News from the Superintendent: November 16, 2010

November 16, 2010

Good afternoon.

In a time when we are all expected to do more with less, there are still great teachers doing great things in APS classrooms. For that matter, teachers around New Mexico still excel in spite of the gloomy state budget news, and they have recently been recognized for it.

Of the seven high school teachers named as recipients of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2011, three are from APS. I would like to congratulate Jean Baca of Volcano Vista, Kris Gracey of La Cueva and Anthony Rodriguez of Cibola for receiving this prestigious award. Ms. Baca teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, while Ms. Gracey teaches health education and Mr. Rodriguez is a special education math teacher.

The Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico has been making these awards for excellence for the past 16 years. Recipients are nominated by their principals, fellow teachers, students or parents and go through a lengthy selection process.

What this award says is that these teachers are considered by their school communities to be the best of the best. They get the most out of their students, are role models for their colleagues and even mentor other teachers. Many APS teachers have won Golden Apple awards in previous years, and we should be proud of all of them.

The district is up for recognition as well. APS is one of a few, select districts invited to apply for the 2011 Broad Prize, which is awarded by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The award honors districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among racial/ethnic and income groups. District eligibility is based on size, urban environment and minority and low-income student populations.

The five finalist districts for the 2010 prize shared $2 million in college scholarships.

APS hasn’t won anything yet, but just being invited to apply is an honor in itself. It’s a very selective award and this puts us in some pretty impressive company.

Please know that it’s your hard work with students that has put APS on the map, and any accolades that come our way belong to you, too. Thank you for your continued support of our students.

Have a good week.

Winston Brooks
Superintendent