Another school year has come to a close. Students, together with their families and friends, celebrate achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts. Beyond the awards and recognitions earned by learners, schools should also honor the dedication and hard work of their staff. Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Gabriella Blakey emphasized this message in her weekly address.
“We’ve wrapped up another school year, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge all you did for our students and thank you for your hard work,” Blakey told APS workers.
She said APS launched about 4,600 graduates into the next chapter of their lives this year. She said the district anticipates welcoming new preschoolers this fall, illustrating the continuous cycle of growth and learning in schools.
Blakey, however, said this continuous cycle is grounded in the reality that every student’s year is unrepeatable. This means they get one chance at kindergarten, one at sixth grade, and one at their senior year.
“The work we do as educators is vital, and I’m not just referring to our role in helping students learn to read and do math at grade level and preparing them for college or the workforce. We build up their confidence, teach them to work around the roadblocks they encounter, and encourage them to reach for the stars,” she said.
Every Staff Member Contributes to Student Success
The superintendent added APS serves as a safety net, providing students free meals, caring adults to talk to, and more.
Blakey congratulated APS employees on completing another school year and thanked them for supporting students throughout the period.
“At the center of all this work are our amazing teachers, aides, counselors, school nurses, principals and the many other individuals who work at each of our schools. They are making a difference in our students’ lives,” Blakey said.
“As I’ve said many times, every role at APS is vital to our students’ success – from our bus drivers and cooks to our accountants, custodians and plumbers,” she said.
“I see the fruits of your labor during my visits to schools.”
Blakey said she was amazed by the confidence she observed in students at Coronado Dual Language Magnet School. Months after her visit, she continued to recall the precocious student who guided them on a tour of the school.
She added that the poise of Cleveland Middle School eighth-graders during portfolio presentations was also inspiring. They stand before a room of family members, teachers, and other school personnel. They discuss how much they have grown over the last three years and thank those who helped them along the way.
More Strategies Planned for Next Year
Blakey said the district made a concerted effort this year to focus on high-dosage tutoring, and deeper learning through Genius Hour for elementary students. She also said APS prioritized fostering a sense of belonging among our sixth graders and establishing freshman academies at several of high schools.
She said the freshman academies provide smaller cohorts for ninth graders. The initiative encourages students to explore different career options and focus on work-based and real-world learning.
She said she looks forward to continuing to build on these strategies next school year.
“In the meantime, I hope those of you who are off this summer have the opportunity to rest, relax and explore, and that you’re ready to come back with renewed energy in August. For those of you who work through the summer, I hope you can also carve out time to rest and recharge,” Blakey said.
“Come August, we all need to be ready to give our students our best. Because they will never get another chance in that grade,” she said.