
5. I was president of the board when Superintendent Brooks was hired. I have worked with a number of superintendents during my tenure on the board, and no other person has been able to bring the credibility and progress APS has seen in the past five years. The APS I was elected to 12 years ago as a board member is not the APS I am asking to re-elected to for another four years.
6. The priorities of the APS have and always will be the 90,000 students of our district.
7. Over the last four years under the leadership of Dr. Dave Peercy, we as a board have been revamping the district policies. The work must continue and will. This process is making APS a productive district.
8. The lack of support financially from the state of New Mexico.
9. No.
10. No.
11. No.
Angela L. Gonzales Carver
Age: 58
Education: Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of Annunciation, St. Pius X High School, Sandia High School graduate; the University of New Mexico, GB-98 Contractor License.
Occupation: Owner-Secretary/Treasurer Carver Construction Co. Inc / Substitute Teacher
Family: Married to Rodney Carver, two children, Adrian and Dani Carver, both attended APS and are graduates of Manzano High School.
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Small business owner. In the new home/remodeling construction business for over 20 years. President of New Mexico Parent Teacher Association, 2007-2009
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Married for 29 years. I have two very intelligent and successful children that attended and graduated from Albuquerque Public Schools.
1. For non-core teachers, evaluating based on scores that they have no power over is unfair. There needs to be a collaborative and continued dialogue between the Public Education Department, administrators, teachers, and parents on what a school evaluation system should look like.
2. I support quality charter schools given they support students and teachers. I will not support charters which co-opt funding for students who are then sent back to APS without proper funding. I will support policies that reduce or eliminate cash-grab efforts by charters. I believe charter teachers should be unionized to maintain uniformity across the metropolitan area.
3. Transparency is key. I believe in open honest communication.
4. No. Parents and schools should have the ultimate say in what action will be taken to help their child succeed. We should be investing in early childhood education rather than mandating a third-grade retention law. Investing early and giving support to families and educators would be a better use of funds than a punitive mandate.
5. He has always been a champion for Albuquerque students. He may not make the popular decision, but he is fair. He has done a good job working with the board. It is a tough job.
6. I would evaluate and investigate what the funding is and what is working and what needs work. In taking bids, sometimes the lowest bid is not the best bid there should be better evaluation of bidders.
7. Being a true parent engagement activist I would push for a continuation of including parents and community in decision-making when appropriate.
8. The graduation/dropout rate. It can’t be addressed without addressing funding and lack of true parent family engagement that would truly value and take to heart the parents’ input.
9. No.
10. No.
11. Heck no!
David L. Robbins (incumbent)
AGE: 59
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in economics, 1976; bachelor’s in economics and master’s in business administration, both from UNM
OCCUPATION: Administrative Services Division, director and CFO for New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department
FAMILY: Wife — Jan (37 years), three adult children
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: APS board (four years), chair of APS Finance Committee (2009-2011); chair APS Capital and Technology Committee (2011-2013); former GOP ward chairman, Bernalillo County GOP; County Central Committee member; former member and president of the Oñate Neighborhood Association
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Established a capital prioritization program and process while at PNM that prioritized $250-300 million of annual capital projects.
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: My wife and I recently celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary. Three grown children, two are married, so really five children, and one granddaughter.
1. Yes, if the tests are part of student grading or advancement requirements. Without such a link, student test results may provide an inaccurate picture of teacher performance.
2. Yes. Funding and operating requirements should be uniform for charter schools and APS. Statutes and regulations should allow APS to establish charter and magnet schools and receive separate funding as a charter.
3. Yes, I currently use an APS-provided email address — robbins_d@aps.edu— for board business and will continue to use this for board business if I am re-elected.
4. This is currently permitted, and I support retention as long as support is provided to the student. Early testing and intervention, as proposed by the governor, would minimize the need for retention.
5. Two on a five-point scale. APS has built good relationships with the city, UNM, CNM and the business community. I continue to seek greater accountability, openness, and listening to all points of view.
6. I look at whether an expenditure or program will assist student learning and make them a better citizen. I look at what viable alternates were examined that could achieve similar results for lower costs.
7. The internal auditor should report directly to the board, and not have to get permission from the superintendent to investigate reported or suspected wrongdoing or to have conversations with board members.
8. Student proficiency. APS student proficiency remains just over 60 percent. While there has been some movement, progress is too slow. Parents, teachers and administrators must join together to improve overall student performance.
9. No.
10. No.
11. No.
— This article appeared on page C2 of the Albuquerque Journal
