NM Community Schools Newsletter

1. Welcome from Rachel Padilla, NM Coalition for Community Schools Communications Sub-Committee Chair
2. Reflecting on the Pandemic & Setting Our Sights on the Future
3. Rural Community Schools Network Update
4. NEA-NM Early Career Educator and Educational Assistant Learning Series Announcement
5. Featured Coordinator: Pamela Campos, Garfield STEM Magnet & Community Middle School
6. Featured Coordinator: Jessica Ward, Wilson Community Middle School

It's a new school year – a new opportunity to reflect on the past and forge a better path into the future.

In particular, it feels like the right time for us to start considering the past few years living, working, and studying through the pandemic crisis. While it is perhaps too early to get a complete picture of what we have lost and gained in these years, a new school year – with all its promises of fresh starts and shifting perspectives – seems like the perfect time to start asking ourselves some questions: For example, what was taken out of education during those years of remote or hybrid learning that we need to be sure is brought back into our schools as we move toward our "new normal"? What old habits or outdated practices has pandemic-era schooling helped us finally move on from? For some responses we have gathered to these very questions, see the video and written reflection from some New Mexico educators and students below.

If we hope to move forward better than we were before, the community is key. This school year, start by bringing this question to the members of your collaborative leadership structure: "How can our Community School facilitate a discussion with educators, students, families, and the community that leads to the creation of a strategic plan for the future that responds to the lessons learned from the pandemic and builds on the four pillars of Community Schools?" From this question may come others: We know that the pandemic affected some groups more severely and more permanently than others – how can you ensure that stakeholders from the most deeply impacted groups are brought into the conversation? In your plan, how can you take advantage of the unique qualities of a Community School to respond to the issues raised in your discussion?

The process of interrogating the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic experience will be a long one, and the process of repairing our schools and communities will likely continue for years to come – but there is no time like the present to get started!

All of us at the New Mexico Coalition for Community Schools wish you the best of luck for the new school year!

Rachel Padilla

New Mexico Coalition for Community Schools Communications Sub-Committee Chair

Grant Writer, National Education Association of New Mexico

Remote learning was a true challenge for families and educators. As educators and parents, we had to work closely with our children on learning how to learn from home. During remote learning, we missed out on an important aspect of success: We should have trained parents and

caretakers of children on what lessons children were learning that week. If a quick lesson had been provided to parents/caregivers once a week, we might have seen more progress than regression. Ideally, we could have done family-engaging events online that were fun and interactive.

On the other hand, we gained knowledge of children's home life. As stated by Eder Ortiz, the principal of East San Jose Elementary School, "Entering the homes of the students gave us educators a better perspective on the children's home life, in that it guided us to provide social-emotional support and more guided instruction." In remote learning, we did not have the opportunity to have family-engaging face-to-face events. In recent months, our school has increased family engagement, building solid relationships with families.

Contributed by Melanie Maestas, CS Coordinator at East San Jose Community Elementary School.

After a strong start last year, our grassroots Rural Community Schools Network continues to move forward with our mission to achieve equity for rural schools.

As is well known, rural communities in New Mexico suffer from a lack of resources, which then affects the ability of community school coordinators to build strong, effective community partners. Many rural communities have few non-profit organizations, and some have none. Rural Community School coordinators started this network to share resources and exchange ideas on how to achieve equity for our students. Currently, we have coordinators from Taos, Peñasco, Santa Rosa, Moriarty, Eagle Nest and others. However, we welcome new and returning rural coordinators to join in. We’d love to have coordinators from other areas of the state to bring in your unique challenges. Community partners are also welcome.

The Rural CS Network meets monthly and is an open safe space for all to join. If you’re in the planning grant phase, this is an excellent way to hear from seasoned coordinators and make those important connections. New coordinators will benefit from this collaborative network.

Contact Michael Noll at mnoll@penascoisd.com or Paula Oxoby-Hayett at Paula.Oxoby-Hayett@taosschools.org for more information. Come join us! It’s fun, helpful and informative.

Contributed by the Rural Community School Support Network.

NEA-NM is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a three-part virtual learning series from December to February for educators in the first five years of their careers, and all educational assistants. This learning series will be facilitated by NEA-NM Vice-President Bethany Jarrell and Cornelius Minor, educator and author of We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be .

Participants will walk away with tools for creating an inclusive and equitable classroom community and will have deepened their knowledge of NEA and SEL professional learning resources.

Check the attached flyer for registration rates and exact meeting dates.

Scan the QR code to register now!

NEA-NM will also host a virtual webinar on November 19th, exploring the importance of creating identity safe classrooms, establishing inclusive and supportive space for all students, and ways of strengthening connections with students, hosted by Nat Duran from the Constellation Collective of Chicago.

Check the attached flyer for registration rates.

Scan the QR code to register now!

Professional development opportunities contributed by Angelia Ebner, NEA-NM.

Every Thursday, Nava Elementary School Site Coordinator Blanca Ortiz distributes food with her amazing students! Just a few of them are pictured above.

Every week, Communities in Schools Site Coordinators distribute bags of fresh groceries to any family in need, so they can cook healthy meals for the following week. CIS distributed over 93,000 meals last school year!

Contributed by Communities in Schools.

Why did you get into the position of CSC?

I wanted to serve students and for their families to understand the opportunities available through their schools.

What is one of the most interesting partnerships that you have brought to your school?

In 2017 we had an amazing partnership with The Culture of Good through the Cellular Connection. We also partnered with our Builders Club, TVC, and The Culture of Good to support our staff.

Name one initiative that you would like to bring to your school and discuss why it is important.

I would love to pair each of our 8th grade students with a mentor that works in a career path that interests them. I want our students to be able to visualize their futures and maybe even map out what it will take to get there.

Share something else about your role as a CS Coordinator.

As a Community School Coordinator, through surveys and data collection, I am able to help families who need help, write grants for programming, get students what they need to focus on school, and help our community celebrate its successes. I am honored and privileged to be able to serve as a coordinator.

Why did you get into the position of CSC?

I fell in love with the students at Wilson when I was volunteering the fall of 2018. I was soon on staff as the family liaison and became CSC when the position opened up. I love the Wilson Wildcat community!!!

Share a success that you have had as a CSC.

The staff and students of Wilson selected me as Wilson MS Staff of the month for September, the first time the award has been given!

What is one of the most interesting partnerships that you have brought to your school?

Working with HSC has been a tremendous blessing as we are currently in the midst of a jacket drive for our students and the Duke City Gladiators will be speaking to the students and handing out jackets that have been collected. Their marketing director has been amazing in connecting us with various contacts around the community.

Name one initiative that you would like to bring to your school and discuss why it is important.

One initiative I would like to bring to our school is more mental health providers, the needs are great and our SBHC needs more providers.

Share something else about your role as a CS Coordinator.

Quite simply, I love what I get to do. Building relationships within the community is rewarding beyond words!