Albuquerque Public Schools
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
In her weekly message, Superintendent Blakey reflects on her Hispanic heritage.
Each year, when Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, I start thinking about what it means to be Hispanic. I think about my family and the big strides we’ve made in just a few generations. I think about the Spanish language and its resurgence after a period when its use was frowned upon in schools. And, despite this amazing progress, I think about the long road ahead – particularly for Hispanic women – to reach parity.
I’m proud of my Hispanic heritage. I love the traditions, like gathering around the kitchen table before Christmas each year to make tamales. (In all honesty, I’m not a big fan of tamales, but I enjoy spending time with my family making them.) I am a big fan of red chile and celebratory Mariachi music. I love the churches that dot the New Mexico landscape.
Most of all, I love the beautiful, resilient people I come from who sacrificed, worked hard, and taught us that education was our ticket to a better life.
My dad’s family, the Duráns and Horcasitas, were from Santa Clara, a tiny town on the outskirts of Silver City.
My grandmother only spoke Spanish, and my dad frequently told us stories about getting in trouble for speaking Spanish at school. Consequently, the dominant language in my house was English, although my mom, who is Italian, and dad would switch to their native languages anytime they didn’t want us to know what they were talking about.
I learned Spanish at school, and while I understand the language, I’m self-conscious about speaking it. My nephews, on the other hand, speak Spanish beautifully, which I attribute to the increasing recognition of multilingualism as an asset.
Language is such an important part of any culture, and I am heartened that my nephews’ generation has reclaimed and embraced the Spanish language. It’s a reminder that our beautiful culture is always evolving.
That evolution includes views on education.
My grandmother only went to third grade, and my aunts did not finish school. Boys, on the other hand, were encouraged to finish their education, and my grandfather pushed his sons to do so.
My uncle and dad were the first in our family to go to college. My dad went on to get his master's and doctorate degrees, which was a first for my family. Through his journey, my dad paved the way for me, my brother, and my sister to pursue higher education and find rewarding careers.
But we can’t lose sight of the work that lies ahead.
Only 1% of Hispanic women have a doctoral degree, and less than 3% of school superintendents are Hispanic females. I can’t tell you how many national superintendent meetings I’ve attended where I was the only Hispanic female in the room. We can and must do better.
Being the superintendent of APS is an amazing experience, but, for me, the best part of the job isn’t what you’d think.
It isn’t the pay. It isn’t the nice corner office or any of the other perks that come with this job. The thing I’m most excited about is being a role model for young Hispanic girls across Albuquerque. I’m a Hispanic who went to the same APS schools they’re going to, and I became superintendent of one of the largest school districts in the country.
I want them to look at me and realize that if I can accomplish that, they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
So, happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
¡Que tengan un maravilloso fin de semana y nos vemos después de las vacaciones de otoño! (Have a wonderful weekend, and see you after the Fall break.)