Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Indian Education Department Awarded for its Work With Families
Albuquerque Public Schools’ Indian Education Department has been named an Exemplary Program of the Year by the Johnson O’Malley Association, a group that advocates for the educational advancement of Native students served by educational institutions in the U.S.
The association’s board of directors has 13 members, each representing different regions across the country.
Marsha Leno nominated the department for the award, writing that the APS Indian Education Department has supported an Indian Parent Committee and closely collaborates with area tribes and pueblos.
Those efforts, she said, ensure service to Native students through “careful planning, implementation, and evaluation of program services. Additionally, all stakeholders are engaged through monthly meetings and consultations.”
Priscilla Benally, a Thoreau resident who is on the Johnson O’Malley Association’s board of directors, said the department’s diligence made it a worthy recipient of the honor. Only 13 are presented to organizations each year.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the APS Indian Education Department for your outstanding dedication, commitment, and inspirational work,” she wrote in an email. “You are truly deserving of this prestigious recognition.”