HOUSE MEMORIAL 64

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE LIFE OF JANET MONTOYA SCHOEPPNER.

     WHEREAS, Janet Montoya Schoeppner valiantly fought cancer for almost twenty years with courage, grace and dignity; and

     WHEREAS, she committed twenty-five years of her life to teaching, was an outstanding educator in the Albuquerque public school system and was close to retiring at the time of her passing; and

     WHEREAS, she loved children and children loved her; and

     WHEREAS, she dedicated her career to teaching early childhood literacy, bilingual education and English as a second language to the youngest in her community; and

     WHEREAS, she was a 1979 Albuquerque high school graduate, proud to teach in Barelas, the community in which she was born and raised; and

     WHEREAS, she spent most of her career in the Albuquerque high school cluster teaching at Eugene Field, Longfellow and Lew Wallace elementary schools and finished her career at Adobe Acres elementary school in the south valley; and

     WHEREAS, she was a community activist and a teacher of teachers who exhibited leadership in all aspects of her life, including within the Democratic party and as executive vice president of the Albuquerque teachers federation; and

     WHEREAS, Janet believed in equal opportunity for all and worked to help local and migrant children to be dual language users; and

     WHEREAS, because of Janet's contribution to the dual language program, the Janet Montoya Schoeppner scholarship fund was created; and

     WHEREAS, she received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the university of New Mexico and went on to teach at the college of education for six years, where she mentored beginning teachers and college seniors; and

     WHEREAS, she created a structure in her union that ensured all teachers would get the support they needed to advance in their careers, and she gained national recognition for her work in professional development for teachers; and

     WHEREAS, she was a friend beyond compare, a loving daughter and sister, a brilliant teacher, a mentor to all and one of the wisest women anyone has known; and

     WHEREAS, she was the best: the best wife, daughter, sister, friend, nina, teacher and mentor and was incomparable in life and irreplaceable for all; and

     WHEREAS, Janet was the daughter of Roger and Esther Montoya, named after her grandmother who was one of three Jessies in the Montoya family; they were very proud of her and her accomplishments and she deeply loved them; and

     WHEREAS, while fulfilling her professional duties as an educator, she worked tirelessly in her union to share her teaching knowledge and her expertise with hundreds of teachers, enabling them to start on their own professional journey in which many would attempt to emulate her astounding ability with both children and adults; and

     WHEREAS, her powerful grace leaves everyone richer but wanting more time to love her and to be loved by her; and

     WHEREAS, Janet was wife to John, sister to Donna and Joseph, tia to Joaquin, Mandi and Joseph, a sister-in-law to Therese Schoeppner, Jerry Schoeppner and wife Carol Salazar and godmother to Monica, Adelina, Joaquin, Jonathan, Joseph and E.J. and is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the life of Janet Montoya Schoeppner be recognized and honored; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that condolences be extended to the family and friends of Janet Montoya Schoeppner on her passing; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to her husband, John Schoeppner.

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