Superintendent's News

Maya Angelou once wrote, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.”

That statement came to mind when I saw that the 2021-2022 APS calendar theme is “Voices, Stories, and Choices.” I started thinking about the more than 70,000 students in Albuquerque Public Schools, each with their own story inside that needs to be told and nurtured.    

Our job as public educators is to help every one of those students find their voice, reach their goals, pursue their dreams. We do that not only by providing them with a high-quality education, which goes without saying, but also through respect, empathy, and patience.

Kids learn differently because they are different. Their classroom and school performance are heavily influenced by their home life, history, ethnicity, native language, disabilities, orientation, attitudes. To provide them with the education they deserve, we need to celebrate their individuality and make sure they know they are heard. It’s when we open our ears, eyes, minds, and hearts that we do our best work.

We also need to give them choices.  

One of the advantages of being a large urban-suburban-rural school district is our ability to offer so many choices, from traditional neighborhood schools to smaller magnet schools with focused areas of study. And within all of our schools, there are programs, activities, classes, pathways, and support systems designed to fit the needs of a diverse, curious, and impressionable student body.  

This year’s calendar features just a few of the many educational opportunities we provide students – from dual language and dual credit, career-based and college-based learning, college prep and marketable job skills, fine arts and competitive sports.

Something for everyone.

I hope you will take some time to learn more about all that we offer as we kick off this promising new school year. And spread the word. Albuquerque Public Schools is the right choice for endless opportunities.