OPINION: A new era for APS: Students at the center

The recent Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education election ushers in a new era for education. With new perspectives joining the board, the direction of the district will inevitably shift. What must not shift is one key focus: Students must remain at the center of every decision.

New Mexico has not always done that well. For too long, education policy has revolved around adult systems, compliance and politics rather than the actual experience of learning in the classroom. As this new board begins its work, we have an opportunity to focus the conversation where it belongs: on students.

Every conversation about governance should begin and end with a simple question: Are students learning and growing? That must be the lens for every decision. APS should define success by what students can actually do: how well they read, write, think and solve problems. The board has an opportunity to lead a shift from compliance to mastery, from standardization to personalization. That means regular progress monitoring and targeted support when students fall behind.

The success of any reform ultimately depends on teachers. Yet, New Mexico’s track record in professional development has been fragmented and shallow. APS has the chance to build a coherent, sustained system of professional learning. That means embedded coaching, collaborative professional learning communities and training that connects directly to student data. It means supporting teachers as designers and innovators. Professional development must also evolve to prepare teachers for the changing landscape of education. Support should be given on integrating generative artificial intelligence, project-based learning and culturally responsive instruction. When teachers grow, students grow.

New Mexico cannot improve by replicating the same systems that have consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation. Innovation must be encouraged, not feared. Families should have access to diverse, high-quality options that reflect different learning models, community values and student interests. Charter schools have a key role to play in strengthening public education. Survey after survey indicates that families in our area support more public charter options, and the APS board would be well served to acknowledge that overwhelming support. And all of these hopes for the district can currently be found at one local charter school.

At East Mountain, we’ve seen what happens when a school puts students at the center. Our model combines rigorous academics, strong relationships and a culture of continuous improvement. In the recent spring assessment results released by the Public Education Department, our students posted the highest literacy growth of any high school in New Mexico and the third-highest math growth statewide. When both subjects are combined, East Mountain ranks as the second-most improved school in the state of any size or grade level.

Those results reflect what’s possible when educators are trusted to innovate, when data drives reflection and when families are given a genuine choice in their child’s education. Our school is proud to be part of the APS portfolio of strong options given to families. Our school is ready to share what’s working, to collaborate across sectors, and to continue offering an innovative, high-performing option for families in the East Mountains and across Albuquerque.

The new board faces difficult decisions ahead, but the path forward is clear. Put students at the center. Empower teachers. Champion innovation and choice. If those become the guideposts of this new era, New Mexico’s next chapter in education could finally be one of growth, measured not by politics, but by student success.