News from the Superintendent: October 27, 2008

October 26, 2008

Dear APS Community Member,

Members of the Board of Education, senior leadership and I just returned from a professional training session and Council of Great City Schools conference in Houston. It is necessary to get out of the office so that we have the time and breathing space to sit down and really focus on what we do and how we can improve it. I will share more about what we learned from this experience soon.

Professional development can be invaluable to individuals in any field. We are constantly seeking ideas for enhancing opportunities for our students, for improving the district and the way we do our jobs. I was active in the CGCS long before I came to Albuquerque, and I continue to believe that the ideas and methods we exchange with other large, urban school districts like ours can only improve APS in the long run.

Now that we are a week away from an historic national election, a number of schools will be participating in mock elections this week. With all the time we spend talking about improving students’ reading and math abilities, we can sometimes forget about the vital lessons learned social studies classrooms. Teachers have the opportunity to point out the important issues America faces today, have students research the facts and show them the real-life democratic process in action.

I will be interested to see how mock election plays out. Students are only a few years or less from being part of the process. It’s a big responsibility. This is how we get students engaged—by showing them the kinds of duties and opportunities that await them in the real world. Thank you, teachers, for bringing this experience into the classroom.

The Celebrate the 8! conversation series continues this week with meetings at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at LBJ Middle School and 6 p.m. Thursday at Ernie Pyle Middle School. We hope you can join us.

I would like to remind you that United Way campaign forms are due on Friday. People are struggling everywhere these days, but so many APS programs rely on the community for its continued support. Your gift is tax-deductible, and your generosity is very much appreciated. Thank you for the many ways you give of your time, talents and treasure.

Have a great week, and I hope students have a fun and safe Halloween.

Sincerely,

Winston Brooks, Superintendent
Albuquerque Public Schools