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Parents Who Owe Child Support May Be Denied Hunting or Fishing Licenses: Here’s How to Restore Privileges

Juan Oliveros
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Parents Who Owe Child Support May Be Denied Hunting or Fishing Licenses: Here’s How to Restore Privileges

Parents in New Mexico who fall behind on child support payments may be denied hunting or fishing licenses under the state’s Parental Responsibility Act, state officials said.

The policy seeks to encourage parents to meet their child support obligations. It also allows them to regain their recreational license privileges once they bring their financial obligations up to date.

Helping parents meet child support commitments

“Enjoying the outdoors through hunting and fishing is a New Mexico tradition that parents often share with their kids,” Betina Gonzales McCracken, director of the Child Support Services Division at the New Mexico Health Care Authority, said in a statement. “We want to help parents meet their child support commitment and get a recreational license.”

Each month, the state’s child support program sends a certified list of parents who have fallen behind on payments to 63 agencies. These state agencies are responsible for issuing licenses.

To avoid delays in securing a hunting or fishing license, parents can contact the Child Support Services Division through the YES.NM.GOV portal or by calling 800-283-4465.

Once parents bring their payments up to date, they must pay a $25 reinstatement fee before the agency restores their license privileges. They can pay through their customer account with the Department of Wildlife or by calling 1-888-248-6866.

Assistance for the unemployed

The STEPUp! program also assists unemployed or underemployed parents. It is a joint initiative with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions that connects parents to jobs to help them meet their monthly obligations. Of the total referrals through the program in 2025, nearly 6 out of 10 (57 percent) referrals resulted in parents making child support payments.

According to the Health Care Authority, the state collected $119 million in child support last year, with 99 percent going directly to families rather than to reimburse public assistance. Working parents had contributed 65 percent of the total collections through wage withholding.

Books as Rewards for Good Behavior? See How Students Earn Them

Grace Tackman
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Books as Rewards for Good Behavior? See How Students Earn Them

Positive behavior is paying off for students at Pajarito Elementary School. They are now receiving books as rewards. 

Students recently gathered for an exciting project reveal. The new initiative encourages a love of reading while celebrating good conduct.

The school unveiled its new book vending machine. It serves as a creative way to reward students who demonstrate the SOAR values: Safety, Ownership, Achievement and Respect.

The Student Success Team and staff created the initiative to promote literacy in a fun way. At the same time, the program recognizes students who help build a positive school culture. 

How the Initiative Works

Teachers and staff award SOAR tickets to students who demonstrate these values around campus throughout the week, APS News reports.

Each ticket includes the student’s name, grade and teacher, plus a note describing the positive action that earned the recognition. Students then put their tickets in a raffle box in the cafeteria during lunch.

The school holds a drawing every Friday during announcements. The principal gives winners a special token, letting them choose a book from the vending machine.

On March 6, the school celebrated the official launch of the program. Student assembly leaders in grades 3-5 helped with the reveal, while families joined staff and students to mark the moment together.

The Essence of the Program

School leaders say the program aims to excite students about reading while reinforcing the behaviors helping the Pajarito community thrive. Each week, students can earn recognition as the raffle box resets every Monday, giving everyone a chance to participate. 

With books as the reward, the students learn that positive choices and a love of reading go together.

Retired US Air Force General with UFO Research Ties Went Missing; Journalist Calls Case ‘National Security Crisis’

Juan Oliveros
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Retired US Air Force General with UFO Research Ties Went Missing; Journalist Calls Case ‘National Security Crisis’

Nearly two weeks after his disappearance, authorities say there is still no information about the whereabouts of a retired U.S. Air Force general who had worked with military research programs tied to UFO investigations.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen around 11 am on Friday, February 27, near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque. The Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the search, issued a Silver Alert for McCasland due to concerns for his safety. Authorities noted he has an unspecified medical condition.

McCasland’s wife told investigators that he left their home without wearing his watch or bringing his mobile phone. The move, she said, was unusual for someone described as a veteran outdoorsman whose passion includes hiking and skiing. The retired Air Force officer is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, and has white hair and blue eyes.

Investigators from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said they have been working closely with the FBI and other partner agencies over the past week, but have found no evidence of foul play so far.

Authorities said they are continuing to deploy all available resources, including advanced technologies, while exploring multiple possible scenarios as they pursue to locate McCasland.

Ten days after McCasland went missing, “despite the collective efforts of law enforcement and the community, we still do not know what happened to Neil after he left home on February 27,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Posting in the Albuquerque Trail Running Crew Facebook group, a woman claimed she had informed police after spotting someone matching McCasland’s description near the Whitewash trailhead in Piedra Lisa Canyon, according to the Daily Mail. The authorities are verifying the report.

The disappearance, according to investigative journalist Ross Coulthart, is a serious national security concern.

“The disappearance of retired Major General William Neil McCasland is a grave national security crisis,” Coulthart, in a Newsweek March 9 report, said. He described the retired general as a man “with some of the most sensitive secrets of the United States in his head.”

Colonel Justin Secrest, commander of the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, said they are coordinating with local authorities. McCasland previously served at the base. Secrest said, “We are coordinating closely with local authorities and deferring all updates regarding the search efforts to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.”

McCasland retired from the Air Force in 2013, spanning a career in military research and development. He had led the Phillips Research Site at Kirtland Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has since drawn interest from UFO researchers. The base had analyzed debris recovered from the 1947 Roswell incident in New Mexico.

Project Blue Book, the US Air Force’s Cold War-era research into unidentified flying objects, has made the base its home. The project had documented 12,618 alleged UFO sightings, with 701 cases remaining unexplained.

Delayed Care, Physician Burnout: Nearly All New Mexico Counties Face Health Care Worker Shortages

Juan Oliveros
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Delayed Care, Physician Burnout: Nearly All New Mexico Counties Face Health Care Worker Shortages

Nearly all counties in the state are experiencing a shortage of health care professionals. This situation is delaying patient care and worsening physician burnout, according to state officials and medical groups.

The Legislative Finance Committee, in its December 2024 report, found that 32 of the 33 counties are classified as “health professional shortage areas.” Cicero Institute projects the shortage could deepen in the coming years, estimating a lack of 2,118 physicians by 2030.

A survey of 17,897 physicians conducted by the Finance Committee found that two in three doctors are considering leaving the state. Of the total respondents, about 9 out of 10 (94 percent) said the shortage already affects their daily work.

Health care delayed, burnout

Robert Underwood said doctors continue to attend to patients despite the growing strain on the health system. “Patients need to be seen, and so we do our best to keep trying to see those patients,” Underwood, the president of the New Mexico Medical Society, told Straight Arrow News.

He said, however, that the shortage often results in longer waiting times and delays in treatment, particularly when patients need to be referred to specialists. Health care providers are also battling to address a backlog of patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a backlog when routine checkups and preventive screenings were postponed.

Services such as colonoscopies, cardiac stress tests, and other preventive screening procedures are now in higher demand. But there are not enough doctors to handle the workload, Underwood said.

The situation has contributed to physician burnout. In turn, the burnout leads to early retirements and workforce shortages. “It becomes a vicious cycle,” Underwood said.

Rural communities hardest hit

The shortage is more pronounced in rural areas, where access to care is already limited. Underwood said some areas have effectively become “medical islands.” Residents in these areas struggle to find nearby physicians or health care facilities.

State Senator Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) shared her experience of the shortage while trying to find a new primary care provider. “My primary care provider retired,” Trujillo told SAN. “I signed up for another one, and before I even got into the appointment to see that person, I received a letter saying that person was leaving.”

“At first I thought it was just bad luck,” she added. “But the reality is that it kept happening.”

Julia Ruetten of the New Mexico Hospital Association noted that workforce challenges in rural areas are also linked to broader economic changes. “Younger professionals are less likely to stay in smaller communities,” she said. Some rural areas have lost major industries and institutions over the past decades, Ruetten added.

Hospitals face uneven pressures because of the situation. Rural hospitals often struggle with having too few patients, while hospitals in urban areas face overcrowding and high demand.

State government response

State lawmakers have introduced several measures that sought to address the growing health workforce gap.

The state budget includes $546 million to construct a new facility for the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Another $24 million was allocated to expand rural medical residency programs, while $2 million was set aside to increase salaries for medical residents and fellows.

During the recent 30-day legislative session, the lawmakers also passed several measures that aimed at strengthening the recruitment and retention of health professionals. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bills into law.

Land and Labor: The Nakayama Family’s Legacy in Southern New Mexico Agriculture

Grace Tackman
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Land and Labor: The Nakayama Family’s Legacy in Southern New Mexico Agriculture

Have you heard of the Nakayama family? Do you know how they influenced local agriculture? New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) new exhibit aims to answer those questions and more. 

NMSU highlights the story of a Japanese American farming family. Their work helped develop the agricultural and social landscape of southern New Mexico. The initiative reflects the university’s commitment to preserving underrepresented histories and advancing community-engaged scholarship.  

“Land, Labor, and Community: A Japanese American Farming Family” opens Wednesday, March 11, at the Branson Library on the main campus. The free event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The exhibit welcomes the public at the fourth-floor Humboldt Casad & Evangeline Smith Mandell Exhibit Gallery.

Jennifer Olguin, associate professor and Rio Grande Historical Collections archivist for the NMSU Library, Archives and Special Collections, curated the exhibit. Elizabeth Villa, library specialist, co-curated it. 

What Does The Exhibit Showcase?

The exhibit tells the story of the Nakayama family and their lasting contributions to local agriculture and community life. Photographs, documents and interpretive narratives reveal how land and labor shaped the family’s livelihood, identity, and sense of belonging across generations.  

According to NMSU, the exhibit situates the Nakayama family’s experiences within broader histories of Japanese American immigration, exclusion, and resilience in the Southwest. It highlights how Japanese American farmers molded agriculture and economic landscapes, particularly in the Mesilla Valley.  

Additionally, the exhibit spotlights the newly acquired Nakayama family papers and emphasizes preserving family and community histories for future generations. Campus and community members are encouraged to reflect on themes of perseverance, community, and continuity.  

The Heart of the Nakayama Family’s Story

“What drew me to the Nakayama family’s story was how it represents land, labor and community in southern New Mexico,” said Olguin. “Their experience reflects not only the resilience and resourcefulness of a single family, but also the broader, often overlooked contributions of Japanese American farmers to local agriculture and regional history. Through photographs, documents and everyday objects, the Nakayama materials reveal how work on the land was tied to identity, belonging and contributing to agricultural efforts in the Mesilla Valley.”  

Olguin said the exhibit fulfills the university’s responsibility to highlight underrepresented histories in archival collections and public narratives.  

“This felt like the right moment to share the Nakayama family’s story with the campus and broader community as conversations about migration, labor and belonging continue to shape our present,” she said.  

Rather than chronicling major historical events, the exhibit features how the Nakayama family lived, worked, and built community. It helps visitors understand how national histories affected individuals at the local level.  

“I hope visitors leave understanding that land and labor are central to the formation of identity, belonging and community over time,” Olguin said. “For the Nakayama family, working the land created stability, connection and a sense of purpose that carried across generations. The exhibit shows how these everyday practices shaped family bonds and community ties, and how those relationships continue to influence how we understand belonging today.”

Brothers of Epstein’s Prominent Accuser Demand the Release of Unredacted Files at a Rally in New Mexico Ranch

Juan Oliveros
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Brothers of Epstein’s Prominent Accuser Demand the Release of Unredacted Files at a Rally in New Mexico Ranch

The brothers of one of the most prominent accusers of Jeffrey Epstein visited the late financier’s former ranch in New Mexico on March 8. Their visit coincided with a roadside protest near the gates of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, nearly 50 kilometers south of Santa Fe.

Attendees at the gathering marked International Women’s Day while calling for accountability in the long-running scandal. Virginia Giuffre’s brothers attended the rally, where they urged authorities to release unredacted government documents that may reveal the identities of men who allegedly abused their sister.

Sky Roberts called on the United States Department of Justice to release documents, including the names of visitors to Epstein’s ranch. Multiple sources pointed to the ranch where the financier and his associates are alleged to have sexually abused women and girls.

“All those names are in the files, and right now the government is covering those up,” Roberts said during the rally. His older brother, Daniel Wilson, 47, joined him along with family members and supporters.

Giuffre, a key accuser in the Epstein controversy, died by suicide in 2025, six years after Epstein died in a New York jail. The wealthy financier died before a federal trial on sex trafficking charges against him began.

Tons of pages of records related to Epstein have surfaced in recent years. The files exposed his extensive connections to politicians, business leaders, and scientists who either visited or associated with him.

The issue has also created political noise after the Federal Bureau of Investigation released the files on March 5, which mentioned Donald Trump. In the documents, an unidentified woman claimed a sexual encounter with Trump.

New Mexico became the first US state to create a legislative “truth commission” in February. The commission will investigate how Epstein managed to conduct his activities at Zorro Ranch for 26 years largely out of public scrutiny.

State lawmakers said the goal is not to litigate individual criminal allegations but to set the record straight. “This is about getting the story straight,” Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Sta. Fe, one of the lawmakers who supported the measure, said.

One “Yes” Helped UNM Alumna Michelle Dearholt Become CEO

Grace Tackman
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One “Yes” Helped UNM Alumna Michelle Dearholt Become CEO

Sometimes a simple “yes” can prepare you for what lies ahead. That choice helped pave the way for University of New Mexico (UNM) alumna Michelle Dearholt. 

Dearholt became president and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union in March 2024. She reached the milestone after nearly two decades of leadership growth and a career shaped by both openness and intention.

Dearholt earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on human resource management from UNM in 2002. She later earned her MBA from the university’s Anderson School of Management in 2007. 

She knew her goal from the beginning. “I was dead set on working in HR my entire career,” she said. “I wanted to be a vice president of HR.” She achieved that goal, and then something unexpected happened.

The Turning Point

A leader at Nusenda asked her to oversee project management, a role outside her area of expertise. Dearholt recalls her initial reaction clearly. “I said, ‘What are you talking about? I don’t know anything about project management.’” But her leader saw the collaboration, communication, planning, and critical-thinking skills she had been honing since Anderson. 

She said yes.

“That was a pivotal moment for me,” Dearholt said. A single stretch assignment evolved into managing more than a dozen departments over 10 to 15 years. 

The Role of UNM Anderson In Her Success

The journey equipped her to step confidently into the CEO role. “That was step one of learning that leadership isn’t about being an expert. It’s about being open.”

Dearholt developed that mindset early at Anderson, where group projects and class discussions emphasized teamwork and perspective. “You learn how to identify what people are good at and how to bring those skills together,” she said. “At the time, it just feels like school. Later, you realize it’s leadership training.”

She completed her MBA while working full time, allowing her to connect classroom concepts directly to real-world challenges. Strategic management courses helped her understand how every department, from accounting to marketing to HR, drives organizational goals.

Dearholt made critical thinking central to her leadership approach. Courses like employment law taught her to question assumptions and dig deeper before making decisions. 

“Validate your instincts,” Dearholt said. “There’s always more perspective to consider, and better decisions come from that.”

Embracing Growth

Today, as CEO, Dearholt applies a broad, people-centered perspective shaped by her education, experience, and community. As a former member of the Anderson Alumni Council, she values the lasting relationships she built through UNM. 

“You think you’ll never see these people again,” she said. “And then 20 years later, you’re leaning on each other as community leaders.”

For Dearholt, success came not from following a rigid plan, but from building a strong foundation and embracing growth beyond it.

“You can have goals, but the real opportunity comes when you’re open to what’s next.”

Man Facing Over 60 Charges Related to Burglary and Property Damage

Ruben Reyes
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Man Facing Over 60 Charges Related to Burglary and Property Damage

Joseph Montoya, 37, is currently facing over 60 charges for breaking into stores and stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of items.

According to the authorities, he targeted Cell Masters twice and allegedly stole at least 30 phones, amounting to $20,000.

The owner of Cell Masters, Zaid Alqam, said that security measures in their store are being taken seriously.

“To get into the store, I have to go through… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 locks,” he stated.

Alqam told the authorities that security measures were taken after the break-ins.

“Right now, we have bars, door, then bars. So we had, like, extra bars in the place it looks like… looks like a prison outside.” He added.

Apart from Cells Master, Shane Westhoelter, CEO of All In Autographs, also complained about the same incident with the same person.

He claimed that Montoya also stole $20,000 worth of merchandise in one night.

“That was probably about $20,000 worth of merch that he took on that particular night.” He said.

Westhoeler said they have taken additional security measures to prevent the incident from recurring.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to try and secure everything down, make sure that everything is tie wrapped, secured, you know, locked down the best that we can,” he said.

Montoya was arrested in February after being shot during another burglary spree. The Albuquerque police later identified him as a suspect in multiple burglaries across the city.

Step Back Inside the Museum of Natural History & Science When it Reopens on April 4 After the $3.7M Makeover

Juan Oliveros
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Step Back Inside the Museum of Natural History & Science When it Reopens on April 4 After the $3.7M Makeover

New Mexico’s Museum of Natural History & Science will reopen to the public on April 4 after its $3.7-million makeover that refreshed exhibit spaces, upgraded facilities, and new visitor experiences. The museum closed in August 2025 for major renovation funded by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

Executive director Anthony Fiorillo said the museum team is eager to welcome guests back after months of closure. “This museum should be pulsing with activity,” Fiorillo said. He noted that the staff has missed the presence of visitors moving through the galleries.

The renovation began after museum personnel discovered the building’s aging sewer line had to be replaced. From the loading dock, the pipe passes through the lobby to the outdoor dinosaur statues known as Spike and Alberta.

It started as a plumbing fix. But eventually ends up in broader upgrades across the museum. The renovations include modernized skylights, refinished railings, improved flooring, and updated interpretive signage in many exhibits.

Live animals and interactive spaces

The upgrades also extend to the Naturalist Center. It houses live animals and hands-on exhibits. The center now has refreshed signage, new paint, and improved habitats for several animals. One of these animals is Baroness Snaplet deChomper, a snapping turtle affectionately called Snaplet by museum peronnel.

Amy Pilling, an educator and supervisor, said Snaplet will soon move into a customized tank designed to support the turtle as it continues to grow. “We want her to be safe and healthy, and visitors will be able to see her better,” Pilling explained.

Updated enclosures to reflect ecosystems found in New Mexico have been added. These include habitats resembling ranchlands where certain spiders commonly live.

The Naturalist Center expands interactive features to make it more welcoming for families, particularly those with children who want a place to pause, explore, or read.

Keeping community favorites

Museum leaders say many of the institution’s most beloved exhibits remain the same despite the makeover. A quarter of the exhibit space has been refreshed. But the key attractions — including the Volcanoes exhibit and the Evolator — were preserved following concerns from visitors that their favorite displays might disappear.

The Evolator, a simulated geological ride guided by a retro-style on-screen host, received technological upgrades but remains largely unchanged. “It’s a vault of family memories,” Fiorillo said. He noted that many adults who visited as children are now bringing their own kids and grandchildren.

The Cretaceous Hall also remains largely intact. Popular among museum visitors, its towering dinosaur skeletons still dominate the gallery. The makeover focused instead on interpretive panels explaining to visitors the new scientific findings about the fossils on display.

New traveling exhibit

To debut during the reopening is a traveling exhibition titled “Animal Armor: The Evolution of Armor in Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.” The exhibition, developed by Gaston Design Inc., explores how prehistoric animals evolved their protective armor — and how modern technologies drew inspiration from those biological designs.

A model of the massive prehistoric predator Deinosuchus, a relative of modern alligators and crocodiles, serves as the museum’s centerpiece. It will also feature fossils from its own collection alongside the traveling exhibition, part of an effort to bring more stored specimens into public view.

The exhibit will run through early fall, according to Fiorillo. He said the reopening marks only the beginning of a greater effort to keep the museum evolving. “Even though we ribbon-cut on April 4, we’re not done,” he said.

Are Albuquerque’s Young Students Improving in Reading?

Grace Tackman
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Are Albuquerque’s Young Students Improving in Reading?

Are Albuquerque’s young students reading better? Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) says elementary schools are showing improvements.

In its latest news release, APS reports “encouraging” progress in early literacy, especially among historically underserved student groups.

Superintendent Gabriella Blakey shared midyear results from the district’s early literacy monitoring reports during a recent Board of Education meeting. The data shows the district’s progress toward ensuring students read proficiently by third grade.

The district is using Amira for the first time this year, the state-required literacy assessment for kindergarten through third grade. Midyear data offers an early look at how students are progressing in foundational reading skills.

APS reports the district is on track.

Early-Grade Reading Progress

At midyear, 24.4 percent of first-grade students in Yazzie-Martinez equity groups and African American students scored proficient or above. This is more than a percentage point above the district’s three-year goal.

Moreover, among second graders in the same student groups, 32.5 percent reached proficiency.  That exceeds the district’s three-year goal by more than eight percentage points. 

“These early-grade checkpoints are important because they tell us whether our youngest learners are developing the foundational skills needed to become confident, fluent readers,” Blakey said during the meeting.

The district recognized several schools before reviewing the progress monitoring reports. These schools showed some of the largest gains in reading proficiency so far this year. 

First Grade Reading Gains

The following schools achieved reading proficiency gains of 20 percentage points or more among first-grade students in the targeted student groups:

  • SY Jackson Elementary School

Increase of 25.9 percentage points (from 27% to 52.9%)
Principal: Jack Vermillion

Vermillion said the improvement reflects a coordinated effort across the entire school.

“Our gains are the result of a coordinated, schoolwide effort to close literacy gaps,” Vermillion said. “Teachers are implementing strong Tier 1 instruction aligned to evidence-based practices, and our interventionist provides targeted support using research-based literacy strategies.”

He also credited the school’s librarian and intervention support for helping accelerate growth among students needing extra help.

  • Barcelona Elementary School
    Increase of 23.5 percentage points (from 12.5% to 36%)
    Principal: Rae Lynn Dooley

“At Barcelona, we have focused on rigorous grade-level instruction and helping students embrace challenges that lead to growth,” Dooley said. “Our teachers use data-driven collaboration and engage students in conversations about their own progress.”

  • Tres Volcanes Community Collaborative
    Increase of 21.2 percentage points (from 22.9% to 44.1%)
    Principal: Hannah Manifola

“Our teachers attribute this growth to consistency with foundational skills, daily literacy routines, and maintaining high expectations for students,” Manifola said.

  • Bellehaven Elementary School
    Increase of 20.5 percentage points (from 11.1% to 31.6%)
    Principal: Sara Carrillo
  • Manzano Mesa Elementary School
    Increase of 20.2 percentage points (from 35.4% to 55.6%)
    Principal: Shannon Dickson

Dickson said collaboration among teachers played an important role. “Our first-grade team uses assessment data during teacher collaboration time to plan explicit phonics and decoding instruction,” Dickson said. “That allows us to provide consistent, targeted support for students who need it most.”

Second Grade Reading Gains

The following schools saw reading proficiency gains of 20 percentage points or more among second-grade students in the targeted groups:

  • Double Eagle Elementary School
    Increase of 29.5 percentage points (from 43.8% to 73.3%)
    Principal: Shayna Kagan

Kagan said teachers analyze assessment data closely and tailor instruction to meet student needs. “Flexible small-group instruction aligned to monthly assessment data allows us to provide targeted reading support,” Kagan said. “At the same time, structured literacy instruction strengthens decoding and builds fluency.”

  • Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary School
    Increase of 27.5 percentage points (from 42.9% to 70.4%)
    Principal: Adam Dodge

“This year we focused on integrating social-emotional strategies into reading and math instruction,” Dodge said. “Those strategies help students build perseverance, self-efficacy, and confidence as learners.”

  • Petroglyph Elementary School
    Increase of 21.1 percentage points (from 19.4% to 40.5%)
    Principal: Kristina Romo

Romo said the school achieved progress by closely monitoring student data andproviding consistent classroom instruction. “Our teachers analyze data monthly and discuss every student,” Romo said. “We focus on strong core instruction and small-group targeted support.”

  • Chaparral Elementary School
    Increase of 20.5 percentage points (from 14.5% to 35.0%)
    Principal: Michelle Tudor

Tudor said the school’s growth resulted from ensuring students consistently used the Amira literacy tutoring program.

APS Acknowledges Efforts Supporting Young Students 

District leaders extend appreciation to the educators, support staff, and families who help students succeed every day.

“I also want to recognize the teachers, educational assistants, support staff, and families who make this kind of progress possible,” Blakey said. “And of course, our students. We know how hard they are working, and it is exciting to see that effort paying off.”

The district will continue tracking literacy progress all year. It aims to ensure every student reads proficiently by third grade.

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