Superintendent's News

Every school year starts with a hitch or two. This school year — as unusual as it is — is no exception. Just like any other August, we’re dealing with technical difficulties, class size adjustments, behavioral issues, the challenge of reconnecting with all of our students, and more. 

Of course, the pandemic has magnified these issues and added a plethora of problems we could never have anticipated, making the past few weeks much bumpier and a lot more frustrating than normal. 

The good news is Albuquerque Public Schools has a reliable staff of troubleshooters at the ready to help with whatever problems our employees, our students, and our families may face. The trick is knowing where to go for assistance. That’s why I thought it might be helpful to put together a resource guide of sorts for some of the issues we seem to be dealing with most. 

I know many of you prefer picking up the phone and talking to another human before combing the internet (I can relate, especially these days when so much of our work is online). But I have to tell you, there is a wealth of information at APS.edu and also the employee intranet (log in as you do for email). We have a small but mighty web team that works to keep the deluge of information handy, organized, and up-to-date. Many of the resources I am sharing with you today are posted online. 

Employee Assistance

For example, if you need to know what you should do if you test positive for coronavirus, it's posted: Taking Leave Due to the Pandemic. If you have additional questions or concerns, you can contact the APS Extended Leaves Office at extended.leaves@aps.edu or (505) 889-4865. You can also call the COVID Hotline at (855) 600-3453.

Also posted to the intranet is the Daily COVID-19 Staff and Faculty Questionnaire that all employees are expected to review regarding their health before heading to their school or office. You can download a copy of the questionnaire here: APS Staff and Faculty Daily COVID-19 Questionnaire (PDF)

District and employee expectations during remote learning are outlined for those represented by:  

• Albuquerque Teachers Federation (teachers, nurses, counselors, social workers, and others)
• Albuquerque Federation of Classified Professionals (educational assistants, secretaries, bus drivers, and others) 

Working in red can be quite isolating and overwhelming. If you need someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to contact the APS Employee Assistance Program at (505) 884-9738 or the New Mexico Crisis and Access Line at (855) NMCRISIS (662-7474).

Sadly, many of our students are in crisis and need our assistance. Please, if you haven't already, take time to watch this video by CYFD on Recognizing Abuse and Neglect in Virtual Setting. I can't emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to look out for the welfare of our students, even if they aren't physically in our buildings. 

Technology

No matter what role you play in the district, you have probably run into some technology problem -- malware, forgotten passwords, a damaged laptop, program questions. It's the nature of the beast. Have no fear; our heroic Technology Department is poised to save the day. 

• Contact the Technology Service Desk at (505) 880-8080 or servicedesk@aps.edu for issues with your computer, passwords, internet connection, etc.
• Contact Educational Technology at edtech@aps.edu for help with educational resources. 

Educational Resources

And speaking of educational resources, The Teacher Learning Network, made up of professional learning coaches, is available to work with teachers, grade-level teams, and school sites to help meet professional learning needs. They have created a hub of resources for distance learning, content, behavior support, and more—they even have their own YouTube Channel.

Family Resources

Just as you sometimes need a little help navigating our system, our students and families do as well, so we have created a one-stop source for online learning. Family Resources includes access to technology and the internet, resources provided by departments, as well as key online learning tools. Please share this site with your families.

When in doubt, you can always refer families to the Student Service Center, our customer service department that does a wonderful job assisting families: (505) 855-9040 or servicecenter@aps.edu.

What I have shared with you today is hardly comprehensive, but I hope it eases anxiety as we work through some common problems. Never be afraid to ask for help. We are all figuring this out together, and we need to lean on each other. But please be patient while you wait for assistance. You can imagine the demand on our support staff.