School board elections are being held today
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School board elections are being held across the state today, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Continue Reading
Forget reform; only fundamental innovation will succeed
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Rather than attempt to reform a broken model of education, New Mexico must innovate fundamentally or suffer the same old results. Continue Reading
School nurses impact student achievement
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As a school nurse, I suspect there are some legislators who consider me, and others providing support services, expendable. Perhaps this is because they have no idea how I directly impact a student’s ability to succeed in school. Continue Reading
Sen. Smith pleased by Martinez’s speech
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One of the state’s most powerful lawmakers, a conservative Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, was largely pleased by what Gov. Susana Martinez had to say during her state of the state address. Continue Reading
It’s about honesty and transparency
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There is no one of us more qualified to fix our schools than all of us. In particular, the 100,000 years of teaching experience in the APS have a right to a seat at the table where decisions are made. The people have a seat at that table as well. Continue Reading
Dancing with the lemons
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Last week I suggested that Governor Martinez give consideration to grabbing the third rail of political issues such as cuts in Medicaid to help balance the FY2012 state budget. Well, here’s another third rail issue to grab on to: cuts in education. Continue Reading
Democrat Garcia picked to be higher education secretary
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Gov.-elect Susana Martinez has nominated a Democrat to be her administration’s secretary of higher education – New Mexico State University government professor Jose Z. Garcia. Continue Reading
Martinez picks Florida reformer to be education secretary
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UPDATED: Gov.-elect Susana Martinez has nominated a woman who implemented education reforms in Florida to be New Mexico’s public education secretary. Continue Reading
Martinez is ready to govern; hopefully Dems will let her
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I must applaud Governor-elect Martinez for quickly addressing the need to keep education and Medicaid in the discussion. It is refreshing to see her put politics aside to do what is right. Continue Reading
Martinez to appoint two NMSU regents
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Two New Mexico State University regents’ terms expire at the end of the year, and Gov.-elect Susana Martinez will appoint their replacements. Continue Reading
ERB may drop proposal to require later retirement
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The N.M. Educational Retirement Board is considering a new proposal that would require members to pay more into their retirement but not have to work additional years before they are eligible to retire. Continue Reading
Proposed retirement changes lead to outrage
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There’s outrage over a proposal that would require public education employees in New Mexico to pay more into their retirement funds and potentially work longer before they can retire. Continue Reading
Merit pay doesn’t work in public education
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Merit pay doesn’t work in public education because what works in competitive contexts and cultures does not work in non-competitive ones. No one becomes a public school teacher expecting to get rich, and none is disappointed! Continue Reading
Smaller schools increase choices and the graduation rate
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At this time, when both our economy and our students are struggling, smaller schools represent an effective reform that costs nothing and that will improve our state’s shamefully low graduation rate. Continue Reading
Local politics are no longer only local
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Here are my thoughts on the national races, the local races, and what the failure of what a bond issue for universities says about taxpayers, who I think are voting to starve the beast. Continue Reading