Priorities
As a product of New Mexico public schools, I will stand strong to improve and advance the education our children receive. That means:
Modernize School Infrastructure: APS buildings are aging, and many are no longer meeting the basic standards needed for student success. From broken HVAC systems to outdated electrical wiring, inadequate infrastructure directly impacts learning, health, and safety. Who can learn when it's 100 degrees in the classroom! Research shows that uncomfortable classrooms reduce student performance and increase absenteeism. We need to conduct a district-wide assessment to identify critical infrastructure needs—from air conditioning to plumbing and ventilation to roofs and windows—and create a transparent plan to address our infrastructure before it's a crisis.
Keep Our Schools Safe with Leadership, Not Excuses: The current APS School Board has abdicated its responsibility by claiming its focus is only on “student outcomes.” But no student can succeed academically if they don’t feel safe walking through the door. I believe that school safety is a foundational responsibility. From preventing gun violence to addressing mental health, bullying, and community violence, APS must have a comprehensive safety strategy that reflects the reality students and educators face every day. Safety also means emotional and cultural safety. Every child should feel seen, respected, and valued at APS.
Strengthen Teaching and Learning for the Future: Every student deserves access to excellent teaching and engaging, relevant learning. We must invest in developing more master teachers across APS through advanced training and support—because skilled, caring educators are the foundation of student success. In the classroom, we need to guarantee STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) instruction in every elementary school, starting early to spark curiosity and creativity. At the same time, we must strengthen reading and math skills while connecting students to real-world pathways in science, skilled trades, and technology to build a job-ready workforce. And because standardized tests don’t capture everything our students can do, we should support creative, hands-on ways for them to demonstrate learning—whether through robotics, rap, performance, or design.
Ensure East Mountain families retain access to Roosevelt Middle School: Roosevelt Middle School is part of the fabric of the East Mountains. As population shifts throughout the region, we need to retain Roosevelt, even if it means expanding the number of grades at the school.
Fight efforts to privatize our public schools through vouchers and enforce laws that prohibit management of charter schools by for-profit corporations. Our School Board is under attack by national interests that seek to take money away from public schools and put them in private schools. The vast majority of children in New Mexico attend public schools—let’s focus on making these schools better.