Albuquerque Public Schools
Building the Next Generation of Trailblazers
In her weekly message, Superintendent Blakey celebrates Women’s History Month.
Women’s History Month kicks off next week, and I have a challenge for you.
I want you to think of a little girl in your life–a daughter, niece, neighbor, or even one of your friend’s daughters–and consider what you’d be willing to do to help her succeed. For me, that’s my niece Saiya.
I want Saiya to grow up and be able to do anything she dreams of, whether that’s becoming a doctor, a lawyer, a nurse, an architect, a teacher, a governor, or even the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
I’m going to be on the sidelines, cheering her on because I know how important it is to help kids build confidence. I’m going to push her to challenge herself and to do things that are hard, because I know that’s how you grow. I’m going to be there when she stumbles, encouraging her to get back up and keep moving forward. And I’m going to tell her every chance I get that she’s smart and that she can do anything she sets her mind to.
Above all else, I’m going to be there for her, sharing my experiences and being a sounding board as she makes important decisions in her life, like where to go to college (Go Aggies!) and whether it’s the right time to make a major career move.
And I’m going to do everything in my power to be a good role model for her and for every other little girl out there, because I know how important it is for girls to see women in leadership positions.
As we mark Women’s History Month, we celebrate the trailblazers who rose to the top in their male-dominated fields, people like Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg and media titans like Oprah Winfrey. But it’s also worth recognizing that these remarkable women had people in their lives who encouraged and supported them.
And that’s a role each and every one of us can play for the little girls in our lives and in our schools, regardless of our sex, race, ethnicity, economic status or anything else. We have the power to build the next generation of trailblazers. And it starts by making sure ALL of our students know they can be anything they want if they are willing to put in the time and hard work.
Our day-to-day interactions with students are vital. What we say and how we interact with them matter. The fact that they see strong women as principals, teachers, nurses and counselors matters. You are the role models for little girls throughout our community.
As we embark on Women’s History Month, I am grateful to all the trailblazers who came before and laid the groundwork that made it possible for me to be where I am. I’m thankful to all the parents, uncles, aunts, neighbors, family friends, APS staffers and everyone else out there investing in our kids.
And to Saiya and all the other little girls in our community, I want you to know that I believe in you and know you’re going to do amazing things!
Have a great weekend.