A popular social media group that has stood in strong opposition to the governor’s education agenda is going on hiatus, according to a statement on its Facebook page.
Stand4KidsNM announced this week that it will shut down its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, as well as its website.
“Today, we are focusing on our personal goals which are to continue being active in the NM education conversation within our personal communities, schools, and neighborhoods,” the group said on its Facebook page. “We at Stand4KidsNM will be continuing to fight for our schools outside the long-armed reach and deep pockets of NM politics and the media.”
Founded in 2013, the group has opposed what it calls “corporate reforms of our public schools” and has been critical of Gov. Susana Martinez’s education policies, including teacher evaluations based on student test scores and the state’s adoption of a new computer-based standardized test called the PARCC exam.
The group’s most visible member, Kathy Korte, had been an Albuquerque Public Schools board member but lost a re-election bid in February.
Her opponent, Peggy Muller-Aragon, was strongly supported by the governor. Martinez contributed $15,000 to her campaign.
Korte’s husband, Tim Korte, had been a spokesman with the Martinez administration since 2011, but was fired in January. The administration insisted that Tim Korte’s firing had nothing to do with his wife’s outspoken criticism of the governor, or his performance, but was budget-driven.
Kathy Korte could not be reached for comment Friday on Stand4KidsNM’s decision to shut down its social media accounts and website.
In its statement, the group said it had considered taking a break after the 2014 general election, in which the group had stumped for Martinez’s opponent, former New Mexico Attorney General Gary King.
But the group decided to continue with Stand4KidsNM and to focus on New Mexico’s new standardized test.
The group was part of a larger contingency of New Mexicans concerned about the new computer-based test and how it would be used in teacher and school ratings.
The group’s statement did not make clear whether the hiatus was temporary or permanent.
Meanwhile, the group was still tweeting Friday.
Stand4KidsNM organizers did provide followers with a list of similar organizations around the state, including a group called Parents and Teachers Educating the Community, or PTEC, in Albuquerque.
PTEC is still active. That group held an anti-PARCC rally Friday morning in a parking lot at Indian School and Carlisle NE.
