Albuquerque Public Schools
Two Elementary Schools Welcome Superintendent to Celebrate Big Strides in Reading
Superintendent Gabriella Blakey celebrated Bellehaven and Pajarito Elementary for leading the district in reading gains.
On a crisp fall morning, Bellehaven Elementary School welcomed a special guest: Superintendent Gabriella Blakey, who stopped in to celebrate the school’s remarkable gains in reading proficiency.
Just days earlier, Superintendent Blakey visited Pajarito Elementary, another campus that made impressive strides on the state reading assessment.
Bellehaven posted a 21-point increase in reading proficiency, the largest jump in the district. Pajarito wasn’t far behind, boosting proficiency by 20.5 points. Both schools now stand as powerful examples of what can happen when strong instruction, teamwork, and belief in students come together.
“These gains don’t happen by accident,” Superintendent Blakey said. “They happen when a school believes in its students, backs that belief with strong instruction, and works together like it matters every day because it does.”
Superintendent Blakey presented each school with a banner celebrating their progress and recognizing them as schools that are rising.
Bellehaven: Small Groups, Big Thinking, and Every Student Known
At Bellehaven, staff credit a culture that is equal parts high expectations and high care. Teachers talked about knowing every student, tailoring instruction through small-group work, and making sure each child accesses grade-level learning. They emphasize early foundations in reading, intentional intervention time, and something students love: Genius Hour, where curiosity gets to lead the way.
Fourth-grade teacher Amanda Bien summed it up: “We say our students, not my students.”
The school team also stressed joy. “When we like being here, the students like being here as well. And when they’re happy and feel safe, that translates into better test scores,” Ms. Bien said.
Superintendent Blakey urged the staff to take a moment to be proud. “It’s important to celebrate successes and to keep pushing yourselves. Everything you’re doing makes a difference.”
Pajarito: Eagles Rising Through the Power of Early Literacy
Pajarito Elementary in the South Valley also saw one of the largest increases in reading proficiency across APS, soaring more than 20 percentage points in a single year.
Superintendent Blakey visited a second-grade classroom to congratulate students and staff on the remarkable progress.
“Do you know why I’m here?” she asked the students. “Because … you are some of the smartest kids in all of Albuquerque.”
Pajarito’s achievement didn’t come by chance. Teachers and leaders have leaned into a structured, phonics-forward approach to early literacy. Coaching support has helped staff sharpen instruction, plan lessons collaboratively, and use student data to guide decisions.
The approach shows up everywhere on campus, from small-group reading tables to words displayed in hallways with sound combinations highlighted. It’s a schoolwide commitment to giving students the tools they need to read confidently and independently.