News from the Superintendent: May 3, 2011

May 3, 2011

Good afternoon and Happy National Teacher Day.

With only four weeks remaining in the school year, I want to thank you for the successes of 2010-11. Once again, we had to do more with less and teachers, administrators and staff stepped up.

APS faced many challenges this year, like most years, but this one should be defined by and remembered for its numerous accomplishments. Here are just a few:

• The APS Education Foundation held its first A is for Art! student art auction fundraiser;
• APS was one of a handful of districts nationally to participate in an active campaign that encourages parents to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid so that their students can attend college;
• Several high schools and nearly every middle school viewed the Rachel’s Challenge kindness and anti-bullying program, and many formed student groups that continue to bring awareness to the issue;
• The Title I Homeless Project met the needs of 6,000 homeless students in the district;
• Parents gave APS teachers and schools the highest marks in the seven years that the Quality of Education Parent Survey has been used;
• An elementary teacher and a family/community liaison received the 2011 Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women;
• Three APS high school teachers won Golden Apple Fellow awards;
• The AVID program is completing its second year in APS and will be expanded again next year;
• APS is one of eight districts in the country invited to participate in a national common core standards pilot program;
• Two alternative high schools—nex+Gen Academy and eCADEMY—opened new buildings to better serve students; and
• APS seniors’ average ACT composite score was about 1 point higher than the statewide average. This year’s scores also were .1 point higher than the nationwide average on the exam;

I also want to congratulate the graduates of the Class of 2011, who will be leaving us in a couple of weeks. I wish them the best as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

Thank you for everything you do to help our students succeed. Your efforts are truly, sincerely appreciated.

Have a good rest of the year, and a safe and happy summer.

Winston Brooks
Superintendent