Jan. 6—Honoring an elementary school, saying goodbye to a beloved principal and remembering the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter are just a few things on tap for students of Albuquerque Public Schools when they return to the classroom Tuesday.
It was students’ first day back at school following a two-week winter break. Students were off Monday while teachers and staff worked during a professional development day.
The start of a new semester comes following a somewhat tumultuous first half of the school year for APS. In August, Superintendent Gabriella Blakey began her two-year tenure in the top role following a start and stop search process. She said “challenges remain” for Native American, African American and English-learner students in terms of testing proficiency as appeals over the state’s landmark Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit carry on. A book-banning pastor caused a stir during a November APS Board of Education meeting and a month later, despite outcry from families, the board approved the closure of Taft Middle School at the end of the current school year.
Honoring test score improvements and a former president
Even before students’ official return, Alvarado Elementary School on Monday became one out of 100 schools nationwide to earn a national distinguished school designation for improvements made in reading and math scores. Alvarado went from 40.7% to 47% proficient in reading/literacy in English; 10.4% to 24.1% proficient in Spanish; and 18.1% to 52.9% proficient in math, according to Alvarado Principal Desiree Springer.
“Promoting the importance of being in school every day, except when they are sick, helps us to make sure our students are receiving the daily curriculum they need to succeed,” Springer said in a news release.
APS also announced a new process for families who want to request their children attend another school outside of their neighborhood. They can request transfer online as opposed to doing it in person.
Jimmy Carter Middle School will hold a number of activities to honor the 39th president, who died at his home in Plains, Georgia on Dec. 29 at age 100. Principal Michelle Velasquez said morning announcements will honor Carter every day this week, as funeral proceedings continue. On Jan. 8, while Carter lies in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., students write letters of kindness in honor of Carter. On Jan. 9, a day of national mourning for Carter during his D.C. funeral and return to Plains, short videos, presumably about the peanut farmer turned governor and president, will be shown to students during class periods. Velasquez did not provide more information on Monday.
High school principal resigns
La Cueva High School Principal Maurice Guerin will resign from his position on Friday, according to a Dec. 20 letter sent to families by Marco Harris, assistant superintendent of high schools for APS. Guerin made the decision “after much consideration of his personal health to focus on his family’s well-being,” wrote Harris, who will serve as the school’s interim principal. Guerin was not immediately available for comment.
‘Every day matters’
In a prepared statement, APS Deputy Superintendent Antonio Gonzales said on Monday that spring semester “offers an opportunity for a new start” and he hopes students look at it “as an opportunity to see how they can grow and to set new goals for themselves.”
Gonzales not only urged parents to communicate with their children and teachers, he called student attendance “vital.” APS, like many school districts throughout the state, have looked for ways to stem chronic absenteeism, which pertains to students missing 10% or more of school days. About 31% of APS students were chronically absent in the 2023-2024 school year, according to district data.
“Parents and students should keep in mind that every day matters. Being in your seat in the classroom every day, you can’t beat it,” Gonzales said on Monday. “There’s no way to make up what you miss in a meaningful way.”