Six takeaways from new APS superintendent's first state of the district speech

With students, parents, educators and an impressive collection of elected and state education officials in attendance, Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey gave the district’s first-ever state of the district speech Wednesday morning. She called for the largest school district in New Mexico to boldly confront problems like chronic absenteeism.

“We have largely operated the way we always have, making slight connections here and there but generally shying away from big changes out of fear that it might ruffle feathers,” Blakey said. “And the fact is, business as usual is not working for us. We have to reject the status quo and embrace a culture of accountability.”

School Board President Danielle Gonzales said that Blakey is the first superintendent to have her contract tied directly to progress on the district’s four five-year goals.

Here are six takeaways from Blakey’s speech:

1. The district is trying to address absenteeism by making school more exciting.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant problem for APS. Last school year, nearly 31% of APS students were chronically absent, Blakey said, which is actually a slight improvement from the year before.

The district is expanding a program to alert school staff and students about absences, which should help staff members do more interventions. The district also needs to figure out what will make students excited to be in the classroom, she said.

“Our fine arts expansion we completed this year is a great example of that,” Blakey said. “Another example is genius hour, which is a block of time each day that allows students to explore their interests. And that’s why I would like to expand genius hour into every APS elementary school.”

This school year, APS is making art and music classes available at every school. For more than 20 years, elementary schools have had art and music education available on alternating years.

2. The district wants to give successful schools more autonomy and invest more in struggling schools.

The school district is trying to put more time and resources into struggling schools and allow schools that are doing well more freedom, Blakey said.

“Schools that need more help will get it, and they will get it faster,” Blakey said. “Schools that are doing well will have more freedom to innovate new strategies that can take them even further.”

3. Many students are struggling.

Only 38% of the district’s third graders are proficient in reading, only 26% of eighth graders are proficient in math and the high school graduation rate is 72%, Blakey said.

“And for our Yazzie-Martinez students, they are even further behind,” she said.

The 2018 decision in the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit said New Mexico was failing to provide sufficient and uniform education for all students, especially low-income, Native American, or English language learners and those with disabilities. The state is working to rectify those inequities.

4. Some schools have seen notable improvements.

Blakey highlighted several schools that have made significant literacy and math improvements. She said it is important for the district to “celebrate our successes and build on the things that are going well.”

At East San Jose Elementary School, third through fifth grade reading and math scores increased by 19 percentage points. Sandia Base Elementary students had a 27% improvement in reading scores. Mission Avenue Elementary had reading scores increase by 23%, and MacArthur Elementary had a 32% increase in math scores.

5. In her first month on the job, Blakey has focused on a smooth start to the school year and teacher training.

Members of the district’s leadership team visited every school in the district during the first two days of the year to ensure a smooth start, Blakey said.

Since she started as superintendent 59 days ago, the district has done an administrative reorganization and fine-tuned the strategic plan. Administration also has worked with teachers to align units of study being taught across the district, she said. The district also has committed to training every elementary teacher and principal in a professional development program meant to boost student literacy.

6. Blakey called on parents to be ‘respectful advocates’.

Blakey said she has asked school principals to be bold leaders and has asked teachers to embrace high quality instruction. In her speech, Blakey also asked parents to advocate for their children.

“To our parents and families, I ask that you recognize the importance of education for your child’s future. Be a respectful advocate for your child, and please make sure that your child is getting to school every day,” Blakey said.

“And to our students, I ask that you try your best every day and that you ask for help if you’re struggling. We work toward a future that you want and that you deserve.”