NMABE

Feds reject NM education plan; Senate should reject its author

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:46:17 +0000

David Briseño and James J. Lyons on NMPolitics.net:

During her unconfirmed tenure, Skandera has displayed remarkable distrust of New Mexico parents, teachers and school administrators and disdain for state laws and traditions. Now, thanks to Washington, we know that she is incompetent.

Upon arrival, Skandera disbanded the state advisory councils on Indian education, Hispanic education and bilingual education. She fired dozens of employees in the Public Education Department and brought into New Mexico highly-paid temporary consultants, one of whom lamented that N.M. student assessment rules did not permit English-only testing.

Read the full article on NMPolitics.net.

NM Superintendents’ Report Card on Secretary-designate Skandera’s Performance

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:41:09 +0000

Download the New Mexico Superintendents’ Report Card on Secretary-designate Skandera’s Performance

(Via Prather Consulting)

Hold Skandera accountable

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:34:31 +0000

The Santa Fe New Mexican:

Under Skandera’s watch, the Public Education Department has lost key staff members in its Bilingual Education Bureau and doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to replace them, despite the many children in New Mexico who learn in two languages. Critically, there also appears to be little understanding on Skandera’s part that the education of Indian children in this state involves complex laws — including the support of Native languages and statute-required parental involvement. It’s not possible — or desirable — to be English-only in a state where so many children speak Spanish, Tewa, Keres, Navajo or another language first.

Read the full article.

VIDEO: Hanna Skandera and Minority Education: A Bad Mix

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:40:37 +0000

Please check out the following video Independent Source PAC (ISPAC) has released regarding Governor Martinez’s Public education Department Secretary-designate Hanna Scandera and her dis-engagement with New Mexico’s Majority-Minority Community on education matters.

“Hanna Skandera has demonstrated time and again that she is indifferent to New Mexico’s bi-lingual and multi-cultural education law and issues. She is bad for New Mexico’s students and should not be confirmed as Secretary of Education.”

Independent Source PAC: Florida Model Does NOT Work

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:35:40 +0000

Independent Source PAC posted the following article from Diane Ravitch regarding the imposition of the Florida model on New Mexico public schools.

An Important Letter From Education Research Professor, Diane Ravitch, to New Mexico Legislators – Florida Model Does NOT Work.

Overflow Hotel for NMABE/AMME Conference

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:15:38 +0000

If you’re having trouble booking a room with the Embassy Suites, we’ve formed an arrangement with The Hotel Albuquerque to function as our overflow hotel. Rooms are available at the rate of $99 per night (single/double occupancy) from Wednesday, April 25 through Saturday, April 28, 2012.

Book your reservations online now, or call either (505) 843-6300 or toll free at 1-800-237-2133. To receive the group rate, you must state that you would like to be placed with the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education block of rooms. The cut off date to receive this great rate is April 4, 2012. Please book early, as we will be competing with the Gathering of Nations, which takes place from April 26-28.

Native Language Festival

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:02:33 +0000

The Native Language Festival will be held on April 28, 2012 at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque, NM. This coincides with the final day of our Annual Conference. To attend the Native Language Festival, register on Acteva.

Read on for more information.

Special Download: Soleado Vol. 4 Issue 2

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:09:21 +0000

We are pleased to offer this issue of Dual Language Education of New Mexico’s newsletter, Soleado, for you this month. Inside you will find tips on supporting language through technology, using interactive white boards for language learners, and much more.

Soleado Winter 2011

Follow-up Meeting with Matt Montaño

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:51:43 +0000

On Saturday, January 28, 2012, the coalition held a face-to-face meeting with Matt Montaño, Director of Educator Quallity at the NMPED. In the conversations with Dr. Ana-Lisa Banegas Peña and Matt Montaño, both stated that they would give us concrete answers to our requests, with a timeline for when we could expect these requests to be addressed. We received a response from Mr. Montaño on January 30, 2012 which offered the coalition an opportunity for input on a few issues, such as the hiring of the Director of NMPED’s Bilingual Multicultural Education Bureau, and the development of the parent survey for the proposed A-F grading program. Our request for continued meaningful engagement on reform issues and the continuing redesign of the waiver content, however, were disregarded.

Follow up Jan 28 meeting with Matt Montano

Deadline for Award Nominees Approaching

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:59:09 +0000

The deadline for nominating an individual for the 2012 NMABE Awards is March 2, 2012. Please get your nominations in before this deadline.