Superintendent's News
We're Doing This Thing
In his weekly message to employees, Supt. Elder writes about learning "in red" (remotely).
I am sure you’ve heard by now that Albuquerque Public Schools will continue remote learning through the fall semester. The APS Board of Education, when faced with a King Solomon decision, fell on the side of health and safety, fearing a return to school buildings could endanger the lives of our students, our teachers and staff, and their loved ones.
Remote learning may not be ideal, and it certainly comes with its challenges, but there is no reason we shouldn’t still provide high-quality education for our students, even if we can’t be in the same room.
I am happy to report that this very unconventional school year is off to a strong start, thanks to all of you working in overdrive on behalf of our students. Many of you enthusiastically scaled a steep learning curve, while others are stepping more cautiously into this unknown. Whatever your pace, your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.
I appreciate the countless hours spent learning new tools, new schedules, new procedures, new jargon -- synchronous and asynchronous learning, embedded SEL, class streams, teleconferencing, rooms, chats.
And speaking of videoconferencing, I appreciate how you continue to collaborate, innovate, troubleshoot, and help one another.
I want to thank so many of you for taking on extra tasks, more duties, and new responsibilities without complaint. You understand the predicament we’re in, and your willingness to step up to the plate is gratifying.
I am especially thankful for your resilience. Every day of this pandemic seems to bring some unforeseen problem, an unprecedented concern. We have learned to turn on a dime, and I suspect we’re going to get quite dizzy before this is over with all the changes and adjustments that inevitably will continue to come our way.
What I am witnessing is a can-do attitude that makes me proud to be a part of this team. No doubt we’re going to stumble during this semester in red. There will be disappointment and setbacks. But as long as we don’t lose sight of our mission, as long as students are at the center of every decision we make, I am confident we will see success.
We’re doing this thing, and we’re doing it together.