SENATE MEMORIAL 62

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

CELEBRATING A VISION FOR QUALITY EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, the education profession must be enthusiastically celebrated to turn the tide on education issues facing New Mexico and its diverse student population; and

     WHEREAS, when teachers are seen as professionals and treated as such, students will see these role models as guides in their educational journey, assume ownership of their education and value those who provide it; and

     WHEREAS, every student deserves access to rigorous and meaningful classroom experiences facilitated by highly qualified teaching professionals in every corner of the state; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico students deserve access to high-quality instructional materials that align to New Mexico common core state standards and New Mexico science, technology, engineering and mathematics ready! science standards; and

     WHEREAS, these high-quality instructional materials need to be reviewed by classroom teachers for alignment, rigor, cultural appropriateness and differentiation that meet the needs of diverse New Mexico learners; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico teachers deserve access to high-quality, teacher-led professional development opportunities that equip them with meaningful best practices for improving and driving instruction and assessment in the classroom; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico students deserve career pathways and apprenticeships that allow for higher-level thinking as well as application of concepts acquired; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico students deserve access to school nurses, counselors and social workers to help support their social and emotional needs during the school day; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico students deserve access to rigorous content implemented by highly trained professionals graduating from rigorous teacher preparatory programs; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico students deserve access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics instruction and materials that empower and equip them to compete for careers locally, nationally and globally; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico students deserve a lower teacher-to-student ratio in the classroom to help increase engagement, student-led learning and overall student success; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico teachers need to be recognized and celebrated for their achievements and for receiving such forms of recognition as the New Mexico teacher of the year award, the golden apple award, the presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching, national board for professional teaching standards certification and the Albert Einstein distinguished educator fellowship; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico teacher of the year program needs to be revamped to effectively compete with other states, as each New Mexico teacher of the year competes for the national teacher of the year award; and

     WHEREAS, recipients of the New Mexico teacher of the year award need a sabbatical to be able to fulfill the duties of the teacher of the year, and to prevent the classroom experience of students being compromised; and

     WHEREAS, to retain teachers, a reevaluation of support structures and mentor programs is needed to focus on a network built on collaboration, professional relationships and sound educational best practices by teachers for teachers; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to recruit teachers from small and large communities with an emphasis on giving back to their community in the most honorable way and by rewarding service that positively impacts many generations of New Mexicans to come;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a vision for quality education be celebrated in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education and the president of the board of directors of the New Mexico school boards association.

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