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'History being made': Three new board members sworn in for Albuquerque Public Schools

Ronalda Tome-Warito, District 2, is sworn in by the Honorable Patricio M. Serna, during the first school board meeting of the year at the Albuquerque Public Schools headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M., on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

Chancey Bush/Journal

Esteban Candelaria Esteban Candelaria Esteban Candelaria Staff Writer

Published January 3, 2024 - 6:32 p.m. Modified February 7, 2025 - 2:00 a.m.

The new year brings new leadership for New Mexico’s largest school district.

Three new Albuquerque Public Schools board members, two of whom also won leadership positions on the board, were sworn into office Wednesday, the panel’s first meeting of the new year.

Janelle Astorga of District 1, Ronalda Tome-Warito of District 2 and Heather Benavidez of District 4 joined four colleagues on the dais for the first time before a boardroom packed with family, campaign supporters and APS officials.

Janelle Astorga

District 1: South Valley and parts of the University of New Mexico area

Replacing: President Yolanda Montoya-Cordova, who had served since 2017.

Background: Licensed educational assistant, co-director of Learning Alliance of New Mexico

Ronalda Tome-Warito

District 2: Covers much of Northwest Albuquerque, including Ventana Ranch and Taylor Ranch

Replacing: Vice President Peggy Muller-Aragón, who had served since 2015.

Background: Education consultant

Heather Benavidez

District 4: International District and much of Nob Hill and Uptown

Replacing: Member Barbara Petersen, who had served since 2015.

Background: CEO of a disability advocacy nonprofit

The school board’s new makeup continues a legacy established by the previous panel, which became the first all-women board in APS’ history.

“You have just witnessed history being made,” retired state Supreme Court Justice Patricio Serna said after swearing in Tome-Warito, who is touted as the first Native American woman to be elected to the panel.

Astorga, Tome-Warito and Benavidez, respectively, replaced former board President Yolanda Montoya-Cordova, Vice President Peggy Muller-Aragón and member Barbara Petersen.

Montoya-Cordova and Petersen decided not to run again , but Muller-Aragón did and was defeated by a slim margin by Tome-Warito. Put together, the exiting members had about 24 years of board experience.

As of Wednesday, no member has been on the board since before 2022.

“There is so much to be proud of within Albuquerque Public Schools, and yet there are people who never miss the chance to criticize and find faults,” Benavidez said. “I look forward to working alongside each of my fellow board members to demonstrate the excellence of APS and prove those pessimistic people wrong.”

In the new panel’s first act, members elected new board officers, dubbing Danielle Gonzales as president, Tome-Warito vice president and Astorga secretary.

As school board president, Gonzales will preside over meetings, meet with the superintendent and help prepare agendas. Tome-Warito will serve in Gonzales’ place when she’s absent or engaged in board discussions, and Astorga will conduct public forum during meetings and, alongside Gonzales, sign off on certain resolutions and contracts approved by the board.