Albuquerque Public Schools
Celebrating Heritage, Community and Pride at APS
In her weekly message, Superintendent Durán Blakey reflects on the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month and the power of family stories.
Happy Friday!
The monsoons are in full swing, fall officially arrives next week, and the Balloon Fiesta is just around the corner. We’re also celebrating the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which kicked off earlier this week. It’s a great time of year in Albuquerque.
With two-thirds of our students identifying as Hispanic, this recognition month holds deep meaning for Albuquerque Public Schools.
It’s also deeply personal to me. As a Hispanic woman, an APS graduate, and someone raised right here in Albuquerque, I am immensely proud to lead a district where our students can see their languages, cultures, families, and identities celebrated as strengths.
I have long believed that honoring every student’s background enriches our entire community. When students feel genuine pride in who they are and where they come from, it creates the essential foundation for growth — fostering perseverance, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and social awareness.
In New Mexico, where roughly half of our population is Hispanic, it can be easy to take our rich heritage for granted — the incredible food, dynamic music, beautiful language, and cherished family traditions. But, preserving these connections requires intentional effort and storytelling.
Recently, while going through some old jump drives at home, I discovered silent home movies from the late 1970s that captured long-forgotten moments from my childhood. In one of them, I’m about 2 years old, and I’m on a horse with my grandfather, who is beaming with joy. My grandfather Porfirio Durán passed away when I was 3 and my grandmother Clara Ramirez Durán died when I was 5.
They’ve been gone for close to half a century, but my dad has kept their memories alive through the stories he has shared with us over the years. I know that my grandmother was a humble woman who was as resilient as they come, and that my grandfather’s work ethic was unparalleled and he instilled in us the importance of education. We need to hold onto these stories and encourage our students to ask their families about their own grandparents and great-grandparents.
My grandparents worked incredibly hard and made sacrifices to create opportunities for my family and help me reach this place. I carry their strength, values, and hopes with me in this role.
As educators, we have a powerful opportunity to help our students honor their heritage and elevate the vibrant diversity across our district. We can invite students to interview family members or community elders about their origins, traditions, and lived experiences, creating space for those stories to be shared and celebrated.
I hope this month deepens our students’ pride in who they are, where they come from, and all they can become. Thank you for your commitment to cultivating an inclusive community where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to reach their highest potential.