8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Institute Registration & Breakfast

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8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Introductory Remarks

• Ms. Erica Bernal-Martinez, Deputy Executive Director, NALEO Educational Fund

• Hon. John Sapien, New Mexico State Senator; Chair, Education Committee; NALEO Board Member

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9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Session I:

 

Session 1: The State of Education in
New Mexico

New Mexico has a diverse population, with nearly 255,000 children between the ages of birth to 18. Latinos alone represent 60% of that population. However, an estimated 62% of the children in the state do not participate in Pre-K services.  Research demonstrates that early investments in quality childcare services and interactions bring long-term emotional, social, and economic benefits for children and their families.  The educational success of all students is critical to the state’s future workforce and economy.  This session will provide a demographic snapshot of birth to eight child population in the state.  In addition, this session will also identify the current gaps in access and enrollment across the state along with an early childcare education legislative update.

• Hon. John Sapien, New Mexico State Senator; Chair, Education Committee; NALEO Board Member

• Dr. Veronica Garcia, Executive Director, New Mexico Voices for Children
PRESENTATION | Resources: 1 | 2

Additional Resource:
New Mexico Child Care and Early Education Task Force – Report

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9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Session II:

 

An Overview of New Mexico’s Early Childcare Education Structure and Landscape

In order to have an effective and sustainable system of early childcare, education policymakers must understand the landscape of early childcare education services available.  It is important that policymakers become familiar with the format and regulations in which the various types of service providers and educators operate under to provide quality services.  This session will provide participants with information on the different types of early childcare providers, as well as the policies around access, ratings, and accountability systems.

• Katrina Montaño-White, Early Education Quality Development Administrator, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Office of Child Development
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Dr. Michael Weinberg, Early Childhood Education Policy Officer, Thornburg Foundation
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

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10:45 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.

Session III:

 

Strengthening Early Education through Community & Parent Engagement

The potential cognitive, social, and emotional growth outcomes for children are largely dependent on the quality of the interactions they have in the early years.  Across New Mexico, there are several organizations and centers that include a child’s culture, such as language and family structure, directly into their programmatic and educator services.  Successful programs have worked closely with families and even expanded opportunities for parents to become a part of the early childhood educator workforce.  Through this two-generation model, parent and children’s lives and conditions are simultaneously improved.  This session will highlight how two-generation models for early education that incorporate a child’s culture create greater economic and educational opportunities and benefits for community and families.

• Dr. Baji Rankin, Executive Director, New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC)
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1 | 2

• Ms. Katherine Freeman, CEO & President, United Way of Santa Fe County, New Mexico; New Mexico Early Childhood Development Partnership
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1 | 2 | 3

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12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Networking Lunch

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1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Session IV:

 

Innovative Practices for Infrastructure and Funding Models

One of the central components of a successful early childcare education system is the funding structure.  There are challenges to maintaining a strong and well-funded system.  As policymakers, it is important to be strategic and creative in developing the adequate policies to meet family needs and address issues around access to such services throughout the state.  This session will highlight creative funding policies and practices to demonstrate how policymakers can develop innovative strategies to support an effective early childcare education system.

• Mr. Charles Sallee, Deputy Director, New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Hon. Fernando Shipley, Board Member,
First Things First, Arizona; NALEO Board Member
PRESENTATION

• Ms. Kathy Bruck, CEO, City of San Antonio Pre-K 4 SA, San Antonio, Texas
PRESENTATION

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2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Session V:

 

Accountability & Alignment: Preparing For and Looking Towards the K-12 System

Reframing early childcare education to encompass a framework from birth to eight requires concerted efforts from policymakers, higher education institutions, administrators, and teachers.  When effectively aligned, transitional programs enhance students’ likelihood of building strong and consistent social, emotional and academic foundations for the future. This session will provide an overview of strategic approaches where early childcare services are aligned with Pre-K systems, by which educator standards, training programs, and curricula encourage a broader education continuum for children and schools.

• Mr. Raul Sanchez, Principal, Blanco Elementary School – Blanco, New Mexico; Director-at-Large, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Professional Development, Santa Fe Public Schools
PRESENTATION

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

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8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Session VI:

 

An Overview of the Status of Educational Access and Achievement in New Mexico’s K-12 System

Latinos comprise 60% of New Mexico’s K-12 population and although the state ranks top among other states for participation and performance on Advanced Placement exams, there are areas where the state and local school districts can provide additional support to close the academic achievement gaps that still exist for students in the state. This session will provide an overview of the academic trends for students across various educational indicators and demographic points, while helping participants understand how key data trends can assist in identifying areas that require further policy solutions.

• Dr. Madelyn P. Serna Mármol, Senior Program Evaluator, New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

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9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Session VII:

 

Engaging Parents, Teachers and Students

Given the current climate in relation to newly-adopted standards and assessment implementation, policymakers must be equipped with the right tools to inform their constituents – parents, students, and teachers – of all these policy changes. It is critical to have transparent accountability systems, but most importantly, policymakers must be familiar with the systems in place. This session will provide a high level overview of New Mexico’s education accountability system and highlight best practices from jurisdictions that have successfully engaged parents, teachers, and students to work together toward student success.

• Hon. John Sapien, New Mexico State Senator; Chair, Education Committee; NALEO Board Member

• Ms. Joslyn Overby, K-12 State Lead, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC); Education Administrator, Assessment and Accountability Division, New Mexico Public Education Department
PRESENTATION

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11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Networking Lunch

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12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Session VIII:

 

Preparing the Educator Workforce to Meet the Needs of Rural and Urban Communities

In order to ensure students have access to rigorous and enriching curriculum, the teacher workforce must be fully prepared and supported to provide those opportunities. According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, there are some improvements that can be made to enhance teacher training and professional development in New Mexico. However, due to New Mexico’s unique geographic landscape, there are specific qualities and nuances that rural and urban settings contend with that relate to the teacher recruitment and retention strategies utilized throughout the state. Teachers need opportunities for on-going professional development and support systems to become effective practitioners. This session will focus on the type of policies and strategies needed to enhance the capacity and quality of educators from rural and urban communities across the state.

• Mr. Matthew Pahl, Director of Policy, Public Education Department; Interim Director, Charter School Division, New Mexico Public Education Department
PRESENTATION

• Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Professional Development, Santa Fe Public Schools

PRESENTATION

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1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Session IX:

 

Preparing the Next Generation for Post-Secondary Education and the Workforce

In order for students to pursue post-secondary and/or workforce opportunities, it is necessary that they first meet statewide, district, and school requirements to successfully graduate high school. Access to rigorous a curriculum, programs, and activities, such as Advanced Placement courses, are instrumental to their long-term success. Policymakers and educators can create educational and economic opportunities for students by cultivating genuine partnerships with public and private institutions and organizations. This session will focus on demonstrating the importance of developing policies, infrastructures, and partnerships that expose students to rigorous curriculum and programs that present real-life scenarios and building soft skills, which can enhance their educational or employment opportunities, and more importantly, meet the current and future workforce needs of New Mexico.

• Mr. Charles Sallee, Deputy Director, New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee
PRESENTATION | Resources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

• Mr. Joaquin Baca, Program Director, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Health, Health Sciences Center, The University of New Mexico – Albuquerque
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Ms. Nina Nuñez, Engineering Instructor, Arrowhead Park Early College High School/Medical Academy; Project Lead the Way (PLTW) – Las Cruces, New Mexico
PRESENTATION

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1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks & Evaluation