PED Secretary Kurt Steinhaus is interviewed by Farmington High School media students. Courtesy/PED

PED News:

• School leaders invited to seven regional meetings 

SANTA FE – Public Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus will be on the road this week and next to hold seven regional meetings with New Mexico school leaders to update them on legislation and answer questions.

While on the road today, Steinhaus also visited Mesa Verde Elementary School in Farmington, one of New Mexico’s three National Blue Ribbon Schools in 2021, and participated in interviews with media students at Farmington High School in Farmington.

School leaders – superintendents and charter leaders – are invited to attend the regional meeting nearest them. All of the meetings will follow the same agenda, with Steinhaus speaking for the first 30 minutes followed by a question-answer session for 1.5 hours.

“My message will be the same at each stop: We have to move the needle on public education in New Mexico, and we know the best way to do that is to capitalize on every opportunity for face-to-face learning,” Steinhaus said. “I’ll be asking school leaders to determine how best to do that for their communities.”

Steinhaus also will summarize key education bills passed in the 2022 legislative session, including higher teacher minimum salaries, 7 percent pay raises for all educators, and pay parity for Native language teachers.

NORTHWEST:

• Today, Bloomfield School District Office, Bloomfield

NORTHEAST:

• Wednesday, Feb. 23, Boardroom, Taos Municipal Schools Administration Building, Taos 

SOUTHEAST:

• Thursday, Feb. 24, Roswell Independent Schools Boardroom, Roswell

EAST:

• Friday, Feb. 25, Logan Municipal Schools Boardroom, Logan

SOUTHWEST:

• Monday, Feb. 28, Hot Springs High School, Truth or Consequences

CENTRAL:

• Tuesday, March 1, Los Lunas Boardroom, Los Lunas

• Wednesday, March 2, Rio Rancho Public Schools Training Center Boardroom, Rio Rancho

About PED:

The New Mexico Public Education Department partners with educators, communities and families to ensure that all students are healthy, secure in their identity and holistically prepared for college, career and life. Currently, the NMPED serves more than 317,000 students in 187 districts and charter schools. Find an abundance of resources for administrators, educators, families and students at New Mexico Public Education Department (state.nm.us) or follow the NMPED on Facebook and Twitter.