Teachers and staff in Albuquerque Public Schools have a lot of work to do in terms of helping students build the skills they’ll need for success after leaving the district.
That was the message a group of student interns shared with the APS Board of Education at Wednesday’s meeting.
Albuquerque High School juniors Elsie Miller, McCarley Trigg, Lyla Lawrence and Ada Applegate shared student responses from a district survey aimed at guiding APS efforts to improve students’ skills, habits, and mindsets for life success.
They said the survey was problematic in several ways. It was administered during the sparsely attended advisory period, they said, and students didn’t have a real understanding of the reason for the survey, which led to dishonesty and indifference in their responses.
In their report, they said follow-up with other students drew suggestions that more information be given to teachers and students before future surveys, to ensure a better understanding of why students are being asked for their input.
The idea of students serving as ex officio board members was also panned, the students said. Their peers thought that school board members should be representing them, and the group suggested members could introduce themselves to the students at an assembly and share ways they can be contacted.
Board Vice President Ronalda Tome-Warito noted that the interns’ presentation wasn’t a scientific exercise and only covered a slice of the APS student body but she and others said they still found it valuable.
“What you brought to my awareness is that many times within our communities we just think of the adults,” Tome-Warito said. “And I appreciate your honesty (regarding) the way this survey was conducted.”
Tome-Warito said the interns will continue to work with APS over the summer to plan a fall student summit.
Strategic plan discussion
The presentation was part of a larger discussion on Goal 4 of the district’s Emerging Stronger strategic plan, which aims to increase the percentage of perseverance, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and social awareness among students.
A report from Sheri Jett, APS’ associate superintendent for leadership, learning, and equity and Dr. Antonio Gonzales, the district’s chief academic officer, says APS is off track for one of the sub-goals: increasing the percentage of fifth-graders who demonstrate those character traits.
Jett said staff is working with students to actively think about their own futures, then follow up with goal setting and reviewing progress toward those goals.
She said some schools showed a substantial increase in students’ levels of the traits, with classroom support possibly playing a role. Jett mentioned math teachers showing students that persistence in working on problems will help them find solutions.
The report says APS is on track to meet the goals for its middle and high school students.
Board member Janelle Astorga asked about ensuring that every student has an adult advocate on campus.
Jett said training will focus on the intentional development of advisory lessons that can help teachers act as champions for students.
She said it’s especially critical at the middle school level.
“You’re doing a lot of identity work,” Jett said. “They’re figuring out who they want to be, why they want to be that person. And we’re really instrumental in doing that.”
Plans for 2024-25
Incoming Superintendent Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey said the 2024-2025 school year will see more intentionality in reaching toward Goal 4, similar to the way APS approaches the other goals: early literacy, math proficiency and post-secondary readiness.
The board also approved an application to the New Mexico Public Education Department for almost $12 million in fine arts funding. The money will help pay for arts instruction for 33,791 students at more than 100 schools. APS will learn before July 1 whether it gets the money.
During the meeting’s public forum, parents and staff spoke on topics that included changes to the bell schedule at Hubert Humphrey Elementary School, student behavioral health and Del Norte High School’s upcoming 60th anniversary.