Stand4KidsNM
Recipient: Hanna Skandera, Martin Esquivel, APS Board of Education, Susana Martinez, Representative Ken Martinez, Senator Mary Kay Papan, Representative Rick Miera, Representative Donald E. Bratton, Senator Michael S. Sanchez, Senator Stuart Ingle, Representative Nate Gentry, Senator Timothy M. Keller, Senator William H. Payne, Senator John P. Sapien, Senator William Soules, Senator Craig Brandt, Senator Lee Cotter, Senator Bill B. O'Neill, Senator Michael Padilla, Senator John Pinto, Senator Pat Woods, Senator Gay G. Kernan, Senator Howie Morales, Representative Antonio "Moe" Maestas, Senator Linda Lopez, Governor Susana Martinez, Senator George Munoz, Senator Sander Rue, Rules Committee, Senator Clemente Sanchez, Rules Committee, Senator Daniel A. Ivey-Soto, Senator Stuart Ingle, Senator Mark Moores, Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Senator Cliff R. Pirtle, Senator Jacob R. Candelaria, Senator Michael Sanchez, Matthew Montano, Liz Thomson, New Mexico Governor, New Mexico State Senate, New Mexico State House, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Rep. Ben Lujan, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Rep. Steve Pearce, and Sen. Tom Udall
Letter: Greetings,
We demand thoughtful, planned out, collaboratively decided, scientifically research-based, responsible, non-punitive, non-corporately-influenced educational policies in New Mexico's public schools. Comments
Name Location Date Comment
Camille Gonzales Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 As a teacher, I welcome a fair evaluation system. Furthermore, I always welcome administrators and others to come in and see what is going on in my classroom. I'd love for them to get an authentic view of my students engaged in active learning. Unfortunately, I don't think the new evaluation system is in any way fair. As a parent, I am concerned that my children are spending inordinate amounts of time taking tests that are not truly indicative of their abilities and learning. This is unfair to our teachers, our students, and our community at large.
Mary Dolch Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm a 24 year Veteran Teacher with APS, Voted Teacher of the Year two years ago. I am going to leave as soon as I can due to the punitive grim and hostile working environment of your teacher evals and general disrespect for educators. I had planned to stay another 10 years. I in addition to my teaching duties provide snacks for 300 low income and homeless students a day during snack break through a fund I run. I am passionate about my job and improving the reading scores of very at risk teens, but your hatred towards NM educators has proven too much for me to tolerate any longer. Adding my name to the many I see leaving. Your policies are causing intense harm to children, communities and our state.
Elaine Carrillo Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 This agenda is not based in what is best for students. It reflects efforts on the part of some to destroy public schools because of the perceived cost to government. In the long run, destroying public schools will destroy our Democracy. A few will profit largely from their interests in private schools, but not for long. Please back up and allow teachers, students and parents voices to be heard. Big business via politics is not the platform for reforming public schools. Some of what is "wrong" with public school is a myth created by big money and a need for news.
Randee Ensor Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I don't want education being controlled by corporations that have no clue as to how children learn or what children need. The greatest help to students has always been a lower pupil to teacher ratio; and, no one wants to invest in that. Ask yourself who is benefiting by these alleged reforms. Really.
Celeste Hernandez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am not against being evaluated FAIRLY. I am not against my students being assessed FAIRLY. We need to be more thoughtful about how CCSS is rolled out and how EVERYONE is held accountable, including the Secretary of Education DESIGNATE. She is making rules that affect our lives and, truthfully has no idea what happens in the everyday lives of classrooms.
Antoinette Vigil Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 To help our wonderful teachers help our kids to succeed.
Courtney Richmond Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 I'm a teacher and I believe that our students need to be educated not tested. That should not be their responsibility. It should not lie in the hands of innocent children who just go to school because they are supposed to. They should be going to school to learn and not be worried about tests. They don't learn by being tested; they learn by having good classroom instruction, and educators cannot do this when we are only concerned about tests.
Nicole Jetland Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 These reforms are hurting our children and teachers! Stop testing our kids and let them learn! Name Location Date Comment
Christine Gurule Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am signing this on behalf of all the 2014 graduates. They should not have to suffer the consequence of testing in order to graduate. I think all the teachers whom work for Aps should take this test and that will tell you who can teach and who can't. Trust me there are plenty of them that just collect a paycheck and can careless about our children's education.
Dorene Kahl Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 The back room agenda to punish children and teachers in the march to corporate deform of public education must stop now.
Cary Tyler Beaverton, OR 2013-10-14 I taught in NM for 13 years...I still have family and friends there. As a professional educator I have read plenty of educational research that shows this agenda is significantly damaging to education, not helpful!
Shannon Konefal Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Our students and our teachers are set up for failure. Testing requirements for students are unnecessary and excessive. Graduation requirements with additional testing are prejudice against good students who are bad test takers. Unfair teacher evaluations are causing our good teachers to quit. State testing is costing our school systems MILLIONS of dollars that we don't want taken out of our classrooms! Who is getting rich off of these tests? It isn't the students or the schools!!!
Joel Molay albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I want our students to have the best opportunity to learn.
Jessica Chavez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Our students deserve education, not testing.
Carla Murray Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Governor Martinez, I have no confidence in Hanna Skandera to do what is right for New Mexico's students, teachers, and schools. She has no qualifications to hold the position she does not even officially have and appears to have no intentions of doing what is in New Mexico's educational best interest. We need someone who respects our fine state and will do what is best for our students. If she continues to have this extremely unprofessional influence over our educational system not only will it be a disaster for us but a disaster for any chances you might have at re-election. Many people voted for you in the last election that will not do so again, simply because of Skandera. Please do what is right for our state and put someone who know about education and is qualified and certified in the position that your constituents can respect. If you don't do it for us, then you might want to do it in your own political best interest.
Nicole Evans Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Excessive testing at the expense of instructional time is not the answer. Top- down for-profit education "reform" is a joke. Let teachers teach.
Jane Anderson Socorro, NM 2013-10-14 My students can't afford not to get the best education possible because a politician thinks he/she knows it all. They only get one chance.
Luis Guzman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I want the so-called educational reformers to display transparency. I want it clear that these people have handlers whose sole interest is shutting public schools down and privitizing education.
Patricia Garcia Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 You are going to lose a lot of great teachers because of this agenda.
Lori Cooper Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a parent of a NM Public Schools student, AND I am a public school teacher!
Mary Creech Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm a parent and a wife of a teacher. The amount of testing the schools have to perform leaves little time for instruction. My kids have way more homework than necessary because there isn't time enough for instruction in school. My husband spends endless hours in meeting introducing the latest trend, that never lasts long enough to really test it's effectiveness. Stop using our kids and teachers as research subjects. Name Location Date Comment
Vaadra Martinez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 This is NOT the way to reform our schools, our children need to be the priority, educators already have one of the toughest jobs in our country--how about we ask them how to reform schools instead of trying to point the finger at them as if they are the problem
Patricia Podnar Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Hanna Skandra needs to go - she is not what the teachers and students in this state need.
Veronica Saavedra Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Our kids deserve a proper and fair education without corporate America trying to profit from what is already an issue with low wages for teachers and a high level of school dropouts.
Linda Simon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 These so-called "reforms" are not evidence-based best practices. They impose a inadequate quantitative evaluation protocols for measuring qualitative outcomes, and they they take the "public" out of public education by privatizing through a corporate model - and all of this is under the flawed leadership of a woman who did NOT receive legislative confirmation (thereby again removing the public" and who has never spent a single day in the classroom.
Daniel Ensor Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 My wife is a teacher. She pours her heart and soul into her work everyday of her life. I am sick of the corporate abuse and scapegoating of teachers. I am tired of the denigration of our students. Helping kids succeed requires more than a business model. Kids are not a product. They need to be treated like human beings.
Karn Gustafson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 As a teacher in New Mexico, I believe in teacher evaluation and student assessment. Unfortunately our Secretary of Education Designate and our Governor feel that they know what is best despite the Legislature and voice of the people.
Tamara Weed Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 This country has fallen terribly in its education of its people. We aren't measured by how well we do on tests, we should be taught to use our minds and our abilities. Stop testing our kids and teach our kids. Stop restricting our teachers and let them really TEACH our kids! America is important to me and if we don't stop the way we are restricting our students, we won't have an America to be proud of.
Eugenia Hanosh Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher.
Kenda Grimm Dexter, NM 2013-10-14 NM schools are filled with great teachers and administrators. Our kids deserve to have an educational environment where the staff is NOT forced to forget teaching subject matter and instead STOP teaching testing skills.
Melissa Sweeney Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a citizen of New Mexico who believes in Public Education. I am sickened by the use of positions trust and service to the people of New Mexico being exploited by those who want personal gain either financially or politically.
Jennifer Perry Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 As a middle school teacher, I find this reform completely unfair and unacceptable. There is no way a teacher can succeed in these parameters with most of the student population in the schools unable to read or write at grade level. How is a teacher supposed to teach a student that comes in from another country and speaks no English and still have the same expectations as the other students for this reform? If students can't read or write at grade level shouldn't they be held back? This reform is ridiculous!
Jeannie Dyke Albquerque, NM 2013-10-14 We need real research-based evaluation, as we've said, NOT impossible criteria designed for corporate profit. This system is horribly impacting the time I can actually spend to devote to my students' learning! It's a wrongful political bashing of an intensely dedicated group of caring workers, with impossible, demoralizing criteria. STOP!
Mary Boudreau Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-14 you have got to be kidding Name Location Date Comment
Joel Jacobsen Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Insisting on uniform lesson plan formats is, at best, insane. At worst, it reveals an intention to discredit public education itself.
Quint Seckler Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 It is not fair to base 50 % of my evaluation on standardized test scores!!
Sara Valenzuela Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 I am both a teacher in and mother of a child in the NM public schools. I am seeing firsthand the tragedy these so called "reforms" are causing students, teachers, and administrators alike.
Roberta Greenberg Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 The mandates would appear to be discriminatory towards many individuals, mainly children.
Pamela Turman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I know so many teachers that can't even spend time with their kids because of all this ridiculous testing and paperwork. Let the teachers teach ! Let them use their incredable creativity to move these kids forward !!
Bridgett Paul Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Corporations are trying to make money off of our students. They deserve better than your failed policies, as dictated by an under-qualified secretary. Public schools should stay public!
Sarah Bitner Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm signing this petition because as a teacher, I'm sick of being treated like I am an under-educated worker who needs to be monitored like it's my first day on the job. I'm furious that my kindergarten age daughter is subject to EOC's and a system that does not value individuality.
Sarah Smith Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm a math teacher - a good one. My test scores each year average 10 to 20 points above average so I've got no problem with evaluations that include student test data. This new system you've imposed is making my job even more difficult than it already was and highlights the complete lack of understanding for education and teaching your pick for Secretary of Education has. I use to love my job but this new evaluation system, coming at the same time as the transition to Common Core, is making my job untenable. I have a master's in education and use to think I'd retire from teaching some day but now I'm not so sure. I've got you to thank for that. patsy jaramillo albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Because our kids have worked to hard to not get a high school diploma why dont these people that are making hard for our kids take the test and see how they do it's not fair take it away.
Donna Licano Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I signed this petition because I am 100% opposed to the privatization of public education. If you moved the most motivated students out of the public schools, who do you have left to help motivate the rest of the student population?
Missy Baca ALbuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Because I am currently a student at UNM's college of education and plan to be a bilingual elementary school teacher. It is important to me that teachers are given fair regulations that allow them to help their children learn. There are much better models of education that we could follow that would help all of our schools succeed. I think that congress should implement the research and ideas of educational professionals.
MJ Shaffer Roswell NM, AL 2013-10-14 The direction of Governor Martinez in regards to education is and will fail the children of New Mexico. Bypassing the local districts to implement her own political agenda is appalling! Our children deserve the best education with parents, local communities and elected school boards directing education. These rushed reforms should be stopped immediately!
Jon Mountjoy Portales, NM 2013-10-14 I do not support the agenda, especially since this "reform" is a corporate agenda, along with the "common core" train wreck...someone is making some $$$ on this deal...
Daniel Brumbaugh Sugar Land, TX 2013-10-14 Linda Pyle asked me to and I trust her implicitly : ) Name Location Date Comment
Dominic Silva Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-14 I don't want the kids growing up feeling like they are failures, which in turn leads them to Crime and Drugs. My wife who is a teacher has become so stressed about the new teacher evaluations that it is affecting her health..
Lea Jones Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I have been a teacher for 6 years. For the first time I have been evaluated and found wanting. I have received good to excellent ratings until now. I was rated 'ineffective' in my first observation of the year. I am wholly convinced that I was part of the 10% of teachers at my school who were mandated to be scored that way, as principals were told to. I think this is a great tool for administrators to get rid of people they don't like, rather than any true assessment of my skills-as I have not been able to respond to my evaluation, but am expected to go through some sort of intervention. Based on ONE subjective and unfair observation. I have not even been given the opportunity to respond. I would sign this a thousand times if I could.
Theresa Anglada Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-14 It is not right what the state is asking of teachers. We already put in so much of our extra time and money of our own. Now there is so much stress to make us look good on paper that our focus is taken off the children where it needs to be. We went to school to teach not to be filling out paper work constantly.
Jerry Tuttle Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 This refle4cts upon our teachers and will bring many of our best teachers to seek othert employment
Karen Earwood Socorro, NM 2013-10-14 I see nothing but damage to students and teachers from theses policies. What is developmentally appropriate for children at a specific age is not even being considered. That is some of the longest standing research we have about children and how they learn.
Polli Goen Del Rio, TX 2013-10-14 I am a NM native. I only live outside of NM now because I'm married to a member of the military. I want to come home...and I will in the next year. But I want a Home to which it is worth returning! Education is a benchmark by which all other "necessities" are measured! If you care enough about our future, I'm willing to give you a chance in taking care of our present.
Wendy Vasquez Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher and a parent. I am appalled at the selfishness taking place on behalf of our governor. The "rules" the governor is making up and enforcing without legislative approval seems illegal. Not one stakeholder in New Mexico has been given the chance to voice their concerns. All Skandera can say is our schools are broken, which is not the case. Our families need help, and that is the root cause of our schools' struggles. Since Martinez took office, our state has declined in its support of our children. We are now last in the nation for child well-being, and the lottery scholarship will soon be gone despite the fact that people are still playing the lottery. The money is there, but it is not being used to support our childrens' education and I want to know why. I am disgusted by what one person has done to our profession and I have already seen very negative signs of her mandates. We have already had two teachers quit at our school this year due to the immense stress placed on staff members. People are getting sick right and left due to the stress. Many very talented teachers are ready to quit. This is a travesty and what bothers me the most is it has all been done with a selfish intent. There has been no collaboration. Those who dictate without collaboration are simply doing so to benefit themselves. The entire state is going to suffer and I am not going to sit idle and let the governor do this to our wonderful children and teachers. I'm going to fight!
Linda Brown Tijeras, NM 2013-10-14 As a teacher, I see first hand the damage that is being done with this reform agenda that has been forced upon us and our students. Name Location Date Comment
Lesha Harenberg Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 This reform takes time away from actual teaching and lines corporate America's pockets. The best teachers I know are leaving. My children are 6 and 9 and should be LEARNING, not learning how to bubble forms on weekly assessments. Every minute that they do evaluations of their teacher--which is all the weekly assessments amount to--is time taken away from their education. This has to stop!
Barbara Anderson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 I have taught 41 years and have never seen such low morale in the schools. Teachers will not get better by putting more paperwork on them, they will get stronger by letting us TEACH!!! These reforms are only going to create the largest mass exit of teachers this state has ever seen. lauri sedalnick albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 You are NOT thinking of the children or the people that care about them the most.
Amanda Wine Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher and I see how this not only impacts teachers (how even veteran teachers are stressed) but how it is impacting students (who are the most important people when it comes to education). shannon trujillo albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I have 3 kids in APS. I recently found a letter written by my 1st grader. Who no longer wants to go, who no longer likes his school. The school morale is low, test prep is overwhelming. Yet I believe in public education. I believe that we have incredible teachers, who given the opportunity, can teach and teach well. This approach to evaluation is wrong; the approach with all kids )and now teachers) being standardized and put on a pass/fail bubble fill-in-sheet is wrong. It is not the answer.
Susan Neddeau Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 It is not an equitable way to evaluate
Dinah Pierotti Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I appose the insane amount of testing for my own children, and the time away from instruction. That students are measured only by this tests. That change in students in poverty will make a difference by a test. Kids need more time with teacher's teaching than they do taking tests to measure their failure. I am disappointed by our state leadership. They need to embrace children, ask veteran teachers what works, they will tell you hours and hours of testing is not necessary. Too bad the trust is gone in what is one of the most important and influential person in a student's life as long as they are in school. I resent the way this new evaluation is directed at making me a failure as a teacher and I can't think of another profession that would put up with this nonsense. How can we compare to Japan and Finland, homogenous societies? The beauty of democracy is that every child in this country has a right to freed education, we have an obligation to educate all and the tests we give will not take into consideration kids with special needs or ESL. They all take the same test and well you know how that will look on a graph. My worst days of the year are giving a standardized test to a developmentally delayed student who has no clue what I am reading, guessing the answer and feeling so bad about him/her self. Pleas consider changes in leadership and vote no confidence on the appointment of Hanna Skandera and to promote a positive education system that works for children.
Susan Colquitt Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 Susana and Hanna cannot be trusted to make informed and educationally sound decisions for NM students!
Sharon Kuchar Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 I recently retired in May, after 19 years of teaching first and second grade. I retired because of the insanity created by PED. I see my fellow teachers dying inside trying to cope with a million demands that have nothing to do with helping children. I am losing faith in public education.
Chris Fox Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 It is important to develop a reasonable, doable evaluation for teachers, not a punitive one like the current model. Name Location Date Comment
Angela Gonzales Carver Alquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Putting Children First! Stop the stress!
Mary Chappell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a 1st grade teacher. Overtesting is hurting our kids. Please take the time to listen to what teachers are saying.
Gary BAUDINO Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I support educational reform. We need to put our children, state and country ahead of political agendas. This is solely a political move masked as reform. kristi welton-kidder Albuquerque, NM, NM 2013-10-14 Our children's teachers deserve a well thought out, reasonably executed plan for standards evaluation. Every one of my children's teachers is under undue stress, and many are ready to quit teaching due to the ineffective way this agenda has been implemented. Please UNDO this now! Teaching means everything to these ladies and they are ready to quit - I have NEVER experienced this in my 9 years experience with an educational system
Karla Humphrey Hobbs,, NM 2013-10-14 I'd love to have time to TEACH instead of using it to TEST my students.
Diana Jackson Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-14 Teachers, administrators and students spend too much of their instructional time testing, analyzing the test results, and not enough time with the students for instruction, all to line the pockets of the businesses which produce the tests and see that the states implement them by funding their political campaign. elizabeth gutierrez albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 This reform IS NOT right for OUR KIDS!!! More TESTS DO NOT equal smarter kids!
David Legare Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 These policies make our children and their teachers losers in an increasingly complex world.
Julie Janecka Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 I am signing because I have taught school for 15 years and it used to be teaching now its jumping through hoops.
Carmen Estela Gutierrez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 This is the worst idea since NCLB!
Mela Straley Lemitar, NM 2013-10-14 We are testing our kids to much! I feel as a teacher we are losing teaching time to testing.
Richard Oliva Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher and I am worried about the effect that all the emphasis on testing and evaluations will have on "real" learning.
Donna Chrisman Farmington, NM 2013-10-14 I retired last year with 33 years teaching experience. I retired because of what is happening now in our education system. I wanted to stay and teach but the system that is currently being implemented does not allow for a fair evaluation or critique of an effective teacher.
Sandy Saenz Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher! I have been teaching for 21 years and this year has been the most complicated; not only for the teachers, but also for the students.
Patti Marconett Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Stopping the "reform" agenda is important to me due to the comments I hear from other teachers. The working teachers are frustrated at the lack of time they can actually spend preparing for a classroom of students instead of jumping through hoops for an observation that is only going to earn a 3 or "C" grade. We have too many people telling teachers how to teach who have never been in a classroom.
Maralyn Beck Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I support teacher evaluations, but I believe we need to pause, and really reevalutate the processes that we have rushed to implement.
Bethany Pratt Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Education matters, and our kids are not guinea pigs for your corporate reform to be tested on.
Robert Konefal Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 We need to teach to the core curriculum first before attempting testing. Plus, we do not have the money to adminster these tests right now. Where is also this money going? Name Location Date Comment
James F Butterbaugh Tijeras, NM 2013-10-14 It is a pathetic test that determines your graduation status. What happens if you are a 4F student and pass the test? You must only test students on material covered in the class room NOT what is going to be covered. How would you like to be graded today on your performance next week, then have your pay attached to the test?? For the House and Senate lets vote today on the election for next term without you having an opportunity to make speeches?
Camille Jones Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 There are a number of students that will not graduate this year and next with a diploma because the new standards are being implemented their Senior and Junior years.
Kristin Hein Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 I am a certified teacher AND a mother of three boys currently going through the public education system. Our system is currently a mess...
Shannon Chancellor Moriarty, NM 2013-10-14 The tests that are given to our students are taking away from the time that we could be spending educating them... Using these tests to grade teachers is not fair to students or teachers. The fact that the scores could be as much as 50% of a teacher's evaluation is ridiculous.
Shelly Haddock Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-14 I have first hand experience in how the High Schools That Work agenda is killing creativity and diversity in teaching styles and student work. I also have seen how the High Schools That Work corporate machine is interested only in generating money for itself. I've heard two-thirds of the school improvement grand money in the state is now being funneled through High Schools That Work. Should any single business have that much influence over the way New Mexico educates its children? The new teacher evaluations are designed to follow the High Schools That Work model. They are designed to show that no matter how long a person has been teaching, or how well he/she has done on previous evaluations, that teacher currently is at best minimally effective. How can the entire teching staff of a school merely be effective or minimally effective, yet the school earn an A from the state?
Shari Doyon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm a nationally board certified teacher who welcomes reform. However, these are not reforms. They're simple "solutions" to complex problems. The presentation of these reforms, with no training, support, time for true understanding and integration of the reforms shows how little those who put this together know about how people and systems grow and change. Arnie Duncan addressed this w when he was here and his advice was ignored.
Cristie Nixon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 It's important to me because the students should come first. I am a PE teacher and this is taking time away from my students physical activity.
Erin Hoppes Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-14 As a teacher, I see the importance of researched based implementation of any and all educational facets. Don't forget, teachers and principals know about education, NOT politicians. After all, educators do their jobs for children, not power and glory.
Christine Baird Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher undergoing this scrutiny by someone who has never been in the classroom.
Susan Womble Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I feel the new evaluation system in public schools is biased and absurd. I am a newly retired teacher and I find myself angry with an evaluation process that does not take into account that teachers love working with children and make best efforts to support all their students to do their best.
Antoinette Romero Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-14 This "Corporate Reform" is hurting our students and is not in anyway helping their education or ability to learn! Name Location Date Comment
Jorge Alarcon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 This movement is important to me because I am a teacher. I know what it takes to be an effective teacher. It is impossible for anyone to know or understand what effective teaching is without ever having been a teacher. Regardless of what those who are making the rules say, unless they are or were a teacher, they don't know what they are talking about...plain and simple!
Jennifer Wisecup Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-14 The current system of teacher evaluation is demoralizing because it sets us up for failure. The marks of effective and higher are worded so as to be impossible or nearly impossible to reach. I find it curious that a teacher who has been highly rated and respected in her field can suddenly be marked as minimally effective. If we told our students to not expect to get above a D on our assessments, we would have to answer to administration and parents and would be expected to change our assessment criteria. Why are we being held to an impossible standard?
Until students and parents are held accountable for attendance and academic performance, basing my evaluation on students' test scores is unfair.
Until an evaluation system accounts for the efforts of the educator rather than those who have no stake in the system, it will be unfair.
Nichole Neff Jemez Pueblo, NM 2013-10-14 Education is our greatest tool for building a better future. True education does not consist of over-testing or evaluation (either of teachers, students, or schools). The focus should be on the process of learning, not arbitrary scores. Over-testing also stifles creativity of both teachers and students and creativity is the first stepping stone to innovation and a brighter future.
Kara Sanchez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I've been a teacher for 12 years and I am about to leave the profession because of this nonsense.
Susan Meyerer Sandia Park, NM 2013-10-14 As an educator for over 30 years in New Mexico and a parent of 2 successful adult children who attended Moriarty Municipal Schools, I am alarmed that a non-New Mexican with no educational credentials and no children, should be leading NM "reform" efforts. These reforms are not based on current research - even the President and Arne Duncan now recognize that NCLB and Race to the Top have not benefitted our students and have initiated the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. movement - http://www.ed.gov/teaching - an Educator-led movement - recognizing educational success, professional excellence & collaborative teaching - RESPECT represents a movement within the education profession to elevate and transform teaching and leading so that all of our students are prepared to meet the demands of the 21st century. As the demands of our world continue to expand, our students need educators who are well prepared, compensated, and treated as professionals. In addition, I am appalled that NM legislators cut the $200,000 that funded teachers as practitioner researchers in their own classrooms, schools and districts - studying their own schools/classrooms and conducting research on what works, what doesn't & sharing that statewide with other educators, in favor of the 1.7 MILLION dollars to establish an assessment system based on standardized knowledge - ignoring the whole student & the creativity, passion, and problem solving model that students really need to make a difference and succeed as informed citizens in the 21st Century and beyond.
Carolyn Nichols Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I believe in public education. My children attend APS middle and high schools. My husband is a teacher.
Antoinette Bastian-Taft ALBUQUERQUE, NM 2013-10-14 It is not in the best interest of the students and good teachers are leaving NM.
Debora Garrison Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm an educator Name Location Date Comment linda Moody Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 Because the last time I checked we still live in a democracy and Hanna Skandera does not get to force anything on anybody.
Janet Eskins Farmington, NM 2013-10-14 Our state constitution calls for the PED Secretary to have taught in the classroom. Hanna Skandera does not qualify!!!!!
Anna Lucero Albuqueruque, NM 2013-10-14 I work with students with disabilities and I feel that the Governor does not have fair or thoughtful evaluation system for me and my students.
Cecily Peterson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 My husband and I signed on to lead the PTA this year because it was folding. School morale is at an all-time low, and the kids just focus on skills for testing. Please give back some ability to the schools to determine what is best for the students. Our teachers are great--but do not need one more check-box evaluating them. It's too much!
Carolyn Jones Ramah, NM 2013-10-14 Reforms should help schools, not businesses who see schools as invetment opportunities!
Lisa Dollahon Hobbs, NM 2013-10-14 Because I am a teacher and I am fed up with the fact that I can not teach for all the red tape and paperwork that we are being bogged down with.
Kerry Hurst Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher and I feel that the testing requirements for students is unfair to both the students and the teachers.
Gabriel Martinez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 Because they need to stop by passing the boards and votes were suppose to be a democracy and have a vote of the people not what you decide because you have the power to by pass the people and votes it's wrong
Lisa Arnhart Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 My children are tested too much and the teachers need classroom time to teach their subject rather than proctoring tests.
Kyle Hardy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 because I am a teacher that is being bullied by this punitive tool that does not evaluate correctly at all.
Jason Domina Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher, parent, voter and want to keep public education just that, PUBLIC education. Education is not a business. Business is for profit and education is for learning.
Aaron Arellano Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 The NM PED needs to realize the purpose of Education is to "EDUCATE" not to just evaluate. Too much emphasis is being placed on assessment and evaluation and the educational needs of our youth is paying the price!!
Mitch Quandt A;buquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I'm a speech-language pathologist in the public schools and I see that these changes are not leading to an improvement in public educatiosn
Michael Moore Norwalk, CA 2013-10-14 friend is a teacher in New Mexico
Lauren McDougall Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a high school teacher. I've been in the classroom for 21 years, and this is the worst reform I have seen. More money directed to corporations and more time spent on testing than ever before.
Shanna Phillips Carlsbad, NM 2013-10-14 As a parent and a teacher I want to have a voice.
Alicia Gunderson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 The reform is undemocratic and hurts public schools
Tanna Miller Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-14 As a parent and a teacher, I want to see decisions based on what's best for my kids! The stress and anxiety these children and teachers are experiencing are unnecessary and not helping them become successful people . The current system is just teaching these kids how to take tests. It has nothing to do with teaching our future leaders how to think or problem solve or become productive citizens. Please help create a solution instead of more problems. Name Location Date Comment
Linnea Warren May Durham, NC 2013-10-14 I have always heard that NM schools were some of the worst in the country. As an Eldorado HS graduate in Albuquerque, my experience was entirely opposite. The teachers I had were amazing at their jobs and really contributed to my future success. I would hate for future generations to have a different experience.
Andrew Aguilar Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 There is no data to support a need for this change.
Josephine Gonzales Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 I am a newly hired educator, and there are not sufficient words to describe how offensive and detrimental these new changes are to the school and the teaching profession. We already have a problem with attracting new teachers to the profession and retaining the ones who are already there; these new measures are so poorly thought out they will only do more harm. If overhaul is going to happen, it must happen in a collaborative manner where the people responsible for implementing it have at least some say in the equity of the measures. Stop punishing teachers, especially those who teach at disadvantaged schools!
Colleen Teske Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-14 Too many agendas that are about making money and not about kids' education!
Candice Rood Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 We need to remember these are children, not products.
Lisa Murphy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-14 No weekly assessments!!!
Geraldine Franco Carlsbad, NM 2013-10-14 I am signing because I am concerned for my state education system, especially our students and teachers!
Angela Lack Arroyo Hondo, NM 2013-10-14 I am a teacher!
Stephanie Herrera Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 I'm a parent as well as a teacher and I've seen the till it's taking on our children, teachers, and parents first hand. It's having a negative impact on the children , their parents and the teachers (physically emotionally, and mentally).
Anna Cook Fairacres, NM 2013-10-15 Corportations answer to their shareholders, not the child, parent, teachers. Do yourself a favor and model education after successful models. Try Finland. Honors their teachers. Not a corporation in sight.
Diane Apodaca Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Is there a reason you have decided to treat the teachers of Albuquerque as if they are incompetent? Consider the consequences of the evaluation system you have put into place. You have potential to lose some highly qualified teachers because we are not interested in being treated as if we are incompetent. Please reconsider your decision on this very important issue.
Lisa May Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 I am deeply unhappy with the education and mental health policies of Gov. Martinez. Shape up or expect to be voted out. I've been hearing a lot of outrage from both Democratic and Republican parents about your sloppy bungling of education matters, so consider me the tip of the iceberg. We're angry.
Margaret Disque Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 The changes being made are NOT resulting in better students. I am angry that people who have no children and have never been in a classroom even part time are making these decisions based on theory without experience.
Harvey Carreathers Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 The private sector only cares about the bottom line. Not the kids!
Cori Duran Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-15 The educations of my students and my own children is important to me and using scientific research based materials to educate students is essential in the classroom and in the field of Special Education. Name Location Date Comment
Heather Greene Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 As a teacher I am close to the breaking point. I do the best possible job and am not even recognized with cost of living increases. Instead the message is a constant barrage of negativity towards educators. As a paren I am afraid for New Mexico youth because these Martinez and Skandera are going to take a very low ranking education system and chase off so many good teachers that the children will be the ones to suffer.
Brendan Egan Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Corporations shouldn't profit off of our education system. Children should be the ONLY ones profiting from the education system.
Lisa Thompson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 As I first year teacher coming out of an early childhood program I find this approach to teaching/learning not only to be against everything I know about how young children learn but also impossible for me as a teacher to achieve success and to teach children to be successful.
Pattie Ironside-Davis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 We need a governor that listens to the people and doesn't have her own punitive and harmful agenda that harms the children in our state.
James See Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 I am a teacher and while change and improvement can always be made, the changes being instituted by PED will not have the desired effect. It is giving teachers one more (or lots more) things to deal with other than teaching students. We spend more time now dealing with all of the changes than we do teaching.
Cindy Dennis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 I am an educator and have been for 34 years. I love what I do, but with this system I cannot teach. It takes too much time.
Diane Leathers-Alarcon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Let the people's voice be heard before this 'Reform" is implemented.
Robanne Harrison Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 The new formula for student success has taken the heart and soul out of education.
Erik Johns Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-15 Being an educator for the past nineteen years I have worked under many conditions. However, this is by far the worst situation that I have experienced. Due to the overwhelming amount of electronic paperwork I have little time to plan and teach well. Our children are the ones who will suffer the most. The impact of these illegal reforms will be detrimental to our children well into their adult lives. I fear that for many children their opportunities will be limited as a result of these reforms; leading them to only an option of criminal activity when adults as a means of survival. How sad it is that our public education system is being allowed to be destroyed at the expense of our children's future by an incompetent individual with zero connection to education.
Cassandra Van Dyne Vernon, CT 2013-10-15 Education is fundamental to the continued structure of society. No one person should have the ability to bully or push through in the midst of majority opposition because this is still the US and we are a democracy meaning WE, all the members of society, have a final input and the decisions represent the majority. Skandera is a politician out for own interest - not in the best interest of all. karen vedera albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 work for school district!
Dianna Davidson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Too many ridiculous things to mention here!
Pam Abreu Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-15 This is important to me, because I am a public school teacher!
Yvette Ramirez-Springler Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 I am a teacher, a Republican and in general, a Governor Martinez supporter. But this evaluation system is too much, too overwhelming, and is badly timed. Please re-think this!!! Name Location Date Comment
Jessica Kruse Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 As an educator I know that I am qualified to do my job because I am an expert in my content area. I have studied my chosen subject matter for years and have trained extensively to make educational decisions as a teacher for my students. I find it horribly appalling and even hypocritical that these lawmakers who are NOT experts in the content of education are making decisions about education. It would be as if a mathematics teacher were trying to teach a unit on poetry in an English class and not only just teach that unit, but claim to know their facts were correct without any prior knowledge on the subject. If you are a politician, you are not trained to make educational decisions. You have NOT been properly educated on how to do so. Please refrain from making decisions with such blatant disregard or respect for those who are impacted directly by said decisions.
Heather Lovick-Tolley Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-15 This is important to me because as a parent and substitute teacher I see that excessive use of standardized test scores are a poor substitute for personal evaluation of both student potential and teacher effectiveness. Students are not encouraged to learn for the sake of learning, and teachers are, frankly, discouraged from teaching creatively and effectively.
Eugenio I. Gurule Gurule Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-15 As a past educator of 30 years, I know this reform is Wrong and is not beneficial for children's education. A reform with no support particularly by the educators that are going to be implementing it is worthless
Valerie Fast Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 This is not a fair way to evaluate teachers. Test score are not effective way to show teachers are not doing their jobs. Children are not test scores. Also only just a snapshot of a school year. Lots of variables with a score. Too much paperwork on things that our administrators and the teacher taking way too much time away from teaching. Government officials need to stay out of our teachers classrooms. Funding needs to be provided for teachers to really do their jobs!!!!
Gerri Barnhart Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Because the kids are the ones who will suffer the most. If your truly for the kids then please listen to us.
Danaca Doering Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Because, I am a teacher. I have dedicated my life to education. shara momtoya caballo, NM 2013-10-15 I am an educator and parent. I do not support anyone to be making decisions about education unless they have had extensive experience in teaching.
Chris Brunder Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 NM deserves better than Hanna and Susana.
Diane Ransom Placitas, NM 2013-10-15 As a teacher with over 35 years experience, the last 14 years as a Reading Specialist in NM, I am amazed that our nation and state are still supporting "corporate solutions" with no "child based, authentic research" as a foundation. Approaches which "follow the child" and are based on background knowledge, student learning styles, and interests work! But, when are knowledgeable teachers ever consulted?!
Luis Valle Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 My wife is a teacher!
Robert Abney Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 You cannot proclaim the importance of using assessment data for the purpose of making decisions that affect children, if you refuse to look at research that discredits the system put in place to evaluate their teachers.
Vincent Kelly Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 I'm for education system reform. I feel that the government could offload a significant expense by privatizing education. However, this administration is recklessly implementing illogical regulations before having established a well- thought out plan. The thrashing caused by this poor planning is evidence pointing to a disregard for the complexity of the problem at hand, incompetence, or a malicious internal attack on the public school system aimed at channeling families into charter schools due to wavering confidence because of these very hindrances. Name Location Date Comment
Patrick Sanchez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 It's time for New Mexicans to look beyond the well practiced "talking points" of the Governor and Secretary Designate. I have to smile as they "champion" excellent teachers. Is anybody still buying what they're selling?
Mary Parr-Sanchez Las Cruces, Canada 2013-10-15 New Mexico's kids are too important to allow the focus of their education to be test preparation. New Mexico's rich, diverse cultural background is best served by public schools that are owned and operated by the citizens of New Mexico and not outside corporations with profit as their motive.
Jana Beasley Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Skandera is not an educator. How does she know what is good for schools, teachers, and students? Moral at schools is very low. Students are given too many tests. We need a person that is an educator and sees that all of these measures were a bad decision. art johnson las cruces, NM 2013-10-15 It's important because Hanna Skandera has ZERO experience in public education and has made a mockery of the system.
Elesha Fetrow Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 I have children who are being tested to DEATH creating so much educational anxiety that I am actually worried that they may burn out. This is a marathon not a race. The advantages of statewide testing as an assessment are only reflected in the needs of the state to "know" in an easy way what they believe is going on in schools - yet there are other means already in practice which captures similar data. I find it onerous on the part of state leaders to not be more CREATIVE when searching for solutions to this issue ann meyer Farmington, NM 2013-10-15 We are creating institutions rather than educational bastions of learning.
Brandi Vigil Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 My husband is a teacher
Jeffrey Doyon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Those that can, TEACH. Those who cannot, Pass laws about Teaching.
Bernice Garcia Baca Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-15 I'm a School Counselor--Educator since 1975. It is no mere platitude that Children ARE our Future.
Dolores Earwood Belen, NM 2013-10-15 As a former teacher and as a parent, I really care about the kids and their education and feel that some big mistakes have been made lately in NM.
Maria Mondragon Chicago, IL 2013-10-15 My nieces and nephews attend schools and one teaches school in NM. I believe that parents and educators need to make informed decisions about education--not people who want to profit from it.
Shari Bowie ALBUQUERQUE, NM 2013-10-15 I am outraged with these tests that have been outlined for the students; the process will be overwhelming and puts negativity on the overall morale. The fairness is not given to the students and teachers. Stop the PRESSURE and STRESS!! Listen to our voices as Teachers, Students and Community.
Christine Vanderbilt Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 I am a teacher, parent, and I vote, every time!
Noel Nunez Deming, NM 2013-10-15 I have a daughter in the 12th grade who is thinking of dropping out because she can't pass the SBA.
Elvira Hammond Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 The state is wasting precious resources - monetary and human - by corporatizing education. We need to be smarter than that.
Kevin Springler Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 Classroom teachers already spend too much time doing things other than teaching. Minimize administrative overhead and let teachers teach!
Nicole Novy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 This is important to me because as an educator in New mexico, I think that teachers and families should have a say in how the educational system is run. Skandea says that she wants the best for every child and the best possible teachers teaching our students, but with the new reforms that is simply not possible. More and more teachers are either leaving the field because of ridiculous demands and new forms of assessments, or else they are so focused on teaching to a test, no actual learning is happening. Name Location Date Comment
Erica Jones Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-15 To make changes to education without the appropriate background to do so is an abomination and insult.
Phyllis Meyers Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 The governor's decisions are turning our public education into a 'drill & kill' proposition for our students. This is not gaining knowledge and putting that knowledge toward learning....this is learning--and teaching--to a test.
Rita Jo Sosa-Carver Mesilla Park, NM 2013-10-15 The woman is not qualified to make such decisions....who could or would allow for such changes without the inclusiveness of those that work directly with education. richard duran Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 As a teacher I feel this "reform" agenda will only succeed in finishing off our schools. Its not good for students or teachers.
Gary L GRISCOTT Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-15 Why is this IMPORTANT to me? I have grandchildren going to school and appearance is PED posts rules on its web site then changes same rules a month later with NO warning, no telling anyone what PED is doing. This MUST stop. When teachers are confused, can you imagine how CONFUSED I am just an ordinary citizen?
Patricia Wilber Tijeras, NM 2013-10-15 I am an educator at the college level and many of my friend are K-12 instructors. Many of them are so fed up they are on the verge of quitting due to actions by Ms. Skandera.
Eulalio Mendoza Deming, NM 2013-10-16 The future of education in New Mexico is important ot me.
Kim Salsbury Cedar Crest, NM 2013-10-16 We are tired of people that have no clue about education making the decisions for our children's learning!
Peter Kalberer Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 This is simply about the quality and integrity of public education, this evaluation system seemingly has as its goal to introduce confusion and destroy morale at lower socio economic struggling schools. It has also been implemented not only incompetently but through antidemocratic means, a national Republican effort to subvert truth and education through the offices of Gov Martinez.
Andrew Stone Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 A father of 4 who has survived APS
Paula Boland Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Teachers and their students should not be subjected to test after test, which leaves no classroom time for teachers to teach and students to actually learn! yasmin nunez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 NOT everyone is good at tests and jus because your aren't good at a test shouldn't say if you get your diploma or not! there is some smart people out there that blank out as soon as you hand that test to them! STOP ALL THE STRESS!! we students get so stressed out over a test that is so stupid! why should i not be able to receive MY diploma when i passed all my classes but yet i didn't pass the sba? it is MY diploma isn't it so why are you (governor martinez) denying it just because i couldn't pass a bubble test? tracy akers santa fe, NM 2013-10-16 Because I'm a parent and a teacher! Since Skandera took office, my class size has increased to up to 35 students (HIgh School Social Studies), there are less school secretaries, administrators, and no aides whatso ever for ELL students- but there are lots more rules, exams, and agendas, and plenty of bullying from the state education office, with very little assistance in the form of actual living bodies to help with the amount of students and increased work load. Public Education money is the last pot of money that corporations are going after, and Skandera is part of this corporate agenda. marlene smitson Tampa, FL 2013-10-16 Former teacher. Know first hand of the problems
Susana De La Torre Deming, NM 2013-10-16 I am a teacher and I feel the evaluation system is not fair. I am not opposed to being evaluated--but don't use student test scores that I have no control on the results to evaluate me. Name Location Date Comment
Justin Crews Deming, NM 2013-10-16 With the new evalution system, half of what goes towards my grade will be dependant on tests that have nothing to do with my classes (I teach guitar and choir). Therefore, even if I score perfectly on every possible variable I have control over, my grade will start at a 50%. I would actually score higher if I stopped teaching what my classes are and started teaching Math and English. It is because of this type of persecution that 50% of teachers quit in the first three years of teaching. If this type of evaluation system is approved I will be seeking employment out of the state of New Mexico.
Judith Ball Adrian, MO 2013-10-16 Children are our future & they need creativity to succeed!
Sylvia L. Garcia Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-16 Because I AM A TEACHER, PARENT of the most important part of my job.....THE STUDENTS!
John Smitson Norman, OK 2013-10-16 My nieces attend school in NM. They have excellent grades. If they perform in class, have great report cards, etc. there is no need for them to submit to further standardized testing. Stop it! Who profits by this additional testing?
Mary Ellen Capriglione, St Louis, MO 2013-10-16 NM today, MO tomorrow. I don't like non informed people of other disciplines to R.N., LCSW tell us how to practice medicine , because once they did it messed the system up and contributed to inflated health costs. Furthermore, I don't like people who aren't educators telling educators how to teach.
Bandy Harper Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Because education is not a corporate model.
Joan Hilger albuquerue, NM 2013-10-16 i work as a Educational Assistant have for 18 years. The past two years have been un belivable. Also my daughter is new teacher of 4 years and this process greatly effects her. ANd she is ready to walk away from education and we new teachers ready to go which she is. But the way the system is she will not be a long time teacher . Sad because it is her dream and she is good.
Adrian Martinez Alb., NM 2013-10-16 I am a teacher thats why!
Deborah Blea Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I am a First Grade APS teacher. I also have 3 beautiful children that attend an APS School. This ridiculous idea of a reform will directly impact my entire family!
Zackary Gutierrez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Because I never remembered any of the test I took in grade school and she doesnt know what the hell she is talking about #skanderasucks
Jessica Mares ALBUQUERQUE, NM 2013-10-16 I believe in the reform of our education system. It is important that teachers and students get the support they need and deserve. However, using education models that are established by profit driven enterprises without consulting the community is appalling. .
John Sandstrom Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-16 I work in Higher Ed and see the results of the abuse of the educational system by unqualified reformers every semester.
Robin Kelly Aztec, NM 2013-10-16 Because teachers play a very important part in our society and they should have resources to teach, and classroom limits, and a voice in the system and they need to make a good wage not a "living wage" teachers are important and have a lot of responsibility
Ralph Whiteaker Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Children are our future. They must be given the best and widest opportunity to succeed. Their teachers must be supported without restraint to do this.
Lucinda Nelson Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-16 Because the changes Skander proposes are so extreme that it will be difficult to get teachers in New Mexico, much less keep the seasoned ones.
Roxie Weger Olathe, KS 2013-10-16 I'm a retired APS teacher. The new "reforms" mandated by the state are a travesty to public education. The corporate model for education will not work because these are children, not a product. Please stop playing with our future!
Jessica Lopez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 The changes currently being made are unfair & unreasonable. They are also detrimental to children with disabilities. Name Location Date Comment
Andrea Presser Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-16 I'm a mother and teacher, and I care about the future of education!
Ariel Maldonado Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Schools should be getting better not worse.
Cheryl Fehringer Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I am both a parent and an educator. I can see how the new evaluation system for both the students and their teachers is not accurately assessing true achievement. There is so much research and data that has been collected that refutes the system our PED is putting in place. We are striving to be more like Finland,.but yet we as a country are not looking at how they are teaching and assessing their students to reach those achievements. Please look at the research before hurting New Mexico students even more and drive excellent teachers out of the teaching field.
Jennifer Onarheim-Tinnin McIntosh, NM 2013-10-16 I am a former teacher and a parent of children in the public schools, and the turn the politics have taken toward our children is making a non viable environment for learning.
Forrest Agee Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I love my job. I am passionate about teaching, and don't want to have to leave the profession. Republicans are adopting a big government approach to education, contradicting their values. All of the red tape is making it very hard to have time to get things done, as we are told to adopt one size fits all models for our diverse students. Overloaded class sizes, evaluation processes that take real time away from prep and grading, emphasis on test scores, more tests each year, and treating students as products rather than real life people are just a few reasons. We also see our benefits gutted and take home less and less on our paychecks each year due to a lack of state support, as we are asked to take on more and more meaningless tasks that distract us from teaching. We need educators with real knowledge calling the shots.
Kathy Shaw Gallup, NM 2013-10-16 As a classroom teacher I daily see the effects of this high stakes testing agenda. We are effectively dumbing down a whole generation of students. Teachers are frustrated because our hands are tied when we try to get help for our suffering students. I challenge Ms. Skandera to come and take over my job for 1 week and see the realities of working in a classroom.
Debra Sarinana Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I'm a math teacher and I see NO benefit to all theses changes. They are only hurting the kids!!!!
BT Judd Datil, NM, NM 2013-10-16 I am an educator who objects to the punitive NM Teacher evaluation system.
Gene Baca Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I need to spend more time with my students
JoAnn Byrn Deming, NM 2013-10-16 I am a parent, a taxpayer, a voter, & a teacher and our children deserve better from the current policies being put forth.
Douglas Dent Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-16 Governor Susana Martinez appointed a Secretary of Education to her cabinet who has no experience in the classroom. Hanna Skandera, the Secretary designee, has bulldozed the legislative process to impose an unruly and unfair evaluation system on the already overworked and underpaid professional educators who work hard to provide quality educational opportunities to New Mexico children day in and day out. Skandera is nothing more than a shill for the corporate reformers seeking the quickest route to a private takeover of our public education system.
Annette Barraza Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 To support our teachers and children Name Location Date Comment
Allison Wall El paso, TX 2013-10-16 This evaluation system does not help students, rather it assists more test- making corporations and teachers who are spending time writing lesson plans instead of teaching. Our old system could tell a good teacher from a poor teacher, why harm good teachers and students instead. I have a master's degree with a 4.0, love my students, and go many extra miles to help them. We don't need a devastating evaluation system that leaves excellent teachers no time to help students when they need us.
Erin Thompson Fort Collins, NM 2013-10-16 Former teacher gary bodman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I'm a teacher interested in education, not government stupidity!
Adam Amador Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 The people at the NMPED don't have a clue and they have hijacked and politicized our education system. It is not culturally relevant or sensitive.
Liz McMaster Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I have 2 grandsons in Albuquerque public schools. They need a quality education to compete in tomorrow's world, an education that teaches them to think and analyze, not memorize to take tests. Stop this terrible movement and drop Skandara.
Sara Cahn Kelly, WY 2013-10-16 I am a NM teacher
Stephanie Camarena Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I have children in the public school system and as a soon to be graduate of UNM with a degree in Elementary Education it is very relevant to me.
Cheryl Holland Hurley, NM 2013-10-16 What about our kids? Evaluating teachers in an unfair manner does nothing to improve education for our kids. It just makes our jobs more stressful. My local school district has 9 teachers shared between the middle school and high school with multiple split-grade elementary classes, all due to budget restraints. And teachers faced with these conditions are striving to meet the unfair challenges of a ridiculous evaluation system, implementing the new Common Core standards, preparing students for End Of Course Exams, etc. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The new reforms in New Mexico should be called, "No Teacher Left Standing," which, of course, leads to "No Teachers to Teach", and a generation of students without the education they deserve.
Kim Christian Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I support reforms including teacher evaluations. But the way this is being implemented is ludicrous - for students, teachers, and administrators. My children are being negatively affected by it. It is not sustainable and should be changed now instead of later. Try something else!
Edwin Jenks Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-16 I would like to once again look forward to going to school to work with students.
Sherri Ploss Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-16 I work in the schools and fear for public education in NM
Daniel Cofer Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I'm a teacher and I care about kids. I don't want to see good teachers destroyed due to a scheme that is designed to destroy public education.
Karen Hanson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-16 I'm signing cause I'm a good teacher who can't take everthing martinez and her cronies are throwing at us with only a 1% incresse in 6 years. Let's hold skandera accountable for her lack of credentials.
Richard Strong Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I care abut teaching KIds
Merry Wadsworth Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-16 I teach and I would like to see the State's money spent in the classrooms for the students, not paid to corporations for additional testing. michael marrufo las cruces, NM 2013-10-16 its the responsibility of the whole community not just one person with a crazy idea
Tom Hirschman albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 It is not in students' best interest.
Marleen Greenwood San Antonio, NM 2013-10-16 I'm a teacher of 16 years and this is creating an environment that is detrimental to our students, our teachers, our schools and communities.
John Mares Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 More Teacher input less goverment Name Location Date Comment
Liliana Benitez De Luna Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 My sister is a teacher in New Mexico and I have two younger brothers who attend APS schools. This reform would directly impact my family.
Jill Cunitz Queen Creek, AZ 2013-10-16 4 it of 5 if my children went to Monte Vista Elementary before we moved out of state. It it's still out favorite school with our dearest friends and teachers. I want the children of New Mexico to be able to enjoy their time at school, this "education reform" takes that away. The way that it is being rushed through with discussion or input from the educators, district and parents is appalling and needs to be stopped immediately.
Donald Haviland Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-16 I am outraged that we have a Secretary of Educaiton Designate that is making decisions regarding teaching, classroom performance when she has never been an educator. She along with Governor Martinez need to spend a day in our shoes in the classroom...They neither one could do it! As for Ms. Skandaras...she needs to GO!!!!
Lorie Mitchell Carlsbad, NM 2013-10-16 As a librarian, 50% of my evaluation is about to be tied to how my students perform on their standardized tests. How is it possible that my evaluation is going to be tied to students I have no ability to touch? We are also testing our students to death and by putting a high stakes test in place, are dooming some children to not graduating from school simply because they are tested-out or are not good test takers. It's ridiculous that 9 weeks of our school year (more in the high schools) are pulling students out of instructional time and testing them. This needs to STOP!
Staley Seidler Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 As a parent and teacher I feel I need to let my educated voice be heard. Let those of us who are in the classrooms, everyday, be a part the the solution.
Bernadette Leya Tucson, AZ 2013-10-16 As a former elementary school teacher in the NM schools, I have seen the negative impact on our schools from these corporate type of reforms. They're not good for our kids, teachers, or community.
Teresa Valenzuela Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-16 As a former classroom teacher and know a faculty member within the College of Education preparing new teachers I have seen first hand, the devastation that has impacted actual teaching with little improvement to learning.
Brad Miller Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 By signing this petition, I officially declare a vote of NO CONFIDENCE in Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera (a politician with NO educational licences, teaching experience, credentials or degrees) and demand an immediate CEASE and DESIST from the Governor of New Mexico in pushing, promoting and promulgating the existing corporate educational reforms that have been implemented by intentionally circumventing and bypassing the democratic processes cherished and demanded by the citizens of not just New Mexico, but also AMERICA!
Stephen Castille Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Priorities are not right. This is not what is best for kids or schools
DonaKay Hannagan Socorro, NM 2013-10-16 m a parent and teacher
Casandra Sisneros Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Governor Martinez's plan is not child centered, uses the Danielson Framework inappropriately, requires too much testing for our children, and does not encourage professional growth or meaningful accountability.
Richard Hample Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Ms Skandera needs hands on teacher experience to lend perspective to changes good or bad. Is change always good? Technology alone has brought more change to public ed than any test assessment we give kids. Assessments of teachers are a good idea, yet so are assessments of administrators and politicians. Would you want assessment by an external group or internal? What about selfassessment too as a factor in this reform? Name Location Date Comment
Lisa Slavick Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Teachers are some of the most valuable experts in education and MUST be included "at the table" in discussions where decisions are made that will impact students. Students deserve an education acknowledges they are human, with real-life-skills and passions to cultivate. They are not robot machines on an assembly line
Jan Tarr Socorro, NM 2013-10-16 I am a parent, and also work in the schools as the nurse and I believe this reform agenda is demoralizing, degrading, and ineffective.
Kimberly Saunders Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I'm a teacher being directly affected.
Jazmin Acosta Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Unfair!! Name Location Date Comment
Deborah Pierson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 I have great concern about the appointment of Hanna Skandera and her education plan for the teachers in New Mexico. My first concern is that we are now three weeks into the school year and it still has not been formally rolled out and the teachers do not know what they are being evaluated on. After teaching at the university for 10 years, I know how difficult it is adapting my lesson plan and how many hours it requires. How are the teachers going to modify their lesson plans and still be effective in the classroom? It has come to my attention that teachers are paid for 6 1/2 hours of work. They do not get paid for any of their prep time. Even without having to scramble to meet the criteria that will be rolled out, they still have to create lesson plans, grade papers and make sure the kids are completing what needs to be done. This seems completely wrong! You require them to work unpaid hours? How many other state workers would work more than eight hours, and only get paid for 6 ½? I have also heard that the new evaluation plan has multiple ways to fail, but only one way to succeed. If we really want to better New Mexico's school system wouldn't we want to make it a system where both teachers and students can succeed? Throughout my education in the New Mexico public school system, I was blessed with outstanding teachers. Now I have children in the public schools. Both have phenomenal instructors. They both love to go to school and enjoy learning. Why would we apply punitive measures to these instructors that go beyond what you compensate them for? It would be a loss to my kids, to the Albuquerque public schools and to New Mexico if they decided to leave the state to work where they were appreciated. Ms. Skandera's appointment goes against the NM Constitution. Article XII, Section 6a says, "The department shall be a cabinet department headed by a secretary of public education who is a qualified, experienced educator who shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate." Ms. Skandera is not "a qualified, experienced educator." Her degree is not in education, and she has never taught nor been licensed to teach inside a classroom at any level. Aside from lacking the professional qualifications, Ms. Skandera has continued to push bad reform ideas, ignoring research, expert advice and stakeholder input. She dismisses teacher input and does not offer educators professional respect. Ms. Skandera is backed by corporate money from organizations that would like to see our public schools privatized. If this happens, then the corporations are deciding what we can teach. We will become Texas, cutting Thomas Jefferson out of textbooks. When we start censoring what can be taught, that will be when we fail as a nation. I am also concerned about the special education teachers being evaluated on their students’ ability to earn proficient scores on standardized tests developed for mainstream students. How can you possibly expect a child with a learning challenge to function at the same level as the mainstream population? Not only will the teachers fail, the students will be put under unfair expectations that will promote failure and undermine successes. Our system is set up for failure. Teachers are now teaching students to take tests. As an adjunct lecturer at the University of New Mexico, I have seen the level of students degrade over the past ten years. Students are less prepared to solve problems because they have spent most of their time in school learning how to take tests. When the tests are not exactly as they saw in the class, they cannot make the association and solve the problems. Everything about this new education plan is wrong. If you want success, you have to build success into the plan. What Ms. Skandera is building is a formula for failure -- failure for our educators, failure for our children, failure for the state of New Mexico and ultimately failure for the nation. As a voting taxpayer, I ask for your help in pulling back this partial education reform and work with parents, educators, and communities to develop a reform plan where everyone will succeed. Name Location Date Comment
Susan Yanda Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-16 Reading and math are critical skills, but to become a well rounded, well educated person, our students need history, civics and science. If they were taught respect for our country and knew their history, we would have citizens realizing that what is happening now where a minority control the government has happened in the past to the detriment of that country and of the world. Testing does not measure the mark of a student.
JoAnn Stevens Carlsbad, NM 2013-10-16 Kids are our future and should not be ruled by someone other than parents and teachers.
Deborah Backus Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 Standardized testing cannot cover all of what teachers do from school to school, urban and rural...how do you measure inspiration?
Sylvia Bustillos Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-16 My students are being overtaxed by taking too many tests. They have lost any investment in the testing.
Johnny Romero Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 This is not helping education
Veronica Bicknell Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-16 My son is a sophomore and I feel his teachers are having to teach to the state test.
Elizabeth Kam Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-16 We are testing children too much and taking away from their instructional time.
LeeAnn Kay Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-17 My children are in elementary school and I see more testing than teaching :( garcia mona Edgewood, NM 2013-10-17 Our Educational system values students, not profits for private business.
Julia Sedillo Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 It is not fair how the teachers are being "graded". Where is the parental responsibility as well as the student in all of this. It's time to stop blaming the teacher and make education a team effort.
Brandon Funk Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 This is important to me because I'm a student facing these educational reforms. The amount of standardized testing is becoming too big a factor in our schooling, and I feel that it is unnecessary for a good education.
Francis Martinez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 This system is unfair to all teachers, and my grandsons should not be forced to take tests that were put together in 3 days and have never been vetted.
Judy Martinez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 This system is unfair to teachers and students!
Karen Whatley albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 This is important! every educator needs to sign! Send Hanna Skandera back to Florida!
Mary Lou Gonzales Bayard, NM 2013-10-17 I believe what is being mandated by the PED will harm public education to the point that it will never be able to recover.
Lynette Defreitas Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-17 I am signing because my students are fed up with the excessive assessment required of them. sophia thompson Edgewood, NM 2013-10-17 Because I have children attending NM schools!! Name Location Date Comment
Francine Martinez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am a teacher and the new reforms are treading uncharted waters with out data or a strong rational to improve our students education. We are all concerned with the drop out rate. Why not offer remedial classes for students with weak skills. Ensuring that students attend class and also enforcing a rigorous consequence to those who don't. Not ensuring our students have strong academics skills when they change grade levels is a very important part of the problem These concerns must be adressed before implementing a program where all stakeholders have not had a chance for input. Why would the scores of a student who does not come to class impact how I am viewed as a teacher. When they enter my class room I work hard to develop skills that are lacking while encouraging students to believe in their own abilities.Teachers are committed to the well being of their students and community. We do this because we believe in our kids and our communities future. How does the sick leave we earn as diligent and respectful employees enter into the debate. If a teacher is ill and needs surgery or chemotheapy why would they be penalized for saving up weeks of leave over the years and then using time banked to gain back one's health.
Theresa McHarney Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Our students are overloaded with testing, and it is hampering their ability to really learn!
Elizabeth Rivera-Russell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 The EOC Exams are testing over material that teachers can not prepare their students for. How can our students possibly take any more exams? If they are ELL they are tested, then EOC, SBA District Assessments and for High Schoolers PSAT, NMELPA, ACT, SAT, SBA, EOC....Ridiculous! They should only have to take one test. None of these allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of what they have learned- it only tests what they haven't learned. Fed up. I never want my children to be subjected to all these tests. I also do not agree with the new teacher evaluation system, too many people are benefitting finiancially off of these mandates, and the finances of schools suffer. Stop paying large companies like teachscape and instead invest that money in the schools! Stop waisting money paying companies to come up with a formula to evaluate teachers and invest in more teachers so we can have smaller class sizes, more counselors and social workers in our high poverty schools, and start listening to the educators who spent their lives investing in educating themselves on education! It is a sad, sad abusive relationship to be a teacher. Waiters take home the same pay as a 15+ veteran teacher but don't get scrutinized and have to invest time and money in their own education in order to do their job, they don't have to pay to be licensed to do their jobs. The reform happening in our education system is not reforming anything but a paper process. REAL Reform makes changes in schools not on paper! Real reform starts with providing schools what they need, not putting more demands in place.
Connie Adkins Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am a parent and grandparent of public school students. I am also an educator. I know the dedication that is taken by my fellow educational professionals, and I know that the reforms being pushed by the governor are undermining their good work. lena bates Roswell, NM 2013-10-17 this is important to me, because I have children in the public system. I am am considering becoming a teacher and I have many friend that are currently teachers. I don't know how can some make a law for teachers in the classroom when one has never been in the classroom as a teacher. Just as someone can not give advice on a experience if they have not experienced that situation them selves. gregie duran Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Human beings are not standard, everyone learns differently some of us do learn the same. We are not robots we are a diverse country, and state. Name Location Date Comment
Karen Reissig Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am a teacher who has been greatly affected by all of the changes that have been made under the leadership of Governor Martinez. Because of some of the changes that have been implemented, I am now considering a new career. Her decisions are driving passionate teachers away from the career they once loved. New Mexico of all states cannot afford to lose great teachers!
Andrea Usherwood Taos, NM 2013-10-17 I am a teacher and this is the most ridiculous things I have seen in 23 years of teaching.
Carol Hannamann Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 This has to stop. All this so called "reform" is not in the best interest of the kids. Teachers cannot even teach any more, how is all this paperwork and bureaucracy helping the students?
Tracy Silva Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 i am an educator and a parent and I have hope that there is still time to stop this train wreck!!!!
Jami Jacobson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Tying evaluation to high- stakes testing is mislea michelle bianchi albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 The things she has implemented are pushing teachers out of the field. Students are being cheated, teachers are being falsely judged, lawmakers are breaking the law, and the education system is failing due to acts forced by someone who has no idea what education is!!!
Kerrie Romero Stanley, NM 2013-10-17 It's the straw that broke the camel's back!
Michael Craig Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Students deserve better.
Michelle Lemons Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I'll borrow a quote form Dr Anderson, "As a teacher of a content area not addressed by the NMSBA, I am supportive of the prospect of my evaluation being based on my own content area. However, to implement a system with examinations that have not been piloted, vetted, and quality confirmed is NOT something the NMPED should even attempt. It is unfair to teachers and it is unfair to the students in New Mexico for the NMPED to force untested materials on us and have those untested materials count for such a high percentage of a teacher’s evaluation and a student’s ability to receive the diploma he/she earned." Additionally, I underline the fact that student assessment was NEVER intended to reflect on a teacher's evaluation in the first place? Let's start that part of this conversation as well - see Diane Ravitch. STOP CORPORATE REFORMS!!
Jeanne Kamps Gallup, NM 2013-10-17 I'm a SPED teacher and these "reforms" are hurting our students with disabilities the most. They are discriminating against them and If I were a parent, I'd be suing the PED.
Frances Wilson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 As a parent, I do not believe that these reforms are the best for our kids. As an educator, I don't believe these reforms are best for our students. Kids don't fit into a cookie cutter mold...example: one test for all geometry students isn't adequate...we have honors geometry students, on level geometry students, geometry strategies students (below grade level), and special education geometry students at our school. These are VASTLY different students and should not all have to perform equally on a test made by people who do NOT know my students.
Sasha Armstrong Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Signing this petition because education is important to me!! I feel like I am spending more time jumping through the hoops that have been created to evaluate if I am a "good, effective teacher" than teaching my students the material needed to be successful!!! I want to be able to spend more time focused on students and creating better labs/activities/lessons for them so they will enjoy learning.
Robert Spitz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 People who have not been teachers have NO BUSINESS telling us how to do our job. Name Location Date Comment
Anne Lambert Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-17 New Mexico schools have dropped further down in ranking since Hannah Skandera filled this position. Paperwork now fills teachers hours and MANY, including my husband, have left the field as a direct result of these foolish and uninformed actions. I want the children of this state to succeed and they cannot now achieve success.
Lori Banach Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Teachers should not be assessed based on their students test scores. This is a ridiculous premise as most teachers give these kids every opportunity to succeed and they do not take it and then expect to pass. We have given these kids a sense of entitlement and this solidifies it!
Holly Anselmo Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 OUR Kids are the FUTURE
Anna Mafchir Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am a teacher with two children in public education. We are all suffering because of a thoughtless agenda.
Dolores Showalter Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-17 I am of the opinion that teachers are underpaid, unappreciated and making their jobs harder without good reason is wrong. Teachers should be making recommendations, not non-teachers.
Gavin McCullough Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Our children deserve better than an ill-conceived plan that has been a failure in Idaho and Florida
Stephanie Rickerman Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-17 This is important to me because our children are our future!
Lawrence Garcia Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I hate when politicians with no experience in the education field, try to force feed their bulls**t agenda down our throats without any input from the people that are in the trenches on a daily basis.
Rebecca Roth Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I used to teach in Maryland and friends there are reporting the same total lack of respect for teachers. Evaluation have just become ways to demean teachers. Lots of harm being done to teachers who work for little pay and put in long hours.
Julie Reinhardt-White Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I have been teaching for 28 years and still love it! This year has caused an enormous amount of stress....If things don't change I will retire.
Michelle Zanotti Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-17 Can WE PLEASE let the teachers do what they do best and teach. STOP STRESSING OUR TEACHERS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if you've never taught in a classroom I really think you have no business making changes PERIOD
Julie Zecca Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am an educator and a parent
Sandra Smith Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I value my childrens education and am sad to see the changes in our system due to standardized testing and teachers who are requires to teach to the test. I am signing this petition in hopes that our state will give back some educational freedome to allow our teachers to do what they were made to do, teach our children without restrictions and allow creativity in our classrooms again.
Paige Usherwood Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 My mother is a teacher in NM.
Kimber Sanchez Estancia, NM 2013-10-17 First, I am a parent. I feel that my daughter is being cheated with the current system. It is setting her up to fail. Second, I am a teacher. I also feel I am being cheated, and that the secretary & the governor are setting me up as a scapegoat. When I teach computers -- my evaluation should be not tied to students' reading & math scores (from a single snapshot taken once during the year). Name Location Date Comment
Gerri Boden Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 My daughter is a teacher in this state and I have worked with many teachers over the past 30 years. NONE of them are happy to see these changes. Several i know with many years of experience and Master's degrees are now looking for new careers. Losing top of the line teachers is NOT going to help our kids succeed. However, if the current trends continue, that is certainly what will happen.
Kristofer Hayward Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 Did not follow the democratic process when it was implemented
Rhonda Byrum Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I want to see kids get a education not spend all the school year testing!
Pat Florence Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am a teacher and I know first hand that Skandera's "reforms" are harming education in New Mexico.
Linda Craig McIntosh, NM 2013-10-17 So much time is spent on testing and getting ready for testing that there is no longer any time to teach the material that may appear on the test. Most of the testing is not applicable to our students. All we are doing is teaching them to take irrelevant tests.
Christy Carver Edgewood, NM 2013-10-17 Students are being assessed more than they are being instructed. Teachers are being punished, and money is being wasted!! Stop the madness!
Mary Gerlach Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-17 I am a retired teacher and I worked 33 years FOR THE STUDENTS!
Karin Trujillo Bosque Farms, NM 2013-10-18 We don't want kids to HATE learning. We are creating LIFE LONG LEARNERS!
Terry Hanz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 I am a teacher.
Stephanie Gurule Corrales, NM 2013-10-18 Too many reasons to list. Short version -- It is ruining our public school system!
Joanne Page Bosque Farms, NM 2013-10-18 as an educator I would rather teach students than do paperwork!
Melanie Sandoval Ruidoso, NM 2013-10-18 I am a teacher. The students are important to me.
Tomi S Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 The teachers need to be able to teach not push paper and they should get the raises they have been denied these are our educators Let Them Teach !!!
Belinda Sandoval Socorro, NM 2013-10-18 It's important because I am debating early retirement at this point. I've lost confidence and interest in our education system.
Roni Rohr Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-18 I am a parent, an educator and I know that we are not teaching critical thinking nor 21st century learning by testing our children in this manner.
Morgan Konefal Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 I am a student that hates all of these tests and the new graduation requirements!
Jessica Levis Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-18 I am an educator.
Joan Pierce Castle Rock, CO 2013-10-18 Because I have lots of friends who have children going to school in Alb.
David Chester Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-18 Business People have no business running education - test scores do NOT equal a profit and loss statement of a schools, teachers, or CHILD'S net worth! These people are ruining education in America! Go back to Wall Street and mind your own business, K12, Pearson, Jeb Bush, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, Bloomberg, etc.
Robert Harvey Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 I have children that attend NM Public Schools. shannon carpenter albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 We need to teach our children. Not stress out teachers Name Location Date Comment
Katherine Korte Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 Standardized tests are not the way to judge my children or their teachers. This is punitive and the governor and Skandera have not collaborated with school boards and superintendents to come up with a plan that would work better. Adding End of Course exams as standardized tests to an already burdened school system that has interim assessments, RIAs, SBAs, AP exams, PSATs, PLANs, SATs, and ACTs is ridiculous. What a waste of money! Put the money in the classrooms so parents don't have to buy the myriad supplies we need to support our teachers. Encourage our teachers, don't belittle them. And who cares if they are deemed "Highly Effective" in this deform?? Their pay isn't increasing because you continue to spend MILLIONS on tests and computer systems that are making someone rich on the backs of our children! Shame on you for NOT LISTENING. THIS MOVEMENT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR ARROGANCE AT THINKING YOU KNOW BEST FOR OUR KIDS. Step back, breathe and consider your path forward. We can support movements like Mission:Graduate. We can't support corporate reform that in the end, will crush public education. I tried to be a partner with you. But you continued to shut the door in my face and disregard my concerns and my questions. I tried to share my fears with you and gave you a lot of information gathered from my teacher constituents. And you shut the door in my face. At the end of the day, this naive board member and parent understands what is behind all this deform: It's a political agenda and you were banking on folks not getting educated enough to know that your fight to "help education in NM" was actually going to be education's downfall. I am proud that parents and teachers are standing up in unison and telling you to take a step back. I do hope you'll listen. It is the democratic way.
Sara Kormanik RIO RANCHO, NM 2013-10-18 My son is a 1st grader and I help 2-3 days full days a week at his school. I am appalled by what our teachers are having to deal with. Change is needed!
Courtney McCullough Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 Obey the State Constitution and put an educator in charge of education!
Kathy Brion Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 I am a Teacher!
Mary Laniel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 My five year old daughter is in kindergarten and is already being tested and evaluated for her performance on tests. This is incredulous to me. I would rather see her teacher's comments on her manners, her listening skills, her excitement for learning, and her class comprehension than the 1-4 scale evaluation of her marks on assessments during the first two months of school.
Javier Fernandez santa fe, NM 2013-10-18 Education is best decided by parents, teachers and schools not an agenda that does not take quality individualized learning into consideration.
Laura Campbell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 Because Martinez's agenda is tearing apart public education and entering the dangerous zone of corporate ownership.
Suzanna Gurule Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 As an educator, the PED is tearing education apart to the point it may be damaged for years to come and putting children, teachers, and our future at risk.
Sherri Nolan Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-18 She is destroying public education in the state of NM. Children are suffering because of her agenda and the people she has working for her...who know nothing about education and the it goes well beyond testing. Children are more than a test score.
Ana Correa Yuba City, CA 2013-10-18 I've worked in education for 17 years.
Callan Martinez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 We cannot risk deconstructing public education in New Mexico. Skandera is so under qualified, a 3rd grader could replace her and do a better job (as long as the 3rd grader pass the reading test!). Name Location Date Comment
Michelle Sarabia Deming, NM 2013-10-18 Current published curriculum, standardized testing, and the teacher evaluation system that currently exists are targeting all the wrong things, removing supports to our children rather than adding them, and only creating more paperwork for both teachers and for students. This is NOT the way to make our schools better!
Linda Wollert Brunswick, GA 2013-10-18 Children are the future of this country!
Stacy Rush Truth or Consequences, 2013-10-18 I am a teacher and tired of PED making illogical decisions without an ounce of NM teaching experience.
Ernestina Hernandez- Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 Equitable evaluations and equitable testing of bilingual children. Zudell
Robin Barber Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 As an educator and a mother of a daughter,r who never did well on standardized tests, I feel there is too much time spent on these. Where are the rewards for students who work hard and excel in the classroom?
Rebekah Dekker Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-18 Public Education is supposed to be just that, PUBLIC. Not just another corporate entity. Let's get rid of corporate for-profit middlemen and fund our PUBLIC education system with public funds!
Bess Altwerger Columbia, MD 2013-10-18 I was a Professor of Education at UNM for 8 years and took an active role in improving the education of children attending APS schools. I hope to stop the corporate reform movement that has been ravaging public education across the nation from destroying NM public schools.
Jacqueline Valerio Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 I am a New Mexcio teacher and parent of students who attend public school. This has been the worst start to any school year. This new evaluation system has been a huge time consuming distraction away from teaching and learning.
Debbie Swansburg Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-18 I am an educator and a parent!
Lora Sedore Alb, NM 2013-10-18 This "reform" serves only to thwart the efforts to teachers to teach- There is no value in micro management! This almost looks like an effort to dumb down the next generation !
Angela Romero Capitan, NM 2013-10-18 Kids in the state of New Mexico
Michelle Briscoe Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-18 Corporatized education is not a solution. Standardized tests do not teach our children anything. Teachers do. Listen to them. Value them. Give THEM tools. Not starndardized testing companies.
Laurie Buck Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 The state of "outside" regulations made by non-teaching personnel is absolutely ridiculous. We have become political pawns, and no one talks about children and child development anymore.
Douglas Alsup Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 My mom is a teacher and all these millions of hoops she has to go through stresses her out and she works so hard. It's not good for my mom and not good for the kids.
Tiffany Barry Ruidoso, NM 2013-10-18 I am a teacher, and I think the governor have lost sight of the fact that kids should come first Not the policing of New Mexico teachers.
Wayne Parks Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 Student are having the time a teacher can actually devote to them cut down because the amount of time we need to spend filling out forms that only are meant to defend ourselves as teachers.
Tiffany Ozatalar Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 Our teachers need to be teaching our children - not spending countless hours trying to adhere to insane standard that are changing daily.
Deborah Romero Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-18 I am a public school teacher and the Corporate Reform Agenda is not appropriate for the students in our schools. Name Location Date Comment
Dee Ann Rishel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-18 The adversarial atmosphere created by the current PED administration is detrimental to the children of New Mexico. It will soon be impossible to retain excellent teachers or to recruit new ones to New Mexico or to the profession.
Trey Hunter Peralta, NM 2013-10-18 I grew up in a household with a mother who loved teaching children. The Martinez Administration is making my mothers job impossible.
Toby Soderberg Deming, NM 2013-10-19 The PED needs to change how they are doing business. Our profession is going to continue a downward spiral unless change happens. We need to do what is right for our children and ourselves.
Catherine Sera Deming, NM 2013-10-19 To have my voice heard!
Gilbert Sarabia Deming, NM 2013-10-19 Corporate Reforms don't work.
Sierra Valerio Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 I might not be able to graduate despite my grades because of the new testing laws.
Emily Anderson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-19 I am a student in New Mexico and I resent the additional testing requirements being forced upon me. I have work hard all of my life to excel in school. I am sure passing the End of Course tests would not be a problem for me. But really, why should I have to prove that I have mastered my classes beyond my teacher developed exams, AP exams, ACT, SAT, PSAT, and SBA scores?
Lucrisha Stinson Alb, NM 2013-10-19 Too much testing at all levels!
Teresa Rohn-Penn Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Students are more than a number--they are individuals. They are individuals that learn at different rates and show their learning in different ways. If all they need to do to show the state that they are "educated" is to take a test, why bother having schools?
Our teachers are more valuable than a test score. They care for our children in ways a test cannot measure.
Marie Sorensen Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 This isn't education reform. It is a political agenda and harm's the students' education. Dr. Sandra Stosky on the E/La Validation Committee refused to sign off on the final standards. Dr. James milgram who was the only math expert on the Standards Validation committee refused to sign off on the Common core State Standards and yet our State officials continue to push the Standards on our state with no public input. There is a corporate buy in to this Federal Education and children are not for sale. This reform is shameful.
Amanda Hall Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 It is important to me because I want whats best for the children.
Eleanor Chavez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Public education is not for sale!
John Hall Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 I really think this wont be the best choice for our children.
Jon Kamps Placitas, NM 2013-10-19 Our kids are not mindless drones but critical thinkers who deserve a well- rouned unobstructed education! Name Location Date Comment
Lesley Dickson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 It directly impacts the livelihood of my son and I. Also, it is negatively impacting the classroom setting and takes away from my son's education. This "gotcha" behavior is deplorable and shameful, it is not about the students. In fact the only advocate the students have are the teachers because they understand how high stakes testing, tying scores to teacher evaluations will lose focus on the "depth" of teaching that needs to take place because teachers will be scrambling to teach to the test in order to make sure they can make a decent salary to feed their "own" children. Lastly, the Common Core is about depth and reflection, not about testing and "gotcha" behavior. It's embarrassing to be associated with New Mexico because PED is taking us back in time to a punitive evaluation system that should be informative and supportive. We are not moving forward with the Nation and it is disheartening. Seasoned teachers with a wealth of knowledge will be retiring this year, new teachers will be finding new careers because they don't have much time invested and educators with a responsible amount of time are seeking opportunity's outside of New Mexico because they love what they do and they are marketable. New Mexico will have few teachers left. It's time for those in power to stop being "reactive" and bebe "proactive". Be the change you hope to see in the world.
Todd Gabhart Farmington, NM 2013-10-19 Our children's collective future, and humanity are being threaten by individuals and organization that are motivated by profit and further dumbing down of the labor force for their own ends.
Donald Alire Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-19 Standing up for our children
Billy Pepper Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Both Scandera and Martinez are calling my children andthe children and teachers of my community failures. A damaging stigma that doesn't go away easily!
Katherine Wakefield Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 We need to save our public schools from corporate take over. We need to respect and honor our teachers. We need to stop PED's trying to convince the public that our schools are bad and through an insane evaluation and meaningless and numerous testing.Let teachers teach!
Joanna Kaufman Galisteo, NM 2013-10-19 My daughter is a teacher
Annette Sanchez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 As a public school teacher, I know first hand how Skandara's and Martinez' so- called reforms are impacting students and teachers. They want us to replace instruction time that is already at a premium with more testing. The additional end of course exams students must take in ALL of their classes are being used as an evaluative tool to measure teacher performance; some are used in conjunction with the SBAs to determine whether a student will receive a diploma of excellence or a diploma of completion. Numerous studies and research show that students of color and students from low SES do NOT perform well on standardized test. Period. New Mexico law requires that students be given a final in all of their classes in order to assess the content and skills students have acquired. Finals can take the form of alternative assessments (oral and/or visual presentations, portfolios, etc). As a teacher, I am expected to differentiate instruction in order meet my students' needs; part of differentiating my instruction includes differentiating assessment. Yet, Skandara and Martinez want to use more standardized testing that is devoid of differentiation to prove that I have done my job and to measure what my students have learned. Where is the sense in this. Through their proposed "reform," we are not addressing individual student's needs, 21st century skills, or critical thinking skills. In my opinion, this "brand" of education reform is meant to produce a cheap labor force, not an empowered citizenry that can actively participate in a democratic society. Name Location Date Comment
Shirley Barnes Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 As a retired teacher I saw too many political agendas on the part of "political reform." Most of the time it was a dasaster.
Mary Mackie Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 My child is in 3rd grade in APS. She is dyslexic and struggles to read. Giving a 9 year old a test is not going to do anything other than frustrate her and make her think she is stupid. Which she is not.
Carol Franks Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Students have become test scores. The new evaluation system is punitive. Teachers are leaving and will be leaving the profession in great numbers.
Christopher Bruner Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 While change may be needed, it must be data-driven and not this shoot-from- the-hip approach that's been forced upon us. Our precious kids are being used as pawns in a political game.
Erika Dunn Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 I entered the teaching profession to make a difference in childrens' lives and thereby make a difference in the world. When children become just a test score and such an emphasis is placed on their test scores, consquently making me an "effective" teacher,I am forced to ask is this really for the betterment of our children and our communities, or is it just lining the pockets of private companies? I urge you to look 20 years into the future and see how this impacts students, teachers, parents, and communities. angela vigil Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Because attaching student test scores to teacher evaluations is wrong!
Shawn Pedersen Astoria, OR 2013-10-19 Checks and balances should not be put aside for politician's personal agendas.
G M Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 I grew up in the Albuquerque Public school system and want to go into education myself after I complete my degrees (with an undergrad at UNM, mind you). This reform agenda is honestly the wrong way to go about education and will only be detrimental for the students and the teachers. Testing in public schools did not prepare me for college. Great teachers did. Engaging curriculum did. Well-informed, well-crafted textbooks and learning material did. Not once in college have I ever thought back to the tests I took and said what a difference they made to my education. Next year, I will be attending graduate school and will complete my PhD in the next five to seven years. This academic achievement is not because I was forced into standardized classrooms that taught to a test that hardly ever mirrors an actual college environment. Being engaged in a classroom, asking to contribute and being held accountable for my work and my participation in class, and having access to teachers who cared not only about the material they were teaching, but the students themselves, was what made a difference.
Betty Donohue Wagoner, OK 2013-10-19 I teach
Dianna Middleton Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-19 My children attend public schools and I support the teachers!
Naomi Demolli Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 We are going to lose GOOD teachers over this. It does not help educate our children to test more. Are there bad teachers? Probably. But this is going to drive the good ones away. I think the principals at each school can monitor its teaching staff and watch for troubled teachers. Perhaps we need to look at our higher education system that is passing poor students and allowing them to become teachers.
Eleanor Cupps Edgewood, NM 2013-10-19 I feel that the CCSS related testing and embedded performance tasks discriminates against children with learning disabilities and lower children who do not receive special ed. support, but have lower IQs. The teacher evaluation is negative and does not take into account the total teacher. All of these changes create a feeling that we cannot do our jobs. Higher number of students, more controls, less trust in who we are as professionals can only impact children. It is very difficult to serve the children I love when the people I work for hate me. Name Location Date Comment kathleen walsh Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-19 My grandchildren are in the public school system and this would be in the best interest of their education
Betty Whiton Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Kids are NOT widgets! NM is NOT Florida! You are not listening to experts in the field of statistics. Time to call in people who understand statistics and evaluations! Do what the LESC told you to do, and consult with those MUCH more knowledgeable than you. Smart people consult and learn.
Leticia Magallanes Las cruces, NM 2013-10-19 I have a child in school and a grandson who will start soon.
Alisa Tomlinson Ft worth, TX 2013-10-19 Kids need to have a course that encourages them to succeed. Your sustem is designed to make even the best students wonder if they are worth anything. Shame on you. Stop testing abuse.
Tom Gutierrez Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-19 I'm a classroom teacher at the high school level. The increasing demands and blame put on teachers has to stop. More testing does not solve the problems in our educational system and consistently trying to place blame on hard-working classroom teachers has grown tiresome.
Kathleen Murray Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 I work for Albuquerque School District. I see the mess that PED and the district have created in our schools. The teachers are stressed, the kids are overtested, our paychecks are being rigged to a 27 paycheck system instead of 24 checks per year that APS employees voted for, students with extreme behaviour problems are in classrooms where there is not enough support for the increased risk to teachers, staff, and other students. APS gave us a wopping 1% raise, the first raise in 5 years and in no way gets us up to the increased cost of living. Enough of this slave state mentallity. If the people in office are not doing the job, then kick them out. We need people who will work for the people of New Mexico. No more corporate owned polititions.
Gary Lemmel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 The criteria is not clear. you are giving the teachers a lot of resopncablility but absolutly no authority.
Michelle Ortiz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Lack of fairness to students and teachers.
Elizabeth Followell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 I am a high school teacher with APS. There isn't staff in place at the state level to help make the change, enforce the change or monitor what teachers send to the PED for evaluation purposes.
Sophia Weiss Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Education is the only way we'll be able to create synthetic life one day. Don't take away our only hope to leave this planet behind and traverse the universe at large
Judy Rogers California City, CA 2013-10-19 Retired NM public schools employee but still care for the kids and teachers in my "home" state
Blaire Hanson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-19 Because teachers should not be paid according to SBA test scores. Not all teachers have the same playing field and this process ensures that the teacher will teach to the test and not for the sake of learning. I ask that we find another way to reward the wonderful teachers of NM and remove those that are not in the business of education.
Kristin Nunley Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 Our state is ranked the lowest for education in the United States. I strongly believe that if we follow the petition's plan, we can turn that around and bring the state's standards up.
Julie Wray Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-19 As an educator, I feel that they are trying to turn us into "Stepford" teachers. We have to walk alike and talk alike and children need different teaching styles to reach different learning styles. Name Location Date Comment
Kim DeMar Corrales, NM 2013-10-19 I am a teacher and have been in pubic education for 18 plus years. I wish that Governor would listen to people that are in the classroom and understand that the PED ruling will have the opposite result that they are seeking. The veterans will retire, the new good teachers will seek employment where they can get paid for their time and you will be left with new teachers and teachers that probably should not be teaching. I know there are teachers in our system that should not be here, but this approach by the PED will not fix that problem. I have been teaching for along time and I can only remember about four teachers throughout ny years that I thought should not be teaching. The vast majority teach way beyond our paid hours, fund many things with our won money and spend countless hours making sure we are prepared and ready for our classes, as well as spending countless hours helping children that need support with their learning that goes well above our job description. I wish you could see what teachers do everyday and understood what is happening, if you did that you would understand that the approach PED is taking is not the way to make teachers better teachers or more accountable. It saddens me and has me considering finding another way to work with children outside of public education, this is not what is best for our children's education. I would love to sit and talk with you about where the money and effort should be put in order to make our system better and our children better ready for college. I know you have been sent thousand of letters about this matter, my hope is that you will listen to some of us that are in the system each day and not to a person that has never been in a teaching position in a public education classroom. Thanks for your time.
Steven PAXTON Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-19 I'm a teacher, and I'm disgusted by what teachers have to do in place of teaching.
Jacqueline Camborde Lamy, NM 2013-10-19 Stop taking away the things our kids need most - movement is CRITICAL to Kutsko learning! Sweeping reform with no parental input is unacceptable!
Joanna Muth Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 To much testing not giving the teachers time enough to teach Teacher need much more respect.
Megan LeBleu Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 i'm a teacher who is ready to quit
Karen Trythall Alcalde, NM 2013-10-20 There are numerous destructive consequences for prematurely implementing the current incomplete model. One of the most obvious results are time soaks that create many observable situations where teachers work at their computers as students work on assignments virtually by themselves.
Nicole Moss Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 It's an unfair system, that doesn't work for Florida, why the hell would we bring it here.
Terry Blackman Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-20 Parent, educator, citizen - and I am appalled at the thoughtlessness of PED in its rush to implement its many so-called reforms without adequate time to field- test their ideas.
Jennifer Vinikas Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 Rushing major decisions without weighing the consequences only hurts those involved.
Keith Morris Socorro, NM 2013-10-20 I am the parent of a first-grade student. So far, she loves going to school. I anticipate that will change if she is forced to endure the changes that Governor Martinez and Hannah Skandera are proposing. Hannah Skandera has no education experience; she is merely a corporate shill, installed by the Governor to funnel public money out of the school system and into private hands.
Shelley McNair Placitas, NM 2013-10-20 For my child
Janice Rimer Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 Our son is a board certified teacher in the system and I do not see how this is helping him affect his students for the better or helping him carry out his desire to be the best teacher for his students. Name Location Date Comment jaime cherry albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 As a middle school teacher, I know first hand, that a majority of the reform components are currently, or will have a negative effect on students. There is no equity in the evaluation system, and PED in implementing a poorly thought out plan that is being made up as we go along.
Alexandria King Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 I am dismayed that the governor has appointed an unqualified director for the Education Department and more importantly has circumvented the legislature and our democratic process to implement her preferred policy for education. It smacks of ALEC organization and I see her brining their philosophy and policy of ALEC legislation into to all levels of our state.
Darlene Argano Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 This evaluation system has opened the doors for administrators to discriminate and make life horrible for great teachers who they don't like and who will take a stand for what is right. favoritism is much more prevalent now that this system is in place.
Lorraine Palmer Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-20 The new teacher evaluation is not addressing the problems in our schools. It is forcing teachers to spend their time on things that will not motivate or improve student learning. It creates an environment of fear for everyone involved.
Cirrelda Snider-Bryan Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 Standing for KIDS in our state means supporting the folks who spend their lives creating school environments for them.
Ford Davis ALbuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 First and foremost, the children of New Mexico are being harmed!
Gary Taylor Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 Any reform of the education system needs to be done by the people who actually do the teaching and know what the real, not political career advancement for the PEDS, needs are. The system needs to be revamped so as to be K through bachelors with seamless transition from 12 to college, needs to better address the needs of the children of the disenfranchised tax payer families that have the most need, needs to start introducing motivational indoctrination with respect to college and career life at an early stage of schooling, and should include input from veterans of professional private sector training so as to better address the preparation for transition to career.
Kristi Wilson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-20 I am a teacher and this directly affects me and the students I teach.
Minda Leary Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-20 This is important to me because this system is about fearing teachers into doing a good job, it is fear based. It has NOTHING to do with children. I am all for accountability but not at the expense of my students, their welfare and the mental health of educators. I am also upset that the Sec of Ed doesn't have a degree in education and is in clear violation of the NM constitution. This is all about politics and business reform. Children are not one size fits all...we CAN'T implement systems that require insane amounts of paperwork that truly don't look at children.
Jessica McQueston Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 I'M SIGNING BECAUSE I'M A TEACHER AND AM SEEING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR KIDS ALREADY.
Jo Ann Alvarado Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 I'm and APS Teacher!
Jason Chassey Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 I am the husband of an APS teacher
Sharyn Gray Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-20 I am a teacher, and it directly impacts my well being, my capacity to do my job to the best of my capabilities, and my salary. It is virtually impossible to be true to my philosophy of education, which is well-grounded in research, while managing inane amounts of paperwork and testing that have no direct reflection on the talents of myself or my students as real, creative, three- dimensional human beings.
Miriam Gordon Jemez Springs, NM 2013-10-20 Too many really skilled and competent teachers are retiring early because of the policies being implemented by this administration. Name Location Date Comment
Anna Walton Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-20 Teaching the children of New Mexico is my professional career and my personal passion. I care very much what happens with education in our state. I, too, demand an immediate CEASE and DESIST from the Governor of New Mexico in pushing, promoting and promulgating the existing corporate educational reforms that have been implemented by intentionally circumventing and bypassing the democratic processes cherished and demanded by the citizens of the State of New Mexico.
Kim Moore Peralta, NM 2013-10-20 This "agenda" will demoralize and undermine the students, parents, teachers, administrators, and cities of New Mexico.
Roberta Ferrara Overland Park, KS 2013-10-20 I am a speech-language pathologist working at 7 Bar Elementary in Albuquerque and a strong supporter of public education. I recently moved to NM, and when I applied for my PED license, I was given no credit for previous experience as an SLP in the state of Missouri. I gather this is a matter of policy. This greatly affected the rate of pay that APS was able to offer me. I would have had to take a $22K pay cut to work as a direct hire for the school district. Like all of the new SLP hires this year for APS, I chose instead to work as a contractor for an outside agency. This is no doubt costing the district more than they would have had to pay if they could pay us closer to the "going rate" for school SLPs. It's ridiculous! And the district punishes those of us on contract in various ways like not letting us access the intranet from home, so we wind up staying very late at school to finish the endless paperwork. This job has been so demoralizing that I don't know if I will be back next year, and I know that many of the other new hires feel the same way.
Stacey Maley Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-20 This is important to me because I am a teacher and mother and because I care about the welfare of children.
Anne MacNaughton Taos, NM 2013-10-20 The future of our democracy depends on our ability to provide for the non- corporate, non-partisan, comprehensive education of our future voters.
Anne Strader Cedar Crest, NM 2013-10-21 This is important to me because I am an educator in New Mexico and I see first hand the toll these ridiculous policies are having on students and teachers alike. These policies run counter to high quality, student-centered education reforms.
Linda Lupowitz Corrales, NM 2013-10-21 This agenda is forcing hundreds of teachers into retirement - we have NO confidence in the secretary-designate and the corporate agenda which is killing education in NM.
Esther Manzanares Medanales, NM 2013-10-21 I feel the student should be made more responsible for their own actions not the teacher or the parents!!!
Coady Tinley Hobbs, NM 2013-10-21 To retain quality teachers in our public schools.
Theresa Vargas Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-21 I am a teacher. Instead of using my time to prepare lessons, I'm doing too much paperwork, attending too many meetings, and working too much at home to keep on top of all the demands. Because of this, I feel the children are not getting the quality lessons they deserve. The amount of assessments being required at kindergarten is a crime.
Tor Kingdon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 I have a child in Kindergarten this year and want him to have good, well motivated teachers through high school. I've seen Ms. Skandera working against teachers and I don't think that's going to work for my son.
Nandi Baldwin Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 Our children's futures and our communities future is at stake.
Dina Pesenson Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-21 it's unfair to teachers and hurts the kids Name Location Date Comment
John barnhill Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 Unfair evaluation, my child is not receiving a rounded and inclusive education, I will not allow my child to be tested in protest of the PED's bad policies and the governor's very poor appointment of a non-teacher and inexperienced head of public education. My child scored in the top 6% on her tests, she loves school and now the teachers are looking for new jobs. Way to go governor not everything was broken, but is now!
Ivan Reeves Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 These policies have made my life as an educator very difficult.
Cindy Breshears Albuquerque., NM 2013-10-21 My daughter is a teacher and I stand by her.
Brian Colhofff Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 We need to get from the business model for education; we need more rounded education improve the arts and humanities instead of constant testing.
Sherri Bornhoft albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 Kids need to learn how to learn and think, not how to take tests.
Susan Hewatt Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 I am a school counselor for APS.
Susie Schillaci Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-21 Education needs to be job #1 in our country and the government is choosing to go about education reform in all the wrong ways! Ask the teachers to be a part of this process. They will tell you that teaching kids is getting pushed out of the classroom and being replaced with testing and test preparation.
Jean Stelzer Truth or Consequences, 2013-10-21 I care about New Mexico's kids. NM donna hale albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 donna hale
Evelyn Fernandez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 I have been an Educator, Principal and Student for over 25 years!
Jean Cassels New Orleans, LA 2013-10-21 All children in every state deserve a great education.
Beth Isler Carlsbad, NM 2013-10-21 I teach and have 3 grand children in public school.
Barbara Lemaire Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 kids are our future
Susan Hall-furlong albquerque, NM 2013-10-21 Reforms at aimed at wrong people. Teachers shouldn't be held accountable for student factors that teachers have no control over, i.e. poor attendance, chronically disruptive students that administrators or parents won't take care of, students not doing assignments, parents making playing sports more important than academic achievement.
Laura Horton Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 Stop the testing insanity!
Joseph Zummach Cliff, NM 2013-10-21 AND I VOTE!
Sharon Livingston Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-21 I feel that we need to go back to the old three R's and stop this extra stuff that doesn't teach them to read, write or for that matter understand history.
Doris LaHart Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 This is important because these changes do not help students at this school, this district or anywhere in the state. Corporate Reform Agendas such as the one Governor Martinez has enacted serves one purpose and that is to gain political points with the GOP nationally.
Chase Kolozsy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 I'm an alumni off APS and I value a democratic process, not one that circumvents it.
Michele Moser Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-21 I am a parent of a high school junior and I am a teacher working for APS
Annemarie McMahon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 This is important to me because I am a Special Education teacher and I believe in the individual rights of my students.
Karla Harper Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Current policies are only causing stress. You will not get the results you desire.
Ted Lewis, Ed.D. Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-22 I have a doctorate in education from NMSU, and the space provided simply does not allow me to begin to address the many ways that this is wrong for New Mexico. Name Location Date Comment
Lynell Soladay Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 First and foremost, this woman is simply NOT QUALIFIED. "YOU" - the state/Governor -are in violation of the constitution. Hello?? Close second, and related to her not being qualified - she simply is not managing education the proper way - because she doesn't know how; and, that would be because she's NOT QUALIFIED !!! Stop the stupidness already !!!!
Jerry Furlong Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 I abhor idiocy from any party in government. bruce feddersen Wagoner,, OK 2013-10-22 I am against sneaky politics and corporate influenced political agendas.
Kevin Honnell Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-22 As a local NM school board member, I’ve had a ring-side seat to the PED’s heavy-handed initiatives these past several years. They are destroying our faculty esprit de corps and sucking all the joy out of learning and teaching. More importantly, I’m convinced that time will prove them to be ineffective, as they rooted in a lack of trust in our educators and a disrespect of our local educational districts.
Katie Stevenson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Because I have kids!
John Kofonow Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Because a strong, public education system in which teachers are respected and students are taught to their strengths instead of tested to their limits is important to me.
Leesa Crescenzi Tampa, FL 2013-10-22 I am a parent and teacher and I see how destructive this testing and new evaulation system is to our students.
Damion Terrell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 I can already tell these changes have affected the energy of my child's teacher. shanif jiwa abq, NM 2013-10-22 i feel that this is a very stupid law and doesn't truly show how smart the kids are.
Sarissa Tapia Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 It affects my education and future.
Brian L Tran albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 it affects my education.
Oscar Trejo Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Because its stupid and it doesnt show in any way how smart the student is!!!!! cesar ceja albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 To help MY PEOPLE
Jessica Aranda Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Teacher morale is very important to our students and families. Creating an unfair atmosphere in our schools is already impacting our students. Please, let's find a solution together.
Jeanay Angel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 As a senior in High School who is trying apply to scholarships, colleges, visit universities, take my SAT and ACT's along with keeping my GPA acceptable for myself and universities. Taking more tests at this point and getting them thrown at me so close to graduating is very frustrating and overwhelming.
Jocelyn N Mora albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 As a senior in high school i feel like i am being over tested. I have taken my share of SBA's and EOC's. I do not feel like i need to take more tests to prove that i can get my diploma. I am recently signed up to take my ACT and if i do not get a high enough score i will plan on studying for that and taking it again. Plus on top of that i have my classes to do work in and keep my GPA up to at least a 3.5.
Lacey Daniell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 As the daughter of a former public school teacher and a close friend of a new public school teacher, I am deeply concerned about the new changes being implemented. Please understand that these sorts of evaluation systems discourage the brightest among us from becoming teachers, and cause many young teachers to leave the profession. This is a huge disservice to our children and to the state of New Mexico. Please STOP these so-called reforms and LISTEN to the teachers who know their classrooms, and community, the best. Name Location Date Comment
ALLISON HAWKS ALBUQUERQUE, NM 2013-10-22 My evaluation should NOT be based 50% on my ENTIRE SCHOOL's (or even my classroom's) SBA score!!
Carol Prewett Milan, NM 2013-10-22 If you want to retain quality teachers, these ridiculous evaluation standards need to be change.
Nicole kurland corrales, NM 2013-10-22 KIDS!!
Catrina Angel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 My daughter has worked hard to keep a high GPA and good grades on all required tests. Scholarship requirements have consumed her time as well. Throwing more tests at them at this point with no prep time is not fair to them. This will also delay their diplomas.
Molly Beverly Chino Valley, AZ 2013-10-22 My children live in Albuquerque
Rae Granados Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 I am a teacher who is affected by the new expectations!
James Zion Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Education matters ... but not the corporate capitalist kind.
Danielle Young Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-22 It is important for our students to know what their requirements are to graduate. Changing their requirements year after year is not good for student success or confidence. Making changes without parent and teacher input is not a good way to get educators behind you. There is more to education than standardized testing, teachers should be evaluated on how they teach and not how one set of students does on a standardized test. Especially when that teacher doesn't even teach those students in class other than advisory.
Ken Salazar Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 I believe it is unfair to evaluate a teacher on test scores. If you are evaluating teachers with this we need to hold the parents responsible for their students to BE IN SCHOOL
Anita Duffey Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Kids deserve to be taught more than they need to be tested.
Melissa Soto Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 My child, nor any other child's future cannot be predicted by a test score!
Rebecca Piñon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Because education is NOT a business! The testing required of our stats students is completely out of line. Something needs to change.
Rick House Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 Education not domination
Tanya Critchfield Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-22 We need real reform, not more tests! Things like smaller class sizes, starting school at the time that is the most appropriate for an age group based on scientific research, not on when it is convenient for the bus companies. For too long the corporate needs have superseded the needs of our students. Which makes me wonder what really concerns our law makers: the lobbyists from the corporations that make/grade the tests and make contributions to their campaign, or the actual children who should be at the center of their concerns. Please get real about good reforms, not ones based on who gets the test contracts.
Amber Van Wagoner ABQ, NM 2013-10-23 I sign this petition for myself and the future highschoolers of this and next generation
Canice Laubhan Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a teacher currently teaching in NM. I agree with teach evaluations. However, I don't agree with associating student test scores with teacher effectiveness.
Elizabeth Roybal Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Because someone who hasn't ever taught a class let alone be able to complete a form for a government opt out shouldn't be able to dictate what our children should be taught in school.
Mary Bokuniewicz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 We are "educating" every ounce of creativity and critical thinking out of our children. This insanity has got to stop.
Christopher Johnson Tijeras, NM 2013-10-23 If it smells like corruption, it's probably corruption. Skandera should not be running NM education. Name Location Date Comment
Catherine Piekos Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I volunteer in my child's school and I am seeing first hand how the tea party is attempting to destroy public education. We need to stop this nonsense now.
Kristin Hawson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I have six children in the Albuquerque Public School system and this policy is NOT the way to give them a better education.
Sumner Price Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-23 You cannot run schools like a factory. The education of children is a joint effort of the teachers, children, and parents. Additionally, children are not manufactured items - they come to school with a huge host of problems and other factors that affect their educational experience.
Gayle Krueger Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Our students are paying the price to have their education standardized. They deserve better.
Dylan Wilson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am currently in school working toward becoming a teacher
Thomas Hopkins Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I have seen the education twisted to be about nothing but test scores.
Nicole Martinez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I have a child that is dyslix
Karen Braddock Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Because children deserve an education that is developmentally appropriate that instills a love for learning not a hatred of test taking.
Sam Kissinger Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Be constructive, not punitive.
Jean Marie Baca Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Educators deserve valid, research-based evaluations of their teaching. Students deserve valid, research-based evaluations of their knowledge. Demoralizing students and teachers will not fix our education system. Help us improve, support us, don't drive us away from the profession that we love.
Kathy Duran Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-23 Because I am a concerned parent who believes education reforms should have input from teachers, parents and school officials
Chris Pantoya Hobbs, NM 2013-10-23 Common Core is a liberal tactic to further reduce our children's ability to make decisions by diminishing their critical thinking skills.
Howard Lewis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I want sensible education now. Test less and teach more. Give teachers a voice and a chance to do their job.
Gabriela Sulzer Caballo, NM 2013-10-23 This is important for me because I am tired of individuals that are not educators to make decisions for our students.
Angelina Medina Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Negative impact on all NM students needs to stop.
Jill Hare Silver City, NM 2013-10-23 When a process, so that all involved understand, does not happen, the result is an agenda. Education is not an agenda.
Tim Leyba Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a teacher concerned for the future of my students and community.
Heather Armstrong Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a parent. This impacts my kids' diane lea albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I'm an educator!
Felicia McCaffrey Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Because this effects our children who are our future.
Araceli Quintana Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 My childrens' education!!!!
Kari Daniels Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 30 years in public schools kids need compassionate dedicated teachers who teach kids not test taking !
Roxanne Sikes Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I WANT TO TEACH MY STUDENTS; NOT TEST MY STUDENTS. MY STUDENTS WANT TO LEARN MORE; NOT GET A TEST SCORE! HANNA NEEDS TO GO. LET GOV. MARTINEZ COME TEACH MY CLASS. cole firkins albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Reforms are needed to govern our public education system with policies that are both educationally and developmentally appropriate for all students and also professionally and economically appropriate for teachers. For over a decade poor policy has moved farther and farther from these essentials. It's time for effective reforms. Name Location Date Comment
Nancy Hays Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I want to stop the misguided efforts at "reform" because using children's test performance as a way to evaluate teacher "effectiveness" places the burden on children to be the ones who determine HALF of a teacher's "effectiveness". Tests only measure how well the child does on a test. Tests were NEVER meant to measure teacher effectiveness. Please read and pay close attention to Diane Ravitch's new book, "Reign of Error" because she explains the use of tests in clear language. linda padilla truth or consequences, 2013-10-23 Agendas like this are scaring away future teachers. I am one them. NM
Aaron Kaplan Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am an educational advocate and it is important that teachers get a fair and sensible evaluation
Phil Upham Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-23 It is obvious, we are over testing the kids and getting little back from it. Toxic for the teachers, the students and the schools! penny grigsby albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 concern for teachers
Kim cooper McKinney, TX 2013-10-23 just moved from NM to Texas for better schools. I voted for you Susana. Do the right thing and stop the unnecessary testing. Your teachers are miserable!! kathleen hoessel corrales, NM 2013-10-23 There isn't enough typing space to vent all the reasons why this petition is important to us as teachers, parents, and our future.
William Creech albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 My children are being tested, pre tested, post test for the SBA and EOC's.
Robert Stratton Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 This new process and evaluation systems hurts our students and teachers in more ways that one. We will start to lose great teacher's due to this process and how can you truly score a special education teacher based on students disabilities that don't perform well on test anyways. This hurts the entire education system from top to bottom. I will also look to find a new profession outside of education due this this reform.
Geri Kasparek Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 This is not fair for our students, and our "Good" teachers who devote their time, money and energy to their students.. Help us to continue to teach children..
Lisa Salazar Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a teacher who wants to be evaluated, but with a fair system that has gone through the legislature. How is it a true evaluation of my effectiveness as a teacher if the exam that counts for 50% of my score is based on a test that my students will take weeks before they graduate and will not be graded until after they are done with high school? Taking an exam with nothing at stake for them is not how I want to be evaluated. Nor should it be a strain on students with excessive testing to prove that I can do my job. Over tested students plus over worked teachers is not the winning combination this state needs.
Elizabeth Perea Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 The teacher evaluation needs to be fair. You can't have special education children take same test as regular children. They have to be tested at their level to be fair.
Bernadette Mirabal albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 i am an EA at a APS school and i work with the ED students in special education. if you actually sat in a class of mine for a couple of days you would understand that we work very hard and our work shows on the many students that make it through graduation instead of dropping out and it is a constant struggle with them daily to get them to work but it's worth it in the end. so i think if you are not in the classroom on a daily basis then you really can't sit there and judge what we are doing and how we are doing it cause it does get done...... with teachers who know what they are doing... Name Location Date Comment
Kimberly Chavkin Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a teacher who works with students in New Mexico everyday. The Moreno incessant testing and bureaucratic accountability paper work "reform" must stop! It does nothing to further the education of my students, and in fact, does more harm than good! School is no longer a fun place to go to learn. Teachers are consumed by taking all steps possible to ensure they "measure up" no longer using their time to come up with creative lesson focused on individual student needs. Kids are burnt out knowing that all they do in school better come out right on an exam. I have been teaching for 14 years. I love teaching, but right now, I hate my job!
Eileen Dubuisson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a fourth generation Educator and am ashamed of what education has become. Critical thinking skills are being sacrificed for regurgitation of fact and formula.
Joseph Rangel ALbuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I disagree completely towards Hanna Skandera's and Susana Martinez for passing this law. It's wrong to have children taking all these test Because there would be no time for actual teaching.
Marcos Ruiz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 It is not fair to our students. karla palomino albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 because i want to graduate jovany ponce albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 because i want to graduate with less expectations
Erika Sanchez albuerquerque, NM 2013-10-23 this is important to me because kids shouldnt have to do 18 big test every year. this is just over working them and putting more stress into the kids education life. gladis moreno Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 it puts more stress on us and is not fair we do good in school getting good grades but yet we cant graduate because of test we did't pass
Jaquelin Dominguez ALBUQUERQUE, NM 2013-10-23 It puts more stress on us, and It's not fair we do good in school, getting good grades but yet we cant graduate because of test we didn't pass.
Julie Sprunk Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 My senior in high school its highly affected by this.
Franchesca Salgado Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 This is important to me because I have 2 children in the public school system that are not learning properly and only inundates with ridiculous tests! In my opinion, teachers aren't allowed to teach any longer, only allowed to teach how to pass a test and that is WRONG!
Sasha Pellerin Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Creating these kinds of requirements for teachers and students will disproportionately and negatively impact minority students. This will also serve as a barrier for any teacher to teach in our schools where students are behind. This is a horrible way to support teachers, students and our communities at large. Rethink bad policy measures.
Amber Williams Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 This is not good for our teachers or our students. We need to support our school staff, not make their life harder in the name of what's 'best' for our children's eduction.
William Francis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 As a citizen of NM, I believe that we as a state need to "teach" our children what is needed for them to individually succeed in their strengths and be expected to compete with those who may not have the capability or resources to be on equal ground as others. Teachers will work with their students to assure they will be prepared to face the world.
Emma Prophet Fletcher, OK 2013-10-23 Corporations are not about education. They are about profit, only.
Christine Archuleta Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am a teacher, a master's student, and a parent of a child in APS.
Laurene Pena Kahn Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 This is important to me because I want a fair and accurate assessment for teachers, and Skandera's plan is neither fair nor accurate.
Sonja Tideman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I want my kids (in NM) to learn instead of just test. Name Location Date Comment
Brianna Vasquez Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-23 As a new college student, I am so fortunate to be out of the public school system. I had enough trouble remembering my classroom lessons while also learning material that was often convoluted and far beneath the level of material we were working on. For me, the tests were a complete waste of our time and a waste of time that could be spent preparing me for what I face now in college. Kids should have the opportunity to love learning without the ominous threat of this test and this test and this test could keep you from graduating, moving on with your life, and achieving goals. Kids need freedom to explore. With the right education, kids will never want to stop exploring the world and learning from it. If they feel constrained by education, what kind of world are we creating?
Erika Gonzales ABQ, NM 2013-10-23 I am a former teacher and a parent, and I strongly feel that the PED is hurting our children and teachers. maxim st-pierre albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 My 3 kids
Jean-Louise Zancanella Champaign, IL 2013-10-23 I am the daughter of two educators and the product of APS and have never once felt as if I was being short changed in my educational journey EXCEPT when asked to spend valuable classroom time taking tests that were never relevant to me or my peers in the way we learned. I am confident in the judgment of New Mexico's educators, NOT in the judgment of Hanna Skandera, who has no experience in the field. Please let teachers do their jobs.
Alene Hardin Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I am an educator and these new requirements have taken away all my family time! Weekends and evenings are consumed with CC plans!
Bella Long Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Our children's education is more than test scores. We need true critical thinking to be competitive and standardized tests DO NOT do this!
Lillian Diamond Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 These reforms make a few people a lot of money, while there is no indication it provides a stronger education for our NM children. The people of NM have spoken, teachers, parents, and professionals who as American citizens have the right to say, "STOP!" Speedy reforms hurt NM students. A responsible careful plan is needed to protect the future of strong public education.
Cassandra Valencia Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-23 I am a parent with kids in school!!!!
Roseanne Bishop Estancia, NM 2013-10-23 I think that Skandera and her allies are aiming for an eventual privatization scheme for our schools. There's a big pot of money sitting in public education and there are a lot of corporations/fascists who would like to get their hands on it.
Alan Chancellor Moriarty, NM 2013-10-23 I am a teacher with children of my own. I do not want my daughter or my students to be measured by End of Course exams that are not valid measurements because they have not been trial tested. I do not want teachers to be measured by these EoC or Standards based assessments, because that is not what they were meant to do. Name Location Date Comment kelly eagan albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Nice Ms. Martinez! I am a veteran teacher of 26 years, one who has conscientiously given of myself every day, including summers, weekends, and evenings. I consistently work beyond my duty day to ensure my classroom is place of solid learning, and I know without a doubt that I am an amazing teacher, one whom I wish my own children could have had. Yet, you have told my principals and principals across the state that they should not give over a three in a five-point scale. Shame on you for fostering the low moral of teachers throughout this state. Shame on you for not recognizing that parents need to play a primary role in their children's education. And shame on you for giving all young people a solid reason to not enter into this fine, very badly needed profession. I am disgusted with what you have done to my profession, one that formerly was considered to be an honorable role in our community. You have changed all that so that all teachers are now merely adequate or not even that. Thanks so much. I hope you feel merely adequate in whatever it is you work hard at, that which you pour your heart and soul into, so you can see what you have done to every teacher in this state.
Katie giras albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 More testing means more time that my child is NOT learning. We are already low on the educational scale, let's now go lower.
Rick Morrow Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Because I care about the future of our children, not political agendas
Sarah Ochoa Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 I have young children, and as a former teacher and mother, I am very concerned about the direction the public school system is being taken by this governor and her unconfirmed, unqualified education secretary. My husband and I are public servants. We cannot afford private schools. We need our public schools to educate our children, not test them until their love of learning is snuffed out.
Jim Watters Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 As a concerned citizen for the future of our kids and the sake of our teachers. We are going to lose wonderful teachers because of these new mandates! We are taking away the very basis of teaching a child how to learn along with losing all creativity and individuality!!
Esther Manzanares Medanales, NM 2013-10-23 Why do we have. Hanna Skandera. As. Our public education head when. She is not in the classroom. we. Need. Someone who knows. What it is like to be a teacher at any. Grade in. NM
Melanie Park Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-23 Educators and Parents are in the best position to determine education models.
Loretta Stone Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-23 Kids are our future. it's always important.
Stephanie Vigil albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 I did not get into a professional grad school because my teachers were required to live up to poorly planned, irrational standards. I got here because the teachers in New Mexico love, care, and work whole-heartedly for their students and their futures.
Katherine Timmermans Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 I am a teacher, and this affects me ad my students directly.
Paola Moneymaker Weston, FL 2013-10-24 I firmly believe that teachers should be allowed to teach. Enough with the government preaching education when they have no classroom experience to back up their ideals. Label Jars not students. Name Location Date Comment
Vandy Lujan Albuq., NM 2013-10-24 I am a parent and a teacher and I know that the amount of time spent testing and preparing for these tests is extreme. Students don't do well on test because they are over tested and the tests are over emphasized! Our kids try so hard on the tests at the beginning, and give less and less effort as the year progresses because they get to the point of burnout by the end of the year. These tests are seldom aligned with the academic criteria that we are given and the kids are tested on concepts that they won't get to until late in the school year. This fact lowers our kids self-esteem and makes them feel as if they are a failure early in the year, so why try? There is also a problem with the academic language on these tests and this creates a lack of understanding, not a show of a lack of knowledge.
Joshua Chavez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 My wife is a teacher. I do not enjoy the extra stress, paper work, and late hours every night of the week.
Holly Wu Corrales, NM 2013-10-24 As a National Board Certified Teacher working in a public school, I have been witness to the undue stress that testing puts on children. This is not the answer.
Marlene Pittman Cimarron, NM 2013-10-24 GREAT teachers are discouraged and seeking other careers, children are being measured only by tests, without their individuality being considered. Moral is poor, in education, because of these changes. Give educators a buy in. Let THEM be on the committees making the policies. Please! Hold educators responsible, by all means, but in a reasonable way.
Kallie Wilbourn Las Vegas, NM 2013-10-24 Education should provide basic skills and encourage curiosity. It should NOT a business that enriches corporations or indoctrinates children in any particular ideologies.
Richard L. Gutierrez Santa Rosa, NM 2013-10-24 Typical of the Martinez Republican administration to bypass parental and expert objection to force a failed agenda. Republicans in general do not understand the meaning of "do the right thing!" samdra bailey santa fe, NM 2013-10-24 Am a volunteer in the schools.
Anne Maxson Cedar Crest, NM 2013-10-24 I am a Pre K Educator. Education of our Children starts here and now!
Joyce Lathrop Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-24 Corporations have a very different agenda from what is really needed.
ErnestO Stolpe Tyrone, NM 2013-10-24 Our children need a good educational foundation to build their and our future - Skandera may have good intentions but not very good results for our Public Education System. nancy givens albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Our children need better.
Amanda Vital Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 I have children in APS schools and I have also worked within APS, Students and teachers need better leadership!
Jennifer Maulsby Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Push back against the Right's agenda to privatize public education!
Atalaya Ramos Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-24 How could a person with NO EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE even THINK that it's ok to force an unresearched, in confirmed "reform" on our students!! My children deserve better! At least for the parents and educators a chance to look at this and VOTE on the "reform"! It's our children's future!
Lee Purcaro Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Who's funding you to pick this unskilled Ms. Skandara and why little to no input from educators, parents and communities? Please serve our communities rather than for profit corporate sponsors of your re-election. Thank You.
Emanuele Corso somewhere else, NM 2013-10-24 This is part of a nation-wide scam to privatize public education. It is wrong, it is damaging to the American social contract. Name Location Date Comment
Justin Thomas Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 care about NM education are the ones taking the hit on this political agenda that politicians are pursuing to either further their own carreers or privatize education. Either way it MUST STOP not to mention Skandera obtained her position in an unconstitutional way. This reeks of corruption. Everyone must stand up against these so called politicians that we voted in and who are supposed to make appropriate decisions for education but have failed miserably. Please sign and pass it to everyone you know!
John Wilson Magdalena, NM 2013-10-24 Teachers are not workers on a factory line. You can't switch teachers around like light bulbs. Not all schools are the same.
Ann Henry Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-24 Its not important to me but it is important to the students in our state. Our children can learn. but they will learn differently than kids from New York City and other large cities. Children need to learn based on their experiences not someone elses.
Rudy Mendez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Its important to me , because i have a future college student.
John McClendon Magdalena, NM 2013-10-24 I have a child in school in NM.
Bev Eckman-Onyskow Alamamogordo, NM 2013-10-24 I care about kids and education.
John Slattery Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-24 This is a major step in the WRONG direction. Reforms, YES! - the WRONG :reforms," NO!
Kathleen Myers Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Our children are the future, testing does not create successful lives....Positive learning and comprehension of the materials create success!
J Sturgis Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-24 We already have one of the worst education systems in the nation. Our most tenured teachers are capped at $1 per year raises. Yes, one dollar! The number of hours devoted/required for testing, meetings, compliance was already ludicrous. Hanna Skandera aims to increase that wasted, non-student time significantly. Our children lose under these new state "requirements", which provide zero benefits and have been haphazardly created with no obvious input from any legitimate educators. How can we stand by and watch politicians actively make one of the worst education systems even worse?
Tony Greiner Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Corporate profit in public education is the worst conflict of interest imaginable. Dare I say, worse than the corporate money influence on our politicians? Yes!
William Hudson San Lorenzo, NM 2013-10-24 This so called "education reform" is being spearheaded by an appointed "secretary of education" who is not qualified constitutionally to hold the position. It is a means of funneling taxpayer money that should be going toward the children, teachers, and schools of New Mexico; into the hands of corporate supporters of the Governor.
Linda Weisband Placitas, NM 2013-10-24 I have 2 sons who are educators and this model based on business and in politics takes freedom and respect away from educators and gives power to people who have no idea what is best to promote learning. It does not work but has become the preference of the politically powerful.
Sara Walker Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 No corporate education reforms!
Stephen Eiland Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 I see so many aspiring Teachers who are fretting over the undue anguish this radical & unnecessary evaluation is causing.
Alex Suniga Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Because students will be overwhelmed with homework, schoolwork, classwork, and now tests?.... NO!!!!
William M. Riggles Ruidoso, NM 2013-10-24 That's why it's called an "independent" school system.
No Corporate Agenda!
Paul Higgins Rio rancho, NM 2013-10-24 for the Children Name Location Date Comment
Eric Jackson ALBUQUERQUE, NM 2013-10-24 There are things that need to change in our Public Education Department, and we need to have a way to effectively evaluate teachers, but the designs being put into action are not the way to go. Schools are not corporations and students are not widgets.
Darlene Waseta New Laguna, NM 2013-10-24 I understand that our system needs to revamped, but there has to be a process that includes input from parents and teachers. Ms. Skandera obliviously feels that the rules don't apply to her.
Edward Wemytewa Zuni, NM 2013-10-24 I have dealt with situations where our leaders and government bodies assume they know what we, as their constituents, want. As a constituent I want to be a part of a democratic process where I am recognized as an important voice.
Patt Littlefield Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 We need much less corporate interference in New Mexico, especially where our children are concerned. Do the right thing Governor Martinez
J Rick Striegel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Students are not all the same. They need an education tailored to their strengths and interests.
APRIL sANCHEZ Belen, NM 2013-10-24 The worst thing about New Mexico schools, and schools nationwide, is overcrowding. We need to be building more schools, and allowing teachers to teach. We need to eliminate prepackaged meals. We need to insist on the arts. These things won't happen unless parents, students and educators are allowed into the decision making process.
Catie Dixon Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Gov. Martinez and her out-of-state unconfirmed Education Secretary are running rough shod over everyone and everything in the NM educational system, while showing no concrete evidence that their proposals have any validity. They should back off, consult the teachers, administrators and parents and start over with public input and support.
Becky Steinkuehler Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Our students are over tested. Try using the ACT as a high school assessment. Work on preschool programs.
Samantha Tyeryar jacksonville, AR 2013-10-24 As a future teacher in NM, I believe in doing things right for education.
Donna Haggerty Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Testing is becoming more important than teaching. Please do not let this happen. Let's spend money wisely. Listen to the suggestions the CURE group has to help our students succeed. Teachers should have a say in all this!!!!! Hanna Skandera is not qualified in her "temporary" position.
John Thomas Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Get serious!
Lesley Mortimer Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-24 I am a former teacher and I can appreciate what APS teachers are going through right now. The problem isn't the teachers, it is poor parenting.
Casey Mason Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 I am a teacher and I have kids. It is scary to think about what schools will look like when my daughter is old enough to attend school. We can not afford a private education so it is important to me that she get a quality education.
Maryellen Stewart Espanola, NM 2013-10-24 I was a teacher for 40 years, recently retired. john kelley Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 New Mexico has a serious problem with its educational system, which needs some serious revamping, but we still must look to proven models of education to solve these issues. Allowing Governor Martinez and her friends to decide the educational future of New Mexicans is not a wise decision considering what the Governor has already done with our healthcare system. At this point she is not trustworthy.
Vernon Butler Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 It is beyond time for transparency in the state PED dept. it is time for us as parents and tax payers to demand the acknowledgement, and respect we are deserving of. Enough!
Taber West Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-24 I have a child in preschool who will be in the public school system soon. Name Location Date Comment
Casey Thomas Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 As an Educator in this wonderful state, I know how badly this "deform" is hurting our schools, children, teachers and future.
Samuel Butler Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-24 Corporate third party intervention in our education system is not acceptable. Parents, teachers, administrations and state representatives should be the primary julia eisenstein Taos, NM 2013-10-24 We are almost dead last when it comes to the health and welfare of our children. It takes cooperation between schools, families, communities and the government. It is not a matter for another "imported" and imposed Martinez corporate agenda!
John Clark Rio rancho, NM 2013-10-24 KEEP THE POLITICIANS OUT OF THE SCHOOLS UNLESS THEY WANT TO BE A STUDENT.
Doris Vician Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 Teachers and students need our support.
Laura Sturgis Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-24 As an educator, I feel that the number of standardized tests our kids are required to take each year is lessening the focus on individualized education. We know that many of our students have many different needs, and what they need are smaller class sizes, teacher freedom to make decisions based on the needs of the students, not a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
Chuckie McHenry Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-24 This method is not education..Students will be taught to parrot back what is said, not to think.
Karyl Ann Armbruster Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-25 Hanna is doing a wonderful job. She is alienating teacher so they quit. Now she can give out vouchers to private schools, fund charter schools where there are no unions, have children in K-12 on virutal education computers. That will mean no pensions to pay to teachers, private schools and charter schools c an required that teachers come to school at 7AM and stay until 7PM, have required contact availability 24/7 , free tutoring, no rules, and education will be totally privatized. The "public schools" wil lhave only low income, special education, behavior issued children. What a new America we will have! How sad that day will be. Only A.L.E.C. will be happy.
Elizabeth Phelps Farmington, NM 2013-10-25 It's appalling that she has designated Hannah Skandara as our Secretary of Education who has no experience in the classroom or education at all. I left public education as a 30 year veteran because I was disgusted with Martinez and Skandara!
Gaylen Sims Ruidoso, NM 2013-10-25 I am a teacher in the state of NM. I have 35 years of teaching experience and I have never seen anything so ridiculous in my entire career.
Margaret DiBella Magdalena, NM 2013-10-25 I've been teaching for 20 years, have received accolades from students, parents, colleagues, & administration. I KNOW my stuff and I am absolutely positive that Skandera's agenda is harmful to all aspects of the profession.
Nicole McGrane Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-25 I am a teacher and the new requirements are an insult to our professionalism.
MaryAlice Hawkins Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-25 Teaching is my passion and students are my number one priority. The evaluation process takes teachers time from teaching and students to more unnecessary paperwork.
Jerry Seidenwurm Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I worked for 35 years as an evaluation and testing specialist. I KNOW that the current testing program is NOT a sound measure of kids' learning or teachers' instruction.
Linda Cook Tigard, OR 2013-10-25 I taught for many years in NM and receive a NM retirement. I strongly believe in the rights of parents, elected school boards, etc to have a voice!!
Sonja Bailey Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Because I am a TEACHER!
Mary DeForest Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I live in New Mexico Name Location Date Comment
JAN COOPER Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I have 4 grandchildren under the age of 10, and I want what is best for them
Lisa Cowden Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-25 I am watching it detract from the process of education in excellent teachers.
Rebecca Swisher Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I am a teacher.
Nathaniel Wilson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 On top of all the terror you are bringing to our schools and state, you are making a horrible decision. There is no quick fix to anything. I guess the government needs to find out the hard way that their deform will bring our unemployment even lower, see a rise in students dropping out and committing suicide like in Japan and China. I am a D-level special education teacher. How are my 5th grade students at a 1st grade level pass the test? They are set up for failure as well as me being evaluated. I am set up to fail. After seeing what this has done to other states, even though left in chaos, you don't seem to care. How are students with severe disabilities supposed to take these tests.
Linda Gutierrez Farmington, NM 2013-10-25 This is my 23rd year in the classroom and it is by far the worst amount of pressure I've ever felt! I won't be sticking around much longer if we don't shift away from high stakes testing!
Melissa Schole Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I am an educator and a parent. I am extremely concerned about issues regarding the PED and how they affect my daughter, my students, and myself.
Ryan Ross La Puebla, NM 2013-10-25 Let me teach!
Michelle Lafaye Grants, NM 2013-10-25 We do not need any more corporations run our nation or our state, or the world for that matter. Keep corporations out of our educational system.
Adam Monroe Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I am a student that doesn't need more tests.
Catherine Rael Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Governor Susana Martinez and her Unconfirmed Public Education Department Secretary Hanna Skandera care nothing about NM children. Their only concern is to discredit public education so that they can implement their "voucher system". Their selfishness, and ignorance will not only hurt competent educators, but also every child in NM's public school system. I challenge both our governor and her dearly beloved Skandera to spend a week in any classroom in NM. Then maybe they would understand the value of teaching, learning, and education of our public schools.
Paul Smith Walker, MN 2013-10-25 Because its just wrong!!!
Diane Boehm Edgewood, NM 2013-10-25 Children should be encouraged to learn and think for themselves. Corporate education lacks this.
Amanda Kexel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Stop making the education system your personal bank account to be selfish....that system is in place for children to be educated, not make rich corporate america even more greedy.
Mercy Tenorio Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Students are spending too much time testing.
Luanne Gaisthia Kaneohe, HI 2013-10-25 My family is Native American and Hispanic, AND Daughters of the American Revolution!!. I lived in New Mexico and understand the struggles of natives ffirst hand.
Jennifer Wilson Smyrna, TN 2013-10-25 While my children are educated in another state, I think it is important, as a parent, to be aware and fight for the educational rights of all children across the United States. Our children deserve the best education we can give them -- and this agenda goes completely against that.
Olivia Chavez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 These new "reforms" will be extremely detrimental to the overall education of the students. sandi maestas SAPELLO, NM 2013-10-25 Because I have great grandchildren that will suffer because of this. Name Location Date Comment
Jenny Diesburg-Lathrop Los ALamos, NM 2013-10-25 The Governor and Education Secretary Designate can no longer ignore the teachers- we know what s best for children and they are doing damage that will be impossible to fix. Let me do my job!
Joline Keeler Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-25 The requirements of this evaluation system are unfair, unnecessarily rigorous, do not recognize a teacher's education and/or experience, and take too much time away from preparation and instruction time.
Jennifer Haltli Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Education should remain in the hands of local educators, who know our children, not in the hands of clueless corporations or politicians.
Karen Lang Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 I am a teacher and I am here for the kids!
Shawn Hardeman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Teachers are important and need the the ability to do their jobs without silly stipulations from the GOP.
Spencer Stall El PRADO, NM 2013-10-25 The last time we had education reform we got Bush's "No child let a dime" act. Before that was Reagan's Big Corporate design of scholastic reforms. We don't need any more ideas coming from profit motivated entities.
S Gail Miller Magdalena, NM 2013-10-25 Thoughtful people know the reform model being adopted is senseless. Cease and desist please.
Diane Thomas Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 The PED is not giving teachers time to adapt to all of these new requirements, and they're creating testing requirements that discriminate against those who historically underperform on standardized exams. Martinez's corporate agenda is disgraceful, and is damaging the education system in New Mexico.
Jason Carr Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-25 Standardized testing does not accomplish anything! Please remove these constraints and allow these teachers to do their jobs to correctly educate our future generations!
Morton Simon Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-25 I believe in public education
Lynette De La Hoya alb, NM 2013-10-25 THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY KIDS. ITS NOT FAIR, AND MAY EVEN CAUSE STUDENTS TO QUIT! LAME!!1
Rita Sanchez Española, NM 2013-10-25 I have taught for 29 years and I love my job. i am good at it. Not enough time to focus on the kiddos and my REAL JOB!!!
Carl Tippins bronx, NY 2013-10-25 This should be important to everybody in every state. Corporate reform is not the way to educate our children for the future.
Lisa Craig Hobbs, NM 2013-10-25 Children should be the FOCUS of education reform!
Lisa Fields Hobbs, NM 2013-10-25 This is important to me because I am a teacher!
Alecia Cargile Bosque, NM 2013-10-25 This process has not been based on any form of appropriate educational research but on a corporate model. Education is not a corporation – we do not have a choice of not hiring or being able to fire students and parents that are not performing. There is not one thing in this model or the Common Core that addresses the needs of students with disabilities and that is just one small example on an expansive list.
Christine Tapia Arrey, NM 2013-10-25 This is important to me because students have a right to learn (be taught) not only be given another test to see how much they know when in reality they haven't been given a chance to learn because they are always testing
Betsy Noll Albuquerque, Portugal 2013-10-25 Current policies and actions taken by the PED do not support student learning or teacher performance. They may appear to be reasonable on the surface but, in fact, exhibit a serious lack of understanding about how to evaluate students and teachers effectively and reliably. Hannah Skandera is not leading us in the right direction. It's time for her to go back to Florida.
Susan Brooks Chelmsford, MA 2013-10-25 This is taking the fundamental right of parents to vote their school boards. Name Location Date Comment
Suzette Gordon Durango, NM 2013-10-25 I am a teacher and one of the guinea pigs. We're all miserable and sick of testing and wish we were like Finland, the number one educational system in the world, where the students are only tested in 10th grade.
Audrey Juliani Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 I am a teacher and am tired of all of the hoops I am having to jump through to show I am highly effective. It is about our kids and we need to do what is right for them.
Samantha Hannah Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I am a second year teacher that has an abundant amount of student loans in educational training and currently finishing a masters and starting another MA certificate and I started this profession with the intention of changing lives and making a difference in children's education. I want a chance to do what I accepted all of the loan money I could to get a chance to do what I can to make a difference.
Kathy Rodriguez Hobbs, NM 2013-10-26 Because I am a citizen of NM and and have children that go to school in NM
Ivanna Austell Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-26 I am a teacher.
Chet Gourley Alto, NM 2013-10-26 Profit and the opportunity for greed should be kept as far from public education as possible.
Stephanie Mitchell Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-26 Students are so stressed at my school because the focus has shifted to tests and grades that suicides and mental illness diagnoses are rising. We need to focus on the whole child and what real success looks like, not on test scores. Real proficiency in education is helping a child be successful in life.
Cheryl Ryder Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-26 As an educator it is paramount to treat public education as the province of the public, for parents to have a say in what and how their children are taught. To make unilateral changes in the curriculum and requirements of the teaching staff without informed public input is a violation of the trust that was placed in the leaders of the system. Cease and desist all changes until these input requirements are met and the public decides how it wants its children taught.
Cynthia Torres Jemez Springs, NM 2013-10-26 Historically, as a retired teacher, I was always amazed with "new" people brought in to the administrative part of the system who did not have a clue about the unique problems we have in New Mexico. The number one problem we have is truancy, with a high preponderance of cultures that do not value education. Add to that the problem of poverty. "You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." The fixes that are instituted (including Skandera's) miss the boat entirely. She hasn't a clue. kari converse albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Education should be based on education models, not corporate models! jane dig albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 education is the number one priority for societies; dumb people (those uneducated in the humanities), including voters, will be making all of the decisions for our country in the future if we don't get our educational system up to par.
Glen Kappy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I worked in the private sector for over twenty-five years and have now worked within Albuquerque Public Schools for over twelve years and have witnessed the wrong-headed, ineffective "reforms" from poorly-informed legislators upstream from those trying to educate our children.
Barbara Thomson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Our kids deserve better than failed cookie cutter reforms. Enough.
Lee Laney Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-26 Governor Martinez should not be playing partisan politics with our kids education.
Consuelo Hannan los lunas, NM 2013-10-26 why does the repugs want to make our country's children stupid? have you listened to the tea party lately. I don't want NM children to sound like them.
W. Bramlett Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 These 'reforms' restrict teachers more than they help. A true reform would work to train teachers rather than dictate what they can or cannot do. Name Location Date Comment
Martha Heard Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I was a public school teacher and am appalled by what Hanna Skandera wants to do. She should return to Florida.
Chris DeBolt San Lorenzo, NM 2013-10-26 Public education is the last best leveled playing field. Good teachers are precious and deserve professional respect. Our kids are not automatons, they are individuals who derseve
Ella-Kari Loftfield Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 For teachers to meet the requirements of the new system, they would have to stop teaching and do nothing but paperwork all day long. Surely that was not the intent of the reforms. I am all for streamlining, rasing standards, and improving public schools, but the new system is unmanageable...from a teacher perspective, an administrative perspective, and even at the state level. Good people who need to be part of the solution are fleeing the profession because of these reforms not because they can't meet the standard but because the standard is so ill defined and constantly changing. Slow down, quick!
Fran Ahern Smith Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Educating our children is vital for the future
Robtn Darling Greenley Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-26 I need time to plan and teach. This new effort to reform N.M.'s schools is taking too much time from what is important.
Kristina Rohman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I do not agree with these "reforms", assessments, and evaluations.
Barbara Alvarez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 I don't have children in school any more, but I want to see children presently in school, as well as those who follow, to receive the highest quality education possible.
Sharon Roybal Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 Parent
Tim Hamilton Silver City, NM 2013-10-26 The blight of partisan politics has no place in the education system. Education is for trained educators, not for politicians, and certainly not for political acolytes who have only their own career interests at heart.
Mario Manzo Ojo Caliente, NM 2013-10-26 Privatizing schools, promotes inequality in schools and is the wrong direction. Help teachers and schools teach instead.
Dorothee Baker Cedar Crest, NM 2013-10-26 I am a retired teacher.
Leo Reyes Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 This is what Republicans are good at, alienating people. For them it's, My Way or The Highway!
Patricia Max Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-26 I have been involved in education in New Mexico since moving there as a 5th grader in 1953. I have been involved as a student, as a spouse of a teacher, as a parent, as a grandparent, and as a teacher for two years. I have more qualifications for Secretary of PED than the current designate who can not be confirmed and therefore should legally not be able to make these changes. Not only should the legislature and governor step in, but also the AG. Besides not implementing these reforms because she does not lack the credentials, the legislature should immediately insure that the law prevents these sorts of activities by nonconfirmable appointments.
Vickie Connally Loving, NM 2013-10-26 Our teachers need to be concerned with preparing and delivering great lessons to our students. This evaluation process is incomplete, unfair and is an unnecessary burden on our districts. We are being led by an unqualified Secretary of Education. Name Location Date Comment
Marsha Short Monroe, NC 2013-10-26 I am a teacher in a NM district. I have seen the harm these so called "reforms" have done to kids. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that the Common Core initiative and the accompanying assessments are ill-conceived, not supported by proper training or implementation guides, and have been proven time and again in other areas to be unaligned with what is developmentally appropriate and necessary for kids at each level. And the most insulting and ridiculous directives yet? Teacher evaluations with 50 per cent being test scores, only 25 per cent actual observation of what happens in the classroom, and 10 per cent attendance?? So we could get docked for taking the sick leave we are earning. Wow. Lastly, don't even get me started on grading of schools-- a concept that is ludicrous, and again, has NO basis in any kind of understanding of the reality of what challenges exist in the lives of these children and the type of education and guidance they need to succeed. I will be leaving this profession early to make an attempt to teach the way I KNOW is best in a place where I can at least have the freedom to get to know my kids and teach THEM, not follow some dictatorial nonsense designed to corporatize a system that should be serving these children and their families, not politicians and businessmen who already have WAY too big a piece of the pie. After all, this is a profession I have spend 21 years honing my skills in, and this woman has NO real experience at all to be telling us how it is done. It irks me to no end following directives from someone who should never have been given this position in the first place.
Luanne Greene Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 Because I believe that our public schools deserve MORE, not LESS support to do their job.
Bonnie Houston Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 Our children are our future. Every child deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education regardless of their heritage or socio-economic background.
Ernest Hawes Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 As a retired high school administrator with 22 years experience supervising and mentoring teachers, I acknowledge that reforms are needed, but the approach being taken is not the way to do it.
Elizabeth James Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I'm a nationally-published, award-winning writer of children's books who has worked in educational enrichment in New Mexico's schools and reservations for more than twenty years. I have seen first-hand the damage and decline that are the direct result of over-testing and the corporate model. This path is disastrous, not only for the children but for our nation. We _must_ return to research-based models that emphasize critical thinking and, most important, that allow our teachers to be not assembly-line workers but teachers, and our kids to be not processed widgets but the vivid, varied problem-solvers they are.
Richard Doyle santa teresa, NM 2013-10-26 The political cronyism in this administration tells me Governor that your goal is to be more than our governor but to follow in the shoes of 1/2 governor Sarah Palin and move onto something that pays much better which would involve a National Platform for corporate shilling.
Thea Lujan Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I wait for Susanna Tejana is out of the governor's office. She has messed up our school system by allowing that scab Skandera to take over. She isn't even from NM as is Martinez. We HAVE TO STOP VOTING for non New Mexicans Period!! Martinez and Skandera have to go!!!
Robert K Alexander Placitas, NM 2013-10-26 Ms. Skandera's punitive and single-minded approach to solving our state's educational problems are counter-productive. Teachers need support, not Gestapo-like "evaluations" or other detrimental treatment. Even such behavior in business is counter-productive, and why "corporate" models are thought to be applicable to the classroom is inexperienced idealism. She needs to go before more damage is done.
Arthur F. Meincke Roswell, NM 2013-10-26 I don't trust Skandera! Name Location Date Comment
Lorraine Padilla Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I am a parent and a teacher and the over emphasis on testing is detrimental to providing a well rounded education. The new teacher evaluation system is causing low morale and increasing retirement rates of veteran teachers who our students need. A similar type of educational reform used in Florida under Ms. Scandera was highly contested and eventually changed. Education in New Mexico deserves true reform with the voice of New Mexico's parents and educators being heard.
JOYCE WESTERBUR ALTO, NM 2013-10-26 Privatization of education is obscene. Real educators know how to improve education, not corporate flunkies like Skandera and Sleazana M. Teaching to the test is killing kids' natural curiosity. The GOP view of education is to produce meek automatons educated only to the extent of being useful to the corporate masters. The truly educated are able to think critically, and that would be really bad for the ReThug party and its corporate sponsors/beneficiaries.
Daniel Rivera Tornillo, TX 2013-10-26 No elected official has the right to act as a dictator.
Nancy Miquelon Dulce, NM 2013-10-26 Our kids deserve WAY better
Juliette Cunico Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I have been a teacher for as long as I care to remember nd have taught at all levels, from Kindergarten to University - gradualtelevel. These so-clled reforms are, in my opinion, nothing short of disastrous!
Sylvia Aronson Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-26 Public Education has worked in the US. I do not want corporations running the schools and indoctrinating our children to accept low wages, consume more and be of service to the wealthy. We need education not corporate propaganda.
Pamela Clark ABQ, NM 2013-10-26 Corporations have NO BUSINESS in the decisions of the state on NM!!!!!!!!! Stop this now before it is too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Judi Bensley Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-26 Concern for the general education system!!!
Phyllis Sanchez Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-26 Education is too important to have things pushed through behind the scenes
Daniel Stevens Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 We NEED a wide-based forum on deciding the needs of our states direction for public education, NOT a single "corporate" scheme!
Maria Vesper Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I am a High School Teacher, and It is very unfair to the kids and to the teachers all the time spend in testing that has no real meaning to the student's growth and learning.... plus the new evaluation system is looking to blame the teachers for the failure of students doing their part in the learning.... I am directly affected by this new rule... give us increase in our salaries, a fair salary for the work we do and treat us as professionals, with dignity and respect.
Ron Schwartz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 These reforms are destroying the environment within the classroom that allows for learning to take place.
Christopher Blackwell Deming, NM 2013-10-26 Parents, teacher and school boards must have control over how things are done at the schools rather than politicians earl kessler Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 Education is the opportuity to discover ones potential and interests not be taught how to think about issues.
Melissa Tomlinson Somers Point, NJ 2013-10-26 Corporations have no place in educational reform!
KT H Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 My mom is a teacher and we need to focus on helping our teachers, not punishing them based on how kids learn/participate. We need kids to be the focus, not test scores, etc. These kids are our future and instead of being taught, they are being prepared for tests. joseph bova santa fe, NM 2013-10-26 I support reform, but it should come from the bottom up, not the top down. Name Location Date Comment annie degen san cristobal, NM 2013-10-26 I wana know how new mexico, land of enchantment wound up with a governor like Susana Martinez...annie
Frank BAca Belen, NM 2013-10-26 As a former teacher and principal I feel that the need for an evaluation is to help the teacher become a better teacher, not to get rid of them.
Ann McCoy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 As a public school teacher, I am witnessing the effect this "reform" is having on educators and most importantly, children. Children need to be in an environment where they can safely learn, not continually be stressed because of the continual testing. I do my best to shield my third graders from this insanity and to nurture their love for learning. I also see how stressed out my 7th grade step-daughter is from all the mandated testing. Her love of learning is being replace by tears and anxiety. These new "reforms" are dishearting and shameful for the future of our New Mexico children. sanford abrams albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Because I hate stupidity and ignorance, especially concerning education.
Carol Pittman Datil, NM 2013-10-26 The children are our future -- all of us! Do not short change them with an ideological reform that solves no problems merely creates new ones.
Mary Anne Kaneff Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 I am a second career teacher with only 5 years left to retirement, BUT I see many young, talented, energetic, creative teachers who do not intend to stay in this field because of being frustrated, exhausted and demoralized. Teachers will do whatever it takes to get the job done, but they need the resources, both human (enough teachers) economical (enough money to hire more teachers) and time (enough to plan and collaborate), to do it! dusty price Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-26 Teacher accountability is crucial - as a teacher for 20+ years I am always looking for ways to improve and for professional feedback. However, crucifying teachers, over-burdening them with business-oriented tasks that take away from instructional time is not the answer. Students are not held accountable for their own test scores yet they need to be. Teachers are not the enemy - we are the answer. Governor Martinez needs to walk away from Skandera and listen to the people who can help her put a valid reform in place - the professional educators of New Mexico, not the professional politicians who have no experience in education.
Welcome Lindsey Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 I defer all comments to the entirety of John Gatto's "Weapons of Mass Instruction."
Michele Steffens Fort Myers, FL 2013-10-26 Business models not appropriate for education
Jennifer Thurston Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 Education is the key to success. Shame on you Govenor Martinez!
Marlene Foster Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 I am sick of the governor giving away NM to corporate interests, possibly on behalf of her own national interests in higher office.
Kay Swadener Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-26 This is important to me because, as a teacher, I believe that we should quit micromanaging teachers so that they can go back to putting CHILDREN first on their agenda.
Kathy Kersting Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Why is this important to me? Ensuring that we provide the best education possible public education for the children of New Mexico, one of the poorest state's in the nation, is arguably the most important responsibilities of all citizens. Our future relies on having citizens who have received the best possible education, in order to help lead us forward in the future. Critical thinkers with 21st Century skills are imperative in all children to be productive citizens and leaders. The current education format and reforms pushed on us by the PED (by outside companies with no ties to NM) is absolutely the wrong direction. BTW..yes, I'm a parent to two public school children and a teacher. Name Location Date Comment jaune Quick-to-See corrales, NM 2013-10-26 This is important to me because I have grandchildren in the public schools smith here. This corporate reform agenda will dumb down our schools.
Jack Hogue TOC, NM 2013-10-26 Because it is just wrong!
Ashley Baca Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I am a New Mexico teacher.
Lisa Faith Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-26 Because it shouldn't be this hard to do what's right for kids.
Lee Sides Roswell, NM 2013-10-26 This is WRONG!
Cheyenne Tiera Taos, NM 2013-10-26 Governor. What you are doing will not work, will cost taxpayers hard earned money to implement and then repair. I work in the schools. Teachers and children are hurting enough and before long, if you continue on this path, teachers will quit and who will teach our kids. It's just TOO MUCH stress for everyone's health. Your actions make us wonder what kind of financial payoff from corporations you're exploiting.
Sue Gunckel Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 We need to avoid the incredible mistakes that are similar to those made in regard to Behavioral Health Services and use real data and science to make decisions!
Carolyn Meehan Edgewood, NM 2013-10-26 People need to have a voice in things that effect them!
Carol Sky Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 Because it is important to everyone and our future.
Katherine West Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 It is hurting my students, forcing teachers to focus on "the test" not their students" real abilities and needs, and overwhelming teachers with meaningless tasks.
Gail Wheeler Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 I am a teacher
Anthony Benavidez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 As and educator I am spending more time on filling in format lesson plans than working on actual lesson plans and grading assignments more carefully.
Kimberly Berry Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Students, teachers, and administration deserve better than this.
Brian Harmeyer Lamy, NM 2013-10-26 republican corporate austerity is failing all over so lets stop it before it poisons our community
Daniel Secrist Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 The corporate-industrial model of education continues to fail us in this post- industrial world. Doubling down on it wil benefit no one but Hannah's cronies in the for-profit text-to-test publishing business. Look at how these "reforms" have been playing out in Florida and show us all you value New Mexico's kids for more than cheap/easy phot ops. Change is needed, but this isn't it.
Tamara Andersen Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 I am an educator, and her approach is ALL wrong!
Martha Holmen Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I am a public teacher in New Mexico. I currently spend hours on busy work to satisfy the PED's evaluation process and required paper work. This is all time I could have spent actually making plans for meaningful lessons (not some abstract Common Core unit plan that is of no value to me), gathering materials and setting up for lessons, and grading papers. The unbelievable amount of testing also takes days out of instructional time. virginia gurule Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 I am a high school teacher and I don't care for the way the secretary of education is running out schools. She has no experience as a teacher and I don't understsnd how she could've been placed in a position to be calling all the shots as to how our schools should be run.
Patricia Vacirca Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 I am a teacher and a parent Name Location Date Comment
Hannah Miller El Prado, NM 2013-10-26 I have a child that is school age. I am deeply concerned about the quality of education that my child and all our New Mexican children are receiving. I am a college graduate. I am a product of New Mexico public schools. We need reform, but it needs to be public and input needs to be taken from all concerned parties. With deep gratitude for your time and consideration.
Catheriine MacLaren Socorro, NM 2013-10-26 Teaching parents how to help their children have higher expectations is the way to reform education. the difference between middle class and poor children's performance can be traced to parental expectation and involvement.
John Bowers Denison, TX 2013-10-26 Isn't that a given? Good education is vital to a good future. State and Nationwide. Corporatizing is not the way to get good education.
Margaret Morley Annandale, VA 2013-10-26 I'm a teacher.
Douglas Long Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Our kids deserve better.
Sue Boggio Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 My granddaughter is seven and attends APS and my husband works as a children's therapist for APS and I support teachers!
Jantina Eshleman Mountainair, NM 2013-10-26 The Republican bandwagon to kill public education in this country is untenable and corporations have no business getting in the business of PUBLIC education.
K Bachtel T or C, NM 2013-10-26 Children learn from those who STUDIED TO TEACH. Corporate shills nee to STAND DOWN in the presence of THOSE EDUCATED TO TEACH.... STOP THIS NONSENSE.
Dora Leyva Carlsbad, NM 2013-10-26 Quality time for educating our youth without standardized strategies allows children to explore their natural creativity thus allowing them the freedom to expand their ability to learn naturally.
Patricia Moran Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-26 NM Educators, parents and the legislators need to get rid of Skandera & corporations NOW!
Michael Lambright Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 Enough with Koch brothers-backed ALEC agenda. Don't sell out and degrade our NM public K-12 education.
Sally Phelps El Prado, NM 2013-10-26 I was a high achool eductor for 35 years, and this "Reform" agenda does not work for kids or anyone.
Ted Harmon El Prado, NM 2013-10-26 We need to stop stealing from kids and not permitting it
Peter Tippett Fort Collins, CO 2013-10-26 It's greedy and shameful sonia macdonald Datil, NM 2013-10-26 MY SON IS A TEACHER. i'VE HEARD ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THIS IS DETRIMENTAL.
Ashley Jordan Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Anytime Republicans get ideas about "helping" public school systems it never ends well.
Bonnie Korman TAOS, NM 2013-10-26 I have grandkids in NM public schools. Education is the keystone to all social well being and democracy itself. Get the corporations out and the professional educators in. Save our kids, save our schools! Fund the schools generously!
Amy Lewis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I have 2 children in elementary school, I am directly seeing the impact on their education. Name Location Date Comment
Roxann Petzold Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-26 Why is it that Republicans cry out for smaller government on one hand while trying to gain more control with the other? A qualified educator is one that has a degree in education as well as classroom and/or administrative experience in the schools. The only way to have a plan that works for everyone is to have teachers, administrators and union representation at the table with an achievable goal set before them to formulate the standards for educational reform. The new plan should then be presented to each school for critiquing allowing for suggestions of additions or deletions to the plan. When the committee reviews those recommendations then and only then can they come up with a final program of reform that may not be perfect (since you won't know until implementation) but will be one that will give our school employees a sense of ownership in planning. Change and reform are important but not at the expense of our children and educators through mandates and haste.
Carmen Delgado Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 We are failing our children and the future of NM.
Chad Donaldson Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-26 Public education is for our children, and it is also an investment to ensure the future success of our communities. Political practices which target education are not only playing games with our children's lives and futures, it's disgustingly immoral and petty. Politicians who, as driven by their ideological extremes, reject the very idea of public education should not be allowed to undermine it at the people's expense. Especially when that means for-profit practices which put authority and privilege in the hands of a few. Martinez has a responsibility because of her position, not a free pass to dismantle anything she pleases. Stop using schools for extremist experiments.
Janet Bellamy Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 Corporate reform is destroying public education. I speak as a retired public school teacher, a parent and a grandparent. I have seen our children being cheated out of a true education for over a decade now, and have seen our best and most dedicated teachers become demoralized to the point that many are leaving the profession.
Jeannette Williams Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I taught in APS for 31 years and strongly believe in Public schools vs private or for profit schools. Public schools make the playing field more even for kids in our society.
Jennifer Bayley Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-26 I believe in education, not in delivering ever increasing numbers of invalid, poorly written, poorly designed tests to our kids.
Russell Woodward Tijeras, NM 2013-10-26 As a New Mexico resident, I believe that these "reforms" are not only attacks on the people of the state, but these will have long-term effects of deterioration of educational purposes in our state.
Jennifer Le Fevre RIO RANCHO, NM 2013-10-26 My children are left feeling like failures and their teachers are powerless.
Ronda Fernandez Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-26 I am a teacher who is not at all happy with the new evaluation system.
Oliver Wendall-Holmes El Prado, VT 2013-10-27 Martinez policies are driving children further into poverty and despair in New Mexico. She has done nothing to strengthen local economies and instead has focused her energy on enabling out of state corporatations to have their way with NM's natural resources and now our CHILDREN! Impeach Gov Martinez!
Audrey Storbeck Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-27 A team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland found that 147 very tightly knit mega-corporations control 40 percent of the entire global economy. What corporations want to control education in New Mexico? I say no.
Anne Manning Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 This is not the way to provide a good education to our children.
Aneile Cummins New Mexico, NM 2013-10-27 My Kids are NOT drones. They need to be creative to learn. Name Location Date Comment
Bill O'Connell albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 The children of New Mexico have been burdened long enough with poor education standards. Turning them into corporate peons is not what America is about-unless corruption of government has captured us all.
Lisa A Rison Paragould, AR 2013-10-27 I used to live in New Mexico and may live there again and I have had very bad experiences with the public school system and the idea that someone with no educational experience or degrees, someone who is a politician pushing some corporate agenda without FIRST asking the people of the state how they would like their children educated is outrageous, ridiculous, and beyond the pale of stupidity.
Laura Bubp Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 As a teacher, I'm concerned that this system is flawed and unfair.
Sarah Burkhalter Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 Reform agenda is not in the best interest of students or teachers or anyone else in the education field. Instead of helping, it is actually HURTING!!! I am a teacher and I have less time to plan for good lessons because I am spending all my time trying to jump through unnecessary hoops that don't have anything to do with my time in the classroom. My students are getting less, I am less effective for all the stress...... stop the bleeding!!
Kathy Gossett Loving, NM 2013-10-27 As a former teacher I know how important is for full corporation of all involved in our children education and the higher-ups that are responsible for our educational decisions should have a background in education will powell Tijeras, NM 2013-10-27 This is clearly an ideological move, and thus despicable.
Kelly McMahan Alameda, NM 2013-10-27 I doubt you'll care what the public thinks but you might want to care about what we think of you as our governor.
Doug Kenfield Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Public education must be responsive to the need for providing high quality educational experiences for all our children. Economic needs should be addressed once the educational needs are identified.
Candace Chavez Caballo, NM 2013-10-27 As an educator of 22+ years and someone that loves to see students and teachers thrive; we are tired of Politics and people who have never stepped foot in a classroom deciding how we need to teach, what we need to teach, what students need to be tested on, and take away from our caring and nurturing classroom environments by stressing out our students and teachers!!!!! nancy brown santa clara, NM 2013-10-27 nancy brown
Tracy Seckler Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I am a teacher who deserves better treatment from PED
Sydney Stenstrom Portales, NM 2013-10-27 Because it sounds like an idiotic and stupid decision.
Suzanna Gurule Albquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I think it is important to reject Skandera's agenda on many levels beginning with that facts that she is not eligible to act in this role, and her failure to improve education in other states precedes her. We must restore teachers to a place of respect based on already proven integrity. Stop making teachers the targets and the scapegoat of social ills.
Darla Reed Portales, NM 2013-10-27 Gov. Martinez/Skandera: To weed out 10% of the teaching population (poorly prepared or incompetent individuals) you're insulting 100% of us.
Jacqueline Sanchez Belen, NM 2013-10-27 Where is the accountability of the students? Hanna Skandera, has no idea how education works. She has never been in a classroom, nor does she have an education degree. There are too many teachers leaving the profession.
Carrie Hernandez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 I AM A PARENT
Barbara Creider Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 Because I am a music teacher, I am evaluated on test scores of students in subjects I do not teach and on how I tailor my lesson plans to test scores I have no access to. Name Location Date Comment
Anita Hernandez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 All teachers are doing is testing, testing, and more testing. Where is the instruction. Why do teachers have to be accountable for test scores on tests that are biased. Dual language programs are being marginalized by the testing craze in English. Bilingualism is important.
Margarita Denevan Arroyo Hondo, NM 2013-10-27 We must protect our educational system from corporate takeover being pushed by Gov. Martinez and Sec.-Designate Skandera
Rhianna Dewa Zuni, NM 2013-10-27 Our state needsto support, respect and be fair to teachers. Those that aren't in the classroom shouldn't be making all these changes and decisions without us! Failed policies aren't going to fix education, the gradin system is setting our children and schools up for failure.
Marilyn Stratton Portales, NM 2013-10-27 After giving thirty-three years of my life to students and education, I have vacated my classroom. Teachers have been set up to fail. The bottom percentages of scores are multiplied while the remaining scores must stand on their own. Students are assumed to be part of an assembly line - as if each one is exactly the same as the other. Teachers are expected to operate as robots. All are to teach the exact same thing at the exact same time in the exact same way. Teachers are "graded" on things beyond their control such as student attendance, student motivation, student test taking ability, etc. Our current system takes eager, bright students who love to come to school - and makes them hate the entire process. Students are pressured about testing. The school year is a series of tests! Teachers have no time to actually teach... because there are so many tests! School is not fun or exciting for anyone anymore, teachers or students. I felt like I had more years to teach and was operating at my prime, yet I could no longer tolerate being seen as a loser or a failure when I spent more and more of my time, money, and energy to try to meet increased demand. The measure of a "good" education isn't a test. If our students leave school and are able to function in society, are employed and paying taxes, and are constructive members of society - then the corroboration of school, family, community, and student was successful.
Nina Bishop Colorado Springs, CO 2013-10-27 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrQbJlmVJZo
Susan Selbin Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Education is the key to our children and our country's futures.
Janis Brock Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I am an educator, parent and grandparent of students in New Mexico Public Schools. I am also against school privatization.
Angela Santos Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I am a school nurse.
JOYELL Green Albuquerque, NY 2013-10-27 Come into my classroom and see the importance!!!
Pam Cordova Belen, NM 2013-10-27 New Mexico children before politics please.
Jared Matts Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I have children in public school in NM. Corporate reforms are about profits, more often than not. My kids' education has nothing to do with profitability.
Lisa Gosper-Espinosa Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-27 I am an instructional coach in the NM public school system and see everyday how teaching and learning is reduced and twisted into hoop-jumping.
Trinidad Tolar Silver City, NM 2013-10-27 Impositions are never good for our democratic system. This imposition is negatively affecting every one in our State.
(The Rev.) Brian McHugh Santa Maria, CA 2013-10-27 Poor or prejudiced education destroys society.
Sarah Haynes, MS Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 There is no equality in these tests. Let's support our kids to love education and not to hate school.
Valerie Kovach Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 Because my students need a REAL future
Allan Wheeler Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-27 Two grand children in school. Daughter is a teacher. Uninvolved/delinquent parents are the main problem. Skandera will not own up to this. Name Location Date Comment
Danaca Doering Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I am a teacher and all of my professional development this year has been about teachscape and this new evaluation system. None of my pd time has has anything to do with making me a better teacher.
Selena Martinez Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 I'm a parent n an educator.
Amy Bartlett Los Alamos, NM 2013-10-27 Strong free education is the only way our society will continue. As it stands right now, we are weakening our educational system by making it a system of hoops to jump through. There will be those few who can jump through those hoops but never be able to reach the students. Stop making this a game of paperwork (which requires much time learning new web systems). Come watch us over an extended amount of time. Connecting humans to impart knowledge is not going to get better by filling in forms, crossing t's and dotting i's. The word people are using on here - "deform" can't be more correct. It's not "reform" when we are spending LESS time learning creative ways to reach our students and more time documenting every step we make.
Dawn Stracener, PhD Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 The voices of teachers, parents and students are not being considered in this plus no consideration for poverty of our students.
Mary Jo Donlan Gallup, NM 2013-10-27 As a 30 year Mid School educator, now-retired, i want the best for the new generations of New Mexico's students.
Nikki Turman Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Because I am a teacher
Marcella Neville Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Children are our future.
Ty Beh Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 Education should not be run by committees-- give teachers a chance to teach and we will all be better off!
Elaine Romero Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 It's time ... FINALLY!
Beth Little Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 We deserve a fair evaluation. We DESERVE to have time to teach our kids. We deserve to be respected as professionals.
Sherry Brown Gilbert, AZ 2013-10-27 Public education funds (my tax dollars) should not be used to line the pockets of privateers who ultimately will never place the best interest of children over their profit motive.
Scott Greene Bernalillo, NM 2013-10-27 Because I see my friends who are excellent veteran teachers spending more time scrambling around writing, reading and posting about everything but what happens in the classroom. They have no time to simply be good teachers anymore with all the assessments and tests. I care about public education, and I fear this is the dismantling of that system for ideological reasons, and about privatizing the system for profit.
Debra Diaz-Sleeter Albq, NM 2013-10-27 Because of the following quote.. .Don't Weigh the Elephant -- Feed the Elephant: Feedback Is Key in Assessment Let's focus on giving kids what they need -- information about their own brains, it turns out.
BY MILTON CHEN
"Here, when we want the elephant to grow, we feed the elephant. We don't weigh the elephant."
Steve Schaffer Socorro, NM 2013-10-27 New Mexico teachers, parents, and quite a few administrators know what's going in in our schools. THEY should lead.
Jessica Linville Jamestown, NM 2013-10-27 We are now the lowest in the country for education. It's poor legislation that is the cause. We need to make decisions based on research! Name Location Date Comment
Peggy McLoughlin bosque Farms, NM 2013-10-27 When teachers aren't given the time and support to adapt to and contribute to needed reform, their frustration is felt by the kids. And I thought that's what reform was all about; helping students, not stressing them out because their teachers are upset or have decided to retire early or even leave (strike)because they are not included in "the fix."
Patricia Coulter Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-27 The secretary of education should be required to have experience in the field of education. I would not tell a banker, doctor, lawyer, or rancher how to do their jobs. I have no experience in these areas. Why should a person with no experience in the classroom or education degree be able to decide the fate of NM students and educators?
Alice Braden Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 It baffles me that districts and schools are required to use quality management techniques, PDSA's, Baldriged etc....but the PED does not have to follow this process. If the PED would have followed any form of quality planning, implementation would have been smooth and would truly have been for improving schools. As it is, I believe it is all about getting ahead politically.
Barry Page Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Because this is about my children's future.
Samuela Gatewood Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 This is important to me because we should be teaching our children not always testing them. It is physically exhausting for my children to test for long periods of time and to not have any of this data benifit my child is rediculious.
Lynn McDonald Roswell, GA 2013-10-27 I really wanted to retire in New Mexico, but there is no way I would ever spend a penny there now! What you are doing to both students and teachers is beyond disgusting.
Jeremy Gatewood Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 This is important to me because we do not need big corperations running our schools, ruining our schools and running our teachers out of town.
Chris Howard Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 I'm an alumni of the New Mexico educational system, so to speak. This completely undermines kids and teens, and especially their teachers.
Robert Lucero Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Skandara is a disgrace to APS and has already ruined the school system in the state of Florida.
Thomas Carlisle Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 because the Koch bros & ALEC want to undermine our government, lock stock & barrel, & they try to do this by pushing legislation like this.
Carole Zibert Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 Children are not a product, and should not be assessed in a business model of reform. Children are human beings!
Dolores Marrujo Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 My daughter is a teacher, and I strongly believe that what the governor and school officials are doing is dishonest and they are bullying the teachers. They talk about no child left behind well that is exactly what the governor and school officials are doing. I believe the governor and school officials should also have their pay and leave cut. The superintendent should be removed, he has not done his job in supporting the teachers that is why the schools are failing.
Cheryl Haynes Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 I'm one of those teachers. Each time a govt. law is passed that makes sweeping changes, the ideas are often good, but they're never planned out properly, and rarely, if ever funded. It causes stress and in recent events, threats to strike.
Debbie Willis Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 Because I am an SLP working with many wonderful APS teachers and I don't like what PED is doing.
Cheryl L Routson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 The children of this state deserve a completely unabridged education...not one that suits one persons or partys agenda ... Name Location Date Comment
Anita Lewis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Public schools need to be kept strong. This involves honoring teachers and supporting them in their difficult jobs. The PED's teacher evaluation plan does the opposite. Stop using tax dollars to pay for non researched corporate plans that appear to be trying to kill the public schools so you can introduce private voucher plans into the system. Of course private schools can look like they are doing better - on paper. They do not have to take every child. They can pick and choose the best and the brightest students! Public schools must take everyone - special ed, students with disturbed behaviors, severely handicapped students, etc. Wake up and do what's best for New Mexico. Fire Hannah Skandera. She does not have the necessary teaching license or experience or the knowledge of New Mexico to do a good job!
CS Symington Austin, TX 2013-10-27 Don't let a corporate entity from another State try to tell you how and what to teach the kids who grow up in NM.
David Rose Tijeras, NM 2013-10-27 The teachers we have are a product of the system that they work within. The best way to get better teachers is to change the system to enable them to be their best selves. That means more freedom, pay, resources, support, and most of all respect. It is my sincerest hope that the addressed recipients of this letter show an ounce of respect for the hardest profession that every idiot out there thinks they could do.
Myriam Torres Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-27 This is not the legacy of the first woman and Latina for the future of NM children, isn't it?
Sandra Partridge Jemez Springs, NM 2013-10-27 Am retired from education and cannot believe this where we are now
Melissa Blaine Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 I am an educator with APS with 22 years of experience at Middle, High School and Community college levels. I would like to be heard by our Governor on the issue of educating our children since it is my profession and I am highly qualified in my field. I do not feel I have had a say in any of the mandates handed down by the PED via the Governor. I work at least 10-15 extra hours a week beyond my duty day and pay rate for the kids of my classes. I am not fairly compensated , yet I do it for the kids. Now that these mandates have come down on us (the teachers) this school year I am at a breaking point. I am exhausted daily and yet I am still arriving early and leaving late each day with my common core lesson plans in hand...teaching with dignity. I would like to be respected by my Governor and the community of NM for the job I do each day. This is impossible when it has become a political game with high stakes testing, corporations taking money away from the classroom, demoralizing and unfair evaluation system and absolutely no training or compensation for the extra work required of me as a professional. lisa friedman albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 Over-testing hurts our kids! Teachers need to have time to teach.
Janita Fitz Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-27 I am an educator in NM and am watching the devastation being wrought by these changes. Our NM student body is losing valuable educational time, while our teachers are being forced to implement a curriculum that was taken at face value as a cure-all to what Skandera perceives as the problems with education in NM. The greatest problem with education in NM is that we are being led by individuals who do not appear to have the best interest of our students at heart.
Karen Hamilton T or C, NM 2013-10-27 As an educator, this affects ME!
Jana Price Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-27 f
Paul Alexander Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-28 There are kids' lives at take here. jerome shea albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 The State Legislature DID pass a teacher evaluation system. THE GOVERNOR vetoed it. Name Location Date Comment
Beatriz Pedraza Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-28 Our children are our future. Our kids future doesn't solely depend one person. Parents, teachers, schools, have a input in our children's future.
Juanita J. Lavadie Santa Cruz, NM 2013-10-28 Teaching and school effectiveness have really gone through a decline this year. There is no time for REAL teaching. Instead, we are wasting time and energy on superimposed protocols that are diminishing the morale of teachers, students, and parents.
Roma Marquez Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-28 Tired of seeing our kids being tested too much.
Christian Coulter Truth or Consequences, 2013-10-28 I am a Senior fighting for education reforms for the younger generations. NM
Heidi Brandon Clovis, NM 2013-10-28 First and foremost because I am a mom of three and am saddened by the state of our education system in New Mexico. Secondly I have many friends who are teachers and they are ALL feeling extremely discouraged to the point of wanting to quit teaching altogether because of what our ridiculous government has placed on their shoulders
Sarah Cornell South Ogden, UT 2013-10-28 Having been a former employee of APS, I know the extreme stress that teachers are constantly put under, not only by the already heavy weight of the job itself, but also by the state government, namely Hanna Skandera trying to "reform" state education. I agree that the state of education in NM is startling. The person in Skandera's role needs to find a way to support the teachers striving to better the communities in their state rather than causing them more pain.
Karan Thorne Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 You don't inspire students with massive testing demands, and you don't inspire teachers with punitive and intimidating "evaluation" methods! betsy taylor Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-28 Because corporations shouldn't be part of our children's education decisions.
Debra Ellison Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-28 Dear Governor : These men and women are teachers by choice. They believe in our children! Please listen to them. What is being done to our children and our teachers is wrong !!!
Melia Lucero Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 Because Governor Martinez needs to realize that is NOT helping our children and is, in fact, HURTING our children!!
Karen Mings Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 The testing obsession is dehumanizing education and has the worst impact on the neediest children!
Autumn Taylor Roseburg, OR 2013-10-28 My sister who is a teacher in New Mexico who cares extremely about her students feels overwhelmed with the requirements that are counter productive to actually teaching her kids.
BarbaraRose Farber Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-28 New Mexico's children deserve the best education, YOU CAN MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE IT
Katie Robert Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-28 The people who deal with the kids and understand what they can and cannot do, and how best to educate them should be the ones involved in this, not someone who is an outsider and who is not familiar with NM schools, students, teachers, and parents.
Monica Mojica Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-28 Shame on you profits at the expense of our children.
Karla Gade Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 I teach in NM, and the 'reforms' are destined to fail while killing teachers.
Janet Yates Los Lunas, NM 2013-10-28 As a retired public school teacher, I feel too much time is spent preparing for and taking standardized tests. Especially for kids with learning problems, this is so detrimental to their mastery of important content.There is only so much time in a class! Name Location Date Comment
Nadine Sandoval Deming, NM 2013-10-28 This Is very important ot me because I feel our educational system is Governed by people who are inexperienced and have never taught or stepped foot in a classroom setting in different areas around the state of New Mexico. I have a personal stake as I still have 2 children in school and one of whom is and has been a 4.0 student or better his whole school career and now he may not get a High School Diploma because he did not pass of a portion of the SBA. I have been collaborating with other parents and students around the state and in our community to find that there are many students in this situation. I feel that this will have a negative affect on our schools as at risk students feel there is no need to continue attending school if they do not have a chance to graduate they are saying they will just drop out and get their GED. I have two other children who did not have to undergo such testing and who are now very sucessful adults one is a nurse and the other manages a major restuarant chain. I think we as parents and I know our children are very tired of being taught to the test.
Bryan Blaine Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 My mother is currently and has been a teacher for 22 years in New Mexico. I can no longer tolerate the pain and struggle that she has gone through. She is an amazing teacher and has accomplished many great teaching feats. Please end this madness.
Kati Eddy El Prado, NM 2013-10-28 As a former teacher and the holder of a Master's Degree in Education, I have seen too many politically motivated schemes in our public schools. Educated people need to make the decisions about how to best educate our future!
Silvina Farmin Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 Because it is maddness and will cause more kids to drop out
Linda Ortega Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 Current plan discourages great teachers from working in low income schools with the students that most need them.
Linda Wiener Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-28 Corporate education is bad for our kids and bad for our democracy and bad for our pocket books.
Nelleka Sims Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 I am a teacher, and this system is only designed to punish teachers, not help kids. Our focus should be on the students.
Mark Bolinger Alamogordo, NM 2013-10-28 Teachers are being asked to do more and more work off the clock which has nothing to do with actual classroom teaching. We are going to lose a lot of teacher this year if this doesn't change.
Ricky Adams Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-28 Because it is unfair and not good for students.
Anthony Bartley Farmington, NM 2013-10-28 I am an educator and worry about the direction education is taking. Kids are human beings, not numbers.
Sharon Morgan Silver City, NM 2013-10-28 The plan omits an important part of a child's education- the parents. Without their support & encouragement how can kids expect to do well. The big question- how to get all parents involved?
Clarissa Gannon Wlbuqueruque, NM 2013-10-28 I have children enrolled in APS.
Christina Vigil Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 I was a teacher, I am a parent, and I am married to a teacher. Our students' futures are worth more than a test score and government bureaucracy.
Myra Pizzo Hobbs, NM 2013-10-29 I am a first grade teacher who is ready to retire because there is too much paperwork. I just want to teach!!
Linda Hudson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 I believe teaching/learning improvement is necessary in New Mexico. However, I do not believe the Skandera/Martinez model will work. I know that the over emphasis on test scores in not appropriate for children, youth or teachers and is counterproductive. I am very concerned about the future of public education in New Mexico. Name Location Date Comment
Kaua Matthews Belen, NM 2013-10-29 I'm a teacher who is directly affected by this. I would just like to be able to teach, and these reforms take away from my students.
Cheryl Leung Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 I have a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and have worked at one of the top R&D firms in the country. I left engineering and entered teaching in the hopes that I would be able to engage more female students in math and science. I have been selected as a winning teacher in MIT's Lure of the Labyrinth Challenge for the work that my students did and the work I did with innovative ways to engage students in deep mathematical thinking. This current approach to education places so much emphasis on test taking (and spends so many days on it) that real education suffers. It places so much pressure on teachers that they can not risk thinking outside the box in order to engage students. It is going to have a very negative impact on math and science education in this state. It is already difficult to get people qualified to teach these subject areas because they can make so much more money in other ways. You are now asking that they do it while denigrating them in addition to grossly underpaying them for their knowledge and skill. People with a strong background in math and science have other more lucrative options and the current environment makes it very unlikely that they will choose to teach. The outcome of that for the future of education in this state and this country is truly frightening.
Mary Kathryn Brudos Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 The new evaluation system is not a fair assessment of teachers. Good teachers are going to leave the profession to seek employment where they are treated like the professionals that they are. Teachers would never evaluate students the way that the PED is evaluating teachers. Why won't Governor Martinez or Hanna Skandera discuss this matter with teachers and the general public? Emails have gone unanswered. Why are public officials not accountable to the people they are supposed to represent?
Valerie Gonzales Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-29 Children deserve better!
Tammy Brandfas Maxwell, NM 2013-10-29 To me, Common Core isn't education but indoctrination and CC is political not about my child.
Felix Arenas Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-29 I, as a parent of five children in New Mexico, do not agree with the common core curriculum. It has been the agenda of the liberal left to take away the right of the people to choose for themselves. That is why I am signing this petition. I would have you also know that my children are no longer in public school because of this. We are home schooling our children. Sincerely, Felix Arenas III.
Barb Turiciano Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 I'm a teacher. Evaluate me ANYTIME! Spend DAYS in my classroom! BUT PLEASE DON'T tie my evaluation to student test scores.
Maureen Olson Dulce, NM 2013-10-29 We have to be the voice for Kids. Their concerns are ignored by law makers.
D. Shawn Hunton Portales, NM 2013-10-29 I am receiving a Graduate degree in education and standardized testing is an unfair practice, not to a little for teachers but much for the kids. patricia studdard colorado springs, CO 2013-10-29 Some of my best and closest friends are educators!!
Jayme Hawks Williamsburg, NM 2013-10-29 I have 3 boys in school in New Mexico and what the Education Department is doing to our kids is wrong. I have a boy with a learning disability and it is not fair what the Governor is putting him through!
Rebecca Diaz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 I believe in teachers.
Karen Harlos Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 I teach students at CNM who are working towards certification in elementary ed. Enough said, yes? Name Location Date Comment
Russell Gilbert Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-29 When did education evolve into teaching a student how to take a test rather than how to critically examine the facts and form a hypothesis of study? Our schools have become nothing more than a factory turning out worker drones for the world to use as it wills. Without the ability to form original thought or to understand the reasoning behind systematic process or intellectual capacity to question the established authority that perpetuates the increasing ignorance of our students, the future is a bleak prospect.
Carrie Rogers Farmington, NM 2013-10-30 This is important to me because I don't understand how the wide ranging changes that are being implemented are going to help our students. It isn't a model based on any classroom research or experience that I have gained in 12 years of teaching in a classroom. chad chappelle albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 We need accountability within our governers and we need to know our families are in there best interests.
Sage Herrick Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 I am a New Mexico Student and I have experienced failed education reforms.
Jennifer Young Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 I am a teacher and while the evaluation by the principals is okay, tying my evaluation to whether this years class increased over last years class is ludicrous. Figure out something else that compares apples to apples, not apples to bacon.
Erin Lujan Santa Fe, NM 2013-10-30 I'm a former educator and it sickens me to see what's happening in our public school.
Sally Hale Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 I care about the future of education
Victor De La Cruz Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 Its because of the kids we do all of this, not for ourselves!!!!
Kenneth Sherrell Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 I feel attacks on public schools are ongoing, destructive to our schools and nation, and politically motivated. walter snyder Corrales, NM 2013-10-30 Real Education is more important than politics.
Jeff Thompson Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 As a product of several years of APS education and a concerned citizen, I am seriously concerned about what this flawed plan may do to the state's education systems.
Susan McCosker Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 1. No privatizing of Public Schools 2. Teacher "success" can be manipulated by personal animosity or views.
Deborah Miller Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 over testing has got to stop leticia trujillo rio rancho, NM 2013-10-30 My daughter is a teacher...my grandchildren are students
Obie Braddock Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 My wife is a wonderful teacher who got a bad score because her administrator was upset with her and her class
Amy Ewing Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-30 I am a virtual teacher. You wish to base my pay on evaluations, yet no evaluation rubric has even been developed for online learning. Also, how can you base my credibility on surveys when my students are from 5 different schools? This whole thing needed more consideration......
Kathleen Schneider Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 The reform Agenda is not good practice for children. daniel kennerly Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-30 I got out of retail to teach because I was sick of dealing with corporations.
Roald Lutz Sandia Park, NM 2013-10-31 I have children in NM schools (one each in public, charter, and private). I don't see how the school grading system, the current teacher grading system, or common core will improve the learning experiene of NM children.
Kenneth Hargis Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 This type of reform doesn't serve our children, or our teachers. The parents, teachers, school boards, etc, have a bigger stake and a larger right to determine such policies than this reform allows. Name Location Date Comment
Joanne Calkins Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 As a retired teacher, I deplore the idea of grading schools A-F. How will this help the schools who have the most difficult students? It will not, it will only cause they to feel more hopeless. Demoralizing teachers. Good teaching means taking students and teachers from where they are to the goal without blame and with lots of encouragement and extra attention. Skandera does not seem to have any idea how to teach successfully.
Mary Hartley Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 I was trained and practice evidence based assessment with children that I teach. I also do not agree with a corporate model in public education. I believe that Hannah Skandera and Susanna Martinez are trying to destroy public education in NM. Hannah Skandera is not qulaified to mandate her plan that is neither evidence-based nor sound public planning for education. In addition, this administration did not follow the lawful process nor did they include qualified educators administrators, parents or the community in any way.
Mary Gagliardi Mauldin, SC 2013-10-31 Because my nephew, son and wife live in NM andinvolvedin education.
Sheila Wilkins Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 It is ridiculous of what the governor is doing to the teachers. Implement it slowly, don't make our teachers want to leave and go to other states. I have seen many do that because they are better paid and have better support for teaching.
Mike Stang Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 I am a teacher!
Armida Carbajal Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Skandera's agenda is the most scientifically unsubstantiated initiative. "Get rid of bad teachers based on student's standardized test scores." Right? Because bad teachers are the only reason student's perform poorly. It has nothing to do with our NM kids being sleep deprived because they play a parental role at home, hungry, and impoverished.
Robb Janov Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 I am a public school teacher. Under this new system, I have noticed that I have to pay much more attention to adults (evaluators and others who spend little or no time in the classroom). That is time and energy that my students need.
Michael Carrillo Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-31 We need an educator to head the PED not a political manager for business.
Edward Bortot Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 I am a school administrator and support my students and teachers and this new evaluation takes away from the problem we all face as administrators, poverty.
Kathy McKim Bloomfield, NM 2013-10-31 Kids need accurate goals that they can see and understand. Subjective grading on a number scale isn't giving the kids a goal they can reach.
Colombe Leland Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Children and their education are the future -- if we want a better future, we must give children only the best. nina ferrell Sandia Park, NM 2013-10-31 I just recently graduated form high school, I would be nowhere with out my dedicated teachers that I had through out my public school career. They do so much for our community now its time for the community to give back.
Gabriel Gonzales Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-31 I believe in strategic, research based planning for our children.
Frances Draper Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 We need to stand by our teachers and stop with all the changes.
Randy Lovato Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Educating our children should not be a profit generating venture.
Andrew Miesem Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Education is the future of our nation, and by destroying our teachers' ability to do their job, you destroy our country. This short-sighted drive for greater corporate profits must stop.
CINDY MCKINNEY LAS CRUCES, NM 2013-10-31 Politicians have no idea what it is like at the classroom level yet they make decisions. Talk to reliable teachers that put the kids first such as Amy Ewing in Las Cruces or Jason McKinney in Bosque Farms. They are in the trenches. They have valuable input on matters that that even administration can not offer. Name Location Date Comment
Jonathan Johnson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-10-31 We are sacrificing our kids' education for profit. When the governor ran for office, her platform was to stop corruption. This is corruption at the highest level. She should be ashamed. Furthermore, she appointed an Education Secretary who is not qualified or fit for her job. Do what right for our children. Stop this crazy Tea party agenda. It's not good for our country. See you at the next election
Kassie Bigham Hobbs, NM 2013-10-31 I am a first year teacher, and the treat of being negatively evaluated makes me second guess my career choice.
Deborah Schultz Las Cruces, NM 2013-10-31 This is impacting teachers and students in a negative fashion. Our top students are overwhelmed with all of the assessments and it is creating a negative, unsuccessful and fearful feeling by our average and lower leve students.
Elaine Holliday Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Because I'm a teacher! I believe that it's important to have the most effective, highly qualified teachers available in classrooms. This evaluation is going to drive THOSE teachers out of the profession! This evaluation has been placed in the hands of administrators who are not qualified, or ethical, enough to use it honestly. At our school it's being used as a tool to retaliate against any teacher who has ever questioned or stood up for something. I've had a stellar career for 25+ years - until our current administration joined us four years ago. Now I'm being rated ineffective because my evaluator, our asst. principal, decided my math review was "too long". I'm also ineffective because she only saw me teach ten minutes of a math lesson, so therefore I "didn't teach the lesson." Which I did. Our math block is split and I finished the lesson after the students returned from recess - which is 30 minutes of math time. My observation was over by then, so the asst. prin. didn't observe me teaching it. There are several of us, all older, teachers, who are being found ineffective for things that are absolutely not reflective of effective teaching. We aren't given the opportunity at our post-observation to present input or have questions answered. Is this truly how this evaluation is intended to be used? Please...someone give me an answer to this question!!!
Jane Evans-Sellers New Braunfels, TX 2013-10-31 I am a former educator in the New Mexico schools. I believe that the needs of the students should be placed above any political profiling.
Cathy Gutierrez-Gomez Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Because I believe in quality education for young children and not in tests that are questionable or useless.
Stephen VESPER Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Do not destroy the diversity of student learning, and support the classroom teachers.
Robert Baca Albuquerque, NM 2013-10-31 Parent and NM resident with concerns regarding changes to educational system in NM
Patricia Gardner Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-01 There is too much testing. It takes away from learning and is not good for students or teachers.
Laura Castille Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-01 I don't believe that more testing and more teacher evals will help kids.
Linda Baldock Clovis, NM 2013-11-01 Would you place yourself under the knife of a "surgeon" who'd only read about performing an operation? Get rid of this person who has no true knowledge of what it means to be an educator. Our children deserve more.
Divyesh Patel Rio Rancho, NM 2013-11-01 The teacher evaluation system is flawed on so many fronts, it is not even funny. It is UNFAIR to teachers and to STUDENTS. Please think about making data- based decisions that affect our students. Board Member, Rio Rancho Public Schools and a Parent.
Julia Reynolds Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 I am a teacher and I do not agree with what has been said and passed by the state.
Kelly Hart Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 This evaluation system is not a valid measure of a teacher. Name Location Date Comment
Christine Anderson Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 As a teacher, I am very confused and frustrated by the new evaluation system. First of all, I get the impression that the specifics of how some of the aspects of this evaluation works have not be explained or even established at this point (eg. how exactly student evaluations of each teachers will be taken and accurately reflect specific teachers). Also, until I can control the life my students have outside of this building, I CANNOT solely be held accountable for their learning. I teach kids that have been beaten, have been molested, do not get to eat, and do not have to go to bed (some that don't have one). Many of my students have parents on drugs, in jail, or are being raised by someone else. They are broken and the last thing they worry about is my class. I do what I can to help when I can, but now I am to be held accountable for their learning without any of these other factors considered? It is now my fault if they are behind. I also teach students that having learning disabilities; twelve-year-olds that can not read. I feel like I am able to help them and form a working teacher/student relationship with them. I know I teach them, but since they are disabled and can not achieve as high as others, my efforts count against me. And now, the threat of my pay being taken away for this looms in the distance, hurting my family and my kids. No, this is not right. I am a good teacher and I feel like I am having to fight to prove this with this new system.
Kelly Stone farmington, NM 2013-11-01 Skandera is not even eligible to hold her position. Why is a non teacher in this position? And if she cannot even explain her testing formula and grading system to us, how can we be held accountable to it?
Syd DiChiara Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-01 I'm a teacher at a school that uses project-based learning. It's showing data- driven results in a short period of time and yet, all these new tests are starting to put pressure on us to conform to a more prescriptive & traditional model, even though project-based learning is WORKING!!!
Karen Langowski Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-01 Education should be non-profit!
Katrina Garcia Spillman Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-01 Basing teacher evaluations and pay on a failing system does not evaluate them on their talents as a teacher but rather on a system that fails them and their students. It is unfair and does nothing to better educate our youth.
Dana Bradley Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 I don't feel my pay should be based on my evaluation when parents are not being held accountable for their own children's grades. When the parents pay reflects their child's grades, then my pay can also reflect that.
Jerome Boushee Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 As a teacher, I think the kids should come first, not the corporate agendas.
Gina Jones Waterflow, NM 2013-11-01 I'm a teacher and I want to be accountable for things I can change - not things I have no control over. Why not hold parents accountable instead of teachers??
Scott Triplett Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 I am a teacher with 15 years of experience. I am sick of corporations dictating education policy. It is in their financial interest to make sure the public believes our schools are failing. It's a lie. Our schools are doing a good job with the resources they are given. Get the private, for-profit companies OUT of public education, and start giving government education positions to people with experience in schools.
Emily Archuleta Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-01 Iam a concerned parent of a special education student that is a senior this year and is unable to meet the standards due to his learning disability.
Dena Burgert Bloomfield, NM 2013-11-01 Unfair evaluation process Name Location Date Comment
Suzanne Holman Farmington, NM 2013-11-01 This system runs contrary to all of the professional background training and experience I have. It is state-centered, not student-centered and its randomizing of data collection strategies takes away from the most important focus of teaching - making time for relationships with students, colleagues and co-developing curriculum that is interesting and enriching regardless of standards and benchmarks. You can't replicate one teacher and make her/him fit into one "type" or "style". Individuality and appealing to the strengths rather than the weaknesses of schools is motivating, not punitive.
Cathy Goodman Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 I am a retired teacher and very upset with the testing mentality that has invaded this state.
Erin Taylor Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-02 I want the future of my profession and the education of my children to be decided by educators, not political outsiders.
Linda Bell Plymouth, MN 2013-11-02 I am an educator and can see how corporate reform measures are ruining public education.
Sandy Marquez Moriarty, NM 2013-11-02 New Mexico's students and teachers are more than test scores.
Michael Sisneros Tijeras, NM 2013-11-02 Because I have seen what it's doing to our teachers and students.
Maria Shelley Santa Teresa, NM 2013-11-02 There's too much power for bureaucrats. The individual school districts should decide how to make their schools better. Let's do some common sense reforms. My grandchildren are in Albuquerque schools. I want government to stay out of education.
Alicia Noedel Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 A future teacher with a child in public schools. I'm sick of my child being constantly tested and teachers who are forced to teach to the test.
Quilimaca Padilla Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 I'm a teacher.
Adrian Avila Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 Improving the education of New Mexico's children needs to be a priority that is solved through community involvement, research based evidence methods, and through support of those entrusted to educate the youth. Alienating any of these three sectors destroys any hope of progress.
Deb S Rockville, MD 2013-11-02 The American education system is being overrun by administrators with NO actual teaching experience and it needs to stop yesterday. Our children are suffering and the stage is being set for an extreme shortage of teachers in the near and long terms as teachers leave the field in droves. NM has the power to stop this travesty from happening to the children there by acting NOW.
Suzanne Beeman Shiprock, NM 2013-11-02 education decisions should not be made on the basis of profit!!! There is a difference between economizing for budgetary needs and profit gains through exploitation.
Polly Hirtzel-Ward Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-02 As a retired teacher, I participated in the abusive and ridiculous 6-day marathon testing of NMSBA and saw its deleterious effects on third graders. They are not machines to be filled with "knowledge" in factories!
Rebecca Hartley Cedar Crest, NM 2013-11-02 NM children our are future.
Jorge Alarcon Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 Those making the laws (meaning, those who are not in the classroom everyday) have no idea of how much testing our students have to endure! Clueless! As a technology teacher, part of my evaluation will be based on student test scores...scores of students I do not teach, or will ever teach!
Heather Taylor Farminton, NM 2013-11-02 Great teachers are FLEEING the profession
Suzette Stephens Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-02 Because my mom is a teacher for New Mexico and what our governor is doing to our teachers is ridiculous. Education is extremely important and those who teach deserve better. Our governor would not be where she is without them, so why not show a little respect for them? Name Location Date Comment
Tania Ramalho Oswego, NY 2013-11-02 My grandson is a New Mexican. I do not want him to learn from corporations. I want him to have a LIVE education not a dead one... Corporate policies kill what is human in us!
Carolyn Brown Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 I have grandkids in this system.
Bobby Barnhill Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 I have grandchildren and grandchildren in the public school system and I do not feel this change is LEGAL or the right option for our children.
Michele Cravens Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 I have children in APS and I care about our future.
Tiska Blankenship Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 I believe that corporatizing the education system will destroy it.
Jennifer Johns Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 We want to retain our best and brightest teachers! peter butterfield albuquerque, NM 2013-11-02 we need less students in classrooms, new books and enough supplies for the teachers and students
Yuvonnia Owen Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 I am a retired educator with 30 years in the public schools. They are the biggest enabler of democracy. Public are essential if we want equality and justice for all citizens.
Lois St. John Belen, NM 2013-11-03 Children do not learn at the same rate. Good teachers know this and work individually with individual children to help each one be all they can be. What test does that? How can filling in paperwork up the wazoo help the teacher?
Retha Thompson Deltona, FL 2013-11-03 I am a retired education, my daughter is a teacher, I have four grandchildren in public school.
Ed Frank Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-03 Reforms that originate from the state capital rarely have a positive impact on children and education james montoya caballo, NM 2013-11-03 My children attend public school and are directly affected.
Sarah Stevens-Miles Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 Need better schools for our kids
Michael Huston Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 I believe we need reform, but it needs to be organized through the people that are in "the trenches", who have experience and understanding of what is really going on in our schools. How we can better reach kids is not through more testing. It is through developing strategies to serve the number of kids we get in our schools.
Heidi Sims Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 People who have no educational degrees or experience should not be setting Educational policy. This matter should be brought to a vote by the people.
Sandra Walker Elephant Butte, NM 2013-11-03 We have children and grand children . They are the future.
Kristine Olson Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 When teachers are not making the instructional decisions because everything is determined by a for profit corporation, democracy as we know it will end.
Penny Burns Carlsbad, NM 2013-11-03 If you have not taught in a classroom and worked with students and parents, you do not understand what teachers deal with every day. To place an unqualified and untrained person as the head of the State Department of Education is an insult to teachers who have spent years training and working with students in the classroom. One test does not give a balanced evaluation of a student, a teacher, a school, or a school district.
Joanne Eekhoff Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 I want my child to educated by teachers who have time plan for teaching/not only testing and documenting tests ron saberton ft myers, FL 2013-11-03 A corporat driven education is probably the worst education a child can get in the US. There is more to life than profit. Name Location Date Comment
Jacqueline Sanchez Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-03 I'm a junior in high school, studying extensively for the ACT and SAT. The reforms that Ms. Skandera and Governor Martinez wish to impose, take away from my instruction time and hinder my ability to pass these tests; tests that will determine the quality of college that I attend. Miss Skandera and Governor Martinez are robbing me of a quality education, and therefore, negatively impacting the course of my life. These women have no classroom experience, and yet, they insist that they know what's best when it comes to my education. They're wrong. I insist that this 'reform' is stopped.
Sandra Duckert Corrales, NM 2013-11-03 As a long time educator and researcher in the global economy and education, I know these changes to be bad for students and bad for the future of New Mexico. I have no confidence in MS Skandera's plans from my own experience and research. I've seen these sorts of plans fail in too many places. Please do not support her proposals. Education is not a commodity.
Michelle Fonseca Rio Rancho, NM 2013-11-03 teacher and parent
Cristina Gonzalez El Paso, TX 2013-11-03 I work with New Mexico's school teachers and understand the pressures put on by outside sources.
Andrew Gomolak JR Alamogordo, NM 2013-11-03 We the people, NOT corporate-would-be-school-owners, plan and pay for our children's educations through local democracy. Gov Martinez, take your "business model" back to Texas where ignorance is highly valued.
Laura Ramsey Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-03 A changewithout practicality or buy in will run off good teachers and discourage other good teachers to join the fied.
Nathan Thompson Farminngton, NM 2013-11-03 Education is an ART and a SCIENCE. The corporate model eliminates teachers' ability to be artists. And that is killing our efforts to keep and recruit more starving artists on school payrolls. The scientists can make double their salary -- if they only thing they wanted to do was the science of teaching. Artists (as teachers) need the freedom to be teachers.
Regina Benavidez Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-03 Enough is enough, stop pushing good teachers into other professions
Lynn Clark Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 I am a teacher who wants to teach my kids not test them constantly.
Donna Linnens Farmington, NM 2013-11-03 There are too many variables based on a teacher's pay. Why don't we start determining the Mayor's salary based on employment, homelessness, and crime.
Jennifer Hank Aztec, NM 2013-11-03 Teachers need to be held accountable, but the new evaluation is not the way.
Nancy Valdez Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-03 I am a teacher and I am very concern with the future of our students. Also I do not agree with the new evaluation system, it is unjust in so many ways.
Angela Holt Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-03 These evaluations are bogus. Additionally, we need to let our teachers do their jobs and stop mandating test after test. That's as much as I'll say for now.
Winnie Quinzi Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-04 Having taught in New Mexico for 20 years, I watched the quality of our education decline. In the 90s, teachers taught according to individual needs, interests, and gave students a well-rounded education. In the 2000s, increasingly teachers were put into cookie cutter mode, testing rather than teaching, buying into business models of what is efficient, and listening to educational consultants working for the testing and publishing companies. Kids need to learn with joy, using appropriate methods and treated as individuals.
Peter Lukes Corrales, NM 2013-11-04 Our state deserves evaluation systems for students and teachers that are research based, effective and holistic.
Buena Kaylor Belen, NM 2013-11-04 The CCSS asks that our youngest, most vulnerable students to achieve goals that are not age or developmentally appropriate. As a teacher, I spend hours and hours completing paperwork that is required for my evaluation but does nothing to improve my teaching. Name Location Date Comment
Barbara Creider Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-04 I'm an elementary music teacher. 35% of my rating is based on test scores in subjects I don't teach. My elementary music students will be tested in an end of year computer administered test (yet to be written by the way) to see if I am competent. My students sing, dance, move, play instruments and put on programs. Somehow a computer administered test is going to measure this? And I don't get to know in advance what will be tested. If I am doing my job right, my students will know the answers, I guess. Art and Physical Education will be the same.
Laurence Creider Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-04 Because I care about the future, and the current NM PED is destroying the education of our children.
Louella Wilburn Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-04 Educators, parents, and other interested persons need to be involved with the education of our NM children.
Chris Garcia Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-04 I am an employee of NM Public Schools.
John Cao Alamogordo, NM 2013-11-04 "Reform" is taking away teaching time from our kids.
Jamie Patterson Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-04 My future as an educator depends on it.
Erica Manteufel Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-04 Testing used to measure the progress of student vs student. Not be used as a promotional or graduation tool. That's what final exams are for. We have gotten caught up in an EOC exam testing issue because my son was sick last year during testing. Now he must take the tests 6 months later. While he has SAT scores high enough to pass, they refuse to use them until he has physically taken the test. Why and who is getting the kickback from our kids having to take these tests?
Jeanette Wauneka Farmington, NM 2013-11-04 Too much testing and time is taken away from real learning.
Martha Johns Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-04 I have two children in NM public schools. This corporate reform model does NOTHING to improve their educational experience and EVERYTHING to make it worse by alienating our best educators!
Marianne Barnes Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-04 We need to put children and teachers first and not support a punitive model based on an ill-conceived conceptual base. Teachers need to be treated as the professionals that they are.
Robert Pierce Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-04 I want to improve education and allow more autonomy of instruction to teachers, who are the ones who work with the students on a daily basis.
Nancy Salazar Alb, NM 2013-11-04 I agree with petition. New Mexico childrens educational best interests are not represented by the current educational secretary and her superior.
Allison Dunn Tijeras, NM 2013-11-04 Education is the foundation to all moral virtue, civility, justice, economic growth and progress. Stop throwing money away to testing companies and start investing in our actual students.
Gary Grammer Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-05 Public Schools need to stay public, not corpoate or political!
Jennifer Mickelsen Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 My child's education is important to me and so are her teachers.
Jan D'Anza Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 This is not good for our students!
Rochelle Jake Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 I feel this is NOT fair to my students within APS.. It has to go.. STOP the NM Public Ed Dept Corp PROFITEERING!!
Orion McNeal Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 Because this is hurting New Mexico's School system, our Teacher's, and most Importainly our kids.
Nancy Caldwell Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 I am concerned for my grandchildren and my many friends who are teachers who are unable to do their job, because of testing!!! Stop this madness!!! Name Location Date Comment
Elizabeth Bontly Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 My son, a freshman at Eldorado High School has great difficulty taking written tests and I feel it is almost certain he will not graduate under the new standards. Also, as a former substitute in the public schools I know many outstanding teachers and principals who are alarmed that much time will be devoted to tests over teaching, and that 50% of teacher evaluations will be based on student test performance. I wouldn't want a teacher to lose her job because a student like my son did not perform well enough on a written standardized test issued by the state.
Mikki Chavez Tijeras, NM 2013-11-05 My senior has worked so hard to meet the standard graduation requirements only to be told that since he did not pass the SBA (a test he couldn't even study for) he will not receive a diploma and therefore his dream of joining the US Military will not come true. It is s a shame the Martinez, whom I voted for but will never vote for again, can dare to force this down my child’s throat. Stop using my child as a weapon to fight NM’s teachers.
Marilyn Urenda Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-05 I do not appreciate testing my children 26 days out of the school year!!!! That is over a month of actual school days!!! How can a teacher improve learning when so much standardized testing is required? We never have money to pay teachers a decent salary; however, we have millions of dollars to over test our children?! Or, why not use that money to help feed children who are in poverty because they sure as heck can't eat the dots on those ridiculous, over- abundance of standardized tests!!
Catherine Keller Albuququerque, NM 2013-11-06 From what I have researched, the agenda doesn't seem to be working and in fact it has a wake of disgruntled APS staff everywhere I look. Cathy
Sandra Hoge Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-06 I am concerned about the education my grandchildren will receive. They have amazing teachers right now, who would be welcome to teach at a private school or could possibly leave the state. This would be a loss for all of us.
James Hoge Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-06 Do not use our kids as pawns in your education reform plan.
Orpha Silva Gonzalez Bayard, NM 2013-11-06 As a retired teacher, I would like to see people in the State Board of Education who truly represent all who are in the Education field: students/teachers in an equal level. Teachers are not being heard nor understood in many occasions. There has to be a better way to have accountability from all groups in educations. Administrators are a part of how instruction is implemented so expect equal accountability from them too. Ms. Skandera has no clue what goes on in a classroom. Students are being enabled when it comes to lack of respect to a teacher/administrator. The student climate is not to learn but to come in and prove their rebellious demeanor deriving at home. Help the teachers and don't expect a teacher to teach, test, counsel, nurse, babysit, test and test. Let teachers do what they are hired to do: TEACH, INSTRUCT, implement EDUCATION! It is not enjoyable to teach anymore. With all due respect.
Jay Johnson Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-06 It is important that public education remain in the public sector, not converted to a cash cow for an industry sucking down our tax dollars to fatten their bottom line.
Rebecca Horne Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-06 This is important to me because I AM A TEACHER and I am angry, discouraged, and defeated. Every single day I try to my job well and while also trying to figure out how any person in the PED thinks this "system" is a logical, fair, or REALISTIC way of evaluating educators!
Michelle Tye Elephant Butte, NM 2013-11-06 Teachers don't have time to teach or plan lessons because all we do is test and collect data and analyze it!
Joshua Harwood Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-06 Our kids do need to learn how to be corporate cogs, they need to learn so we can expand and move forward! Name Location Date Comment
Jessica Silbert Tampa, FL 2013-11-06 I am also a teacher and want to support the NM teachers any way I can. I
Stephanie Nakhleh Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-07 I have children in New Mexico public schools.
Harold Edwards Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-07 Good public education is the bedrock of society - not corporate profits or campaign contributions.
Shane Ensor Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-07 I value public education and loathe the attempts of corporate business interests to control and privatize education. Nefarious and evil.
Lee Foerstner T or C, NM 2013-11-07 I taught Jr. College classes in Agriculture for 25 years in New Mexico, Az. and Ca. The "Corporatization" of Education has been fomented and relentlessly pushed by ambitious and ignorant politicians to the ends that our educational standards no longer have anything in them which you could seriously call education. Today our State run system extrudes "ill-trained" minds disabled from Pavlovian training of a system which more resembles that of a prison than an educational institute. Education is a long slow process. If you have not read John Gatto's "Underground History of American Education", Samuel Blumenfeld's "NEA Trojan Horse in American Education" and/or Anthony Sutton Research Fellow at the Hoover Research Institute at Stanford University for 5 years- "How the Order Controls Education" then you are sorely ignorant yourself about Education in America.
Emily Ayers Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-07 My sisters' education should not be ran by corporations. Corporations will ruin public education even more!
Laverne S. Stinnett Caballo, NM 2013-11-07 Our future is at stake
Casandra Sanchez Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-07 These tests do no effectively rate my childs performance in school.
Therese Patton Angel Fire, NM 2013-11-08 The government should not be run as a business. The PED should run education according to some corporate model. The amount of money that has been diverted to for profit companies is immoral. NM has the highest population of families living in poverty in the US. That is also immoral. "Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celetial fire Called Conscience" (George Washington)
Crystal Perea Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-08 I'm a future teacher and the is very discouraging.
Georgia West albuquerque, NM 2013-11-08 This is important to me because i am a junior in high school at Albuqerque high, a public school. what is happening is compleatly unfair and makaes school that much harder to get through.
Freddy C Brandenburg Aztec, NM 2013-11-08 We Have Grandchildren In Our School System
Federico Marquez El Paso, TX 2013-11-08 Policy decisions are being made with no supporting research data.
Francisco J. Ronquillo Albquerque, NM 2013-11-09 New Mexico has a lot of potential!! We are one of the states with the most diverse groups of people and do not want to jeopardize our children's future with agenda's that harm our children's education!!
David Peercy Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-09 Public education needs research-based improvement, not approaches that are poorly designed, lack collaborative development and intentional piloting, and have not been validated. Constructive, collaborative discussions need to take place about the legitimate concerns raised by students, parents, teachers, administrators, and board members. Let's begin setting the standard for these discussions in this great state of ours.
Ron Meurer Abq, NM 2013-11-09 Because Hanna and Suzanna are dictators of the school systems - forcing these evaluation changes on teachers - when the legislatures did not approve.
Sue Triplett Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-10 Let's keep educational funding directed toward the classroom teaching. Name Location Date Comment
Patty Lee Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-10 As an educator, I am appalled at how rules and regulations and people who do not teach are taking the profession from the professionals...the teachers know what to do. Ask them.
CJ CARROLL Taos, CA 2013-11-10 There has long been a silent move toward privatizing education, and putting the control of public education into the hands of the governor, hand-holding with the PED. Education is "public" and programs, support for students and decision-making that affects teachers' joy of teaching ought to, must be, addressed by those involved: teachers, families, local districts, and, very much so, the students themselves.
Ann Smiley Truth or Consequences, 2013-11-10 Because signing this is correct thing to do NM
Micah Woodul Ruidoso, NM 2013-11-10 I am signing because I am tired of teachers being held accountable for "raising" the children in their classes. Childhood poverty, hunger, poor attendance, broken families, drug use, and domestic violence are not the fault of teachers and yet, teachers are blamed for all of these issues. ENOUGH! juliette alarcon Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-10 Education decisions need to be collaborative and should include those most effected in the decision making.
Josi Ortiz Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-11 Retired special education language therapist
Sara Sabol Rio Rancho, NM 2013-11-11 I am a parent and a teacher.
Amy Pacheco Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-11 I am not for testing that undermines teachers and students ability to focus on learning and instead teaching to the test.
John Pawlak Los Alamos, NM 2013-11-11 I care about education!
Lina Brinker Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-12 I am a medical student. I believe in education that is not based on profits and fabricated information and test results. This "reform" does not help students. Real reform is social reform.
Ann OBrien Pittsfield, MA 2013-11-12 Inspiration not quantification should be the goal of education
Delilah Tenorio Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-12 I have children in the APS system. One of which is very adamant about how this reform will impact her and her education.
Serjio Cardona Arrey, NM 2013-11-12 We live in a land of democracy and if they are not listening to the majority then they should not be allowed to make decisions for all.
Diane Lilley Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-13 After 30 years of teaching in NM public schools, liking it and seeing the success of my students, I am now shocked and sickened by how schools and teachers have become villainous targets for shadowy groups with their own nefarious agendas. This war on public ed has been going on since the 80's when the religious groups started attacking curriculum, and it has swelled beyond all reason and child welfare. Personally, I see the unqualified Skandera as just another puppet who has been planted in NM to take down our children, our teachers, our schools -- and feed our great state to the lock-step, zombie thinking of whatever evil is driving the national Republican party.
Edward Mckinney Farmington, NM 2013-11-14 Children are not a corporation. Where is the common sense ?
Janet Eskins Farmington, NM 2013-11-14 I am in my 40th year in education, 27 of which were as a classroom teacher. I now provide training to secondary teachers on integrating technology into their curriculum, a critical component in students' education for them to get the 21st century skills they desperately. Many teachers tell me they don't have time to get training because they have to focus on raising test scores to be able to keep their job. Others have told me they're leaving education because of this which will make the current teacher shortage even worse. And this ire form is coming from someone who is not even constitutionally qualified to be in the position she's in!!!! Name Location Date Comment
Nicole Spangenburg Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-14 I have two children in the Santa Fe School system and am against the Reform Agenda. marilyn standefer caballo, NM 2013-11-15 I am a retired educator who supports this petition
Elizabeth Milford Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 Because I have kids in APS
Jeff Hensley Aztec, NM 2013-11-15 My kids are in these schools and I want whats best for them!!!
Joyce Turnbow Capitan, NM 2013-11-15 I am a teacher. tweeti blancett Aztec, NM 2013-11-15 NM in education is at the bottom and punitive actions by Santa Fe, by a non- educational secretary does not speak well for improving our status.
Pauline Milnor Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 I ama retired teacher. took early retirement because of the ever ending paper work and the stress to be absolutely perfect. My teacher friends are being mentally tortured and blamed for everything Let the teacher teach and quit doing the administration's work
Victoria Sedillo Capitan, NM 2013-11-15 I am a teacher and making education operate like a business is not gonna work.
Stephanie Mann Farmington, NM 2013-11-15 I am a both a parent and a teacher in New Mexico, and I am very concerned at being pushed out of the educational process.
Danielle Nanez Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 I have family members who are teachers and I have children that will be attending our schools! It is important that teachers have enough time to teach instead of testing all the time. Also how can a teacher be evaluated on a test that is only one dimension of his or her ability of teaching skills. I think teachers should be accountable for their students progress, but the percentages of their evaluations on specific categories do not make sense nor is it fair to ding them on their evaluations for things they have no control over. Just spend one week inside a classroom to see what teachers do and have to spend endless hours preparing for lessons, grading, dealing with parent calls, data and district/ State mandates. Consider how other professions are evaluated, they are not merely as harsh as teachers are!
Kelly King Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 I feel that the standardized tests are unfair and too frequent. they put an undue burden on students. they discriminate against students with disabilities and English language learners. I further believe that these tests benefit, either financially or through career opportunities, a person or persons in the state government that is not directly associated with students and does not have their best interests at heart. Most of all i don't believe students benefit form this testing in ANY way.
Michele Bateman Farmington, NM 2013-11-15 It is not BEST TEACHING PRACTICE and our students are not learning!!
Anne Reynolds Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 I taught in New Mexico. I will not teach in this state again. The system in which teachers and administrators are evaluated is unfair and absolutely ridiculous. New Mexico is going to lose many many teachers...I am one of them!
Dale Anderson Aztec, NM 2013-11-15 It is reasonable to set national educational standards, but unreasonable to force teachers and school districts to conform to one system to help "their" students meet standards. We must recognize each student and teacher is a unique human being. The Governor is replacing creative and dedicated teachers within assemble line workers. Three of my children are highly recognized elementary teachers.
Machelle Stinson Aztec, NM 2013-11-15 My physical address is 67 Rd 5324 Farmington,NM 87401
Kati Gilson Oak Park, IL 2013-11-15 Corporate reform hurts kids. Education should be run by educators and quality public education should be equitably available to all students. Name Location Date Comment
Sandy Saenz Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 As a teacher for 21 years with the Las Cruces Public Schools, i have never been more disgusted as I am right now with all the policies that Ms. Martinez and Ms. Skandera is implementing! It is harmful to the teaching profession, but more important is the harm that is being done to our students!
Linda Komko Aztec, NM 2013-11-15 I have grandkids in school and don't feel they will benefit from introducing politics into the school system.
Paula Ewy Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-15 Teachers work hard for our future. We are underpaid, overworked, disrespected & need to be allowed to simply teach our youth.
Kipp Dawson Pittsburgh, PA 2013-11-15 Every one of us suffers when public education is debased and undercut, as is happening now in New Mexico.
Michael Au Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 I am signing because politics not common sense and experience is guiding our education policy and that's a mistake. How can ppl like skandera who never taught a single student help make policy? This is ridiculous! Bring back Richardson!!
Lorraine Spradling Los Lunas, NM 2013-11-15 I'm for anything supporting righteous Democratic agendas.
Janet Ratliff Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 How can you have an Education Dept Head lead a Dept with no Education credentials or experience? A Recipe for Disaster!
Nancy Warner Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 I volunteered a lot and saw how much time is wasted preparing for and taking these tests.
Debbie Johnson Gallup, NM 2013-11-15 The focus on testing and evaluation through corporate entities such as Pearson, takes the emphasis away from what is really hurting our kids: poverty and violence. We are losing important things in schools such as the arts, PE, recess, and the joy of learning, all to the almight god of "data".
Shane Allen Clovis, NM 2013-11-15 Because I have children still in the school system in New Mexico.
Rita Kwong Deming, NM 2013-11-15 Our state officials are so out of touch of what education is about. No administrator, teacher, parent or student can support the new teacher evaluation system, school evaluation system ,and new testing and graduation requirement.
Donna Mace Green Cove Springs, FL 2013-11-15 Parents should always be included in decisions about public education.
J C Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 My kids and their teachers are stretched beyond their breaking point.please make changes that involve the district and teacher input.
Caitlyn Espinoza Portales, NM 2013-11-15 Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid. -Dr. Suess
Harlan Van Camp Placitas, NM 2013-11-15 I feel that teachers need a bit more freedom and less regulation.
Dan Farley Eugene, OR 2013-11-15 Change must come from within, not without. mary kess Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-15 Give kids what they need. Don't spend our money on education reforms that are not supported by research.
J N Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 Schools are important & shouldn't be treated so carelessly.
Dennis Barcuch Hobbs, NM 2013-11-15 Central control over masses does not work. luisa duran Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 Because children/students are not commodities for profit. They are wholistic creative community learners who deserve authentic educational leaders.
Ramona Vining Gallup, NM 2013-11-15 I believe there is a better way to evaluate teachers which should include all the factors that ate involved in education. Teachers can make a difference when given full support.
Diana Huey Clovis, NM 2013-11-15 Because I care too much about public education to stand by and watch people who know nothing about it control what goes on in our schools. Name Location Date Comment
Natalie Eames Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 I'm tired of my kids crying from so many standardized tests. They feel the pressure no matter how many times you say, "Just do your best." To an elem and some middle school students a test is a test is a test and an approx 1 mo of testing (preparing and taking) adds up to an inappropriate burden placed on CHILDREN and very frustrated and heartbroken parents.
Bill Kersting Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 Get back to the old fashion teaching of kids. Testing is stupid. We never did that growing up and I think my generation has done great.
Tiffani Lovell Rio Rancho, NM 2013-11-15 Because this new policy is forcing teachers to "teach to the test" and our kids are the ones paying the price. It is not fair to the educators.
Norma Moran Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 The one on one and small group instruction that children need is being replaced by test after test! thats all we do now! Then progress monitoring those kids every 10 days. We have too many kids. 25-27 per classroom. It is ridiculous that my evaluation in a pre-K thru 2nd grade school, is based on SBA scores from from anothers 3rd grade scores! These 3rd graders have never taken an SBA test before! They also do not take the demographics into consideration. We are a title 1 school. There is a lot of students moving from and to our school also.
Suzanne chavira Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-15 I have been a kindergarten teacher for the past 20 years and I feel that evaluating teachers based on students standardized test scores is absurd!!!!!
Carl Hunt Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 Education should be important to everyone.
Terry Rich Abiquiu, NM 2013-11-15 Because I still believe in democracy, not plutocracy.
Jet Zarkadas Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-15 Because we have our own unique problems with education that need to be addressed locally not by a corporate one size fits all model.
Jeannette Baca Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-15 Educators must be given the opportunity to be part of the reform agenda! dolores marrufo Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 Let teachers teach and stop all the testing... an annual standardized is enough, what you should be focusing on is better teaching of the teachers!
David Moore Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 I staunchly oppose wasting more student's time in the classroom to prepare for standardized tests that don't teach them anything and do not prepare them for a life outside of school.
Let's find a real solution with people who have a real educational background and are more interested in preparing our children for success.
Emmaly Wiederholt Los Angeles, CA 2013-11-16 Because kids don't need to be tested to prove that they learn.
Danita Quintana santa cruz, NM 2013-11-16 I am a very concerned teacher and parent.
Corliss Perea Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 This is not positive and helpful to students or teachers. It is putting a heavy weight upon them rather than a positive way of actually helping each person in our educational system.
Bruce Christman Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 Education is the single most important component to success.
Meredith Caldwell Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 I am a NM trained former teacher. Reportcards 7 pgs. An obscenity. Teacher tests for kids or teachers junk! Who has time to teach! Neither Martinez nor Skandera have children and they obviously know very little about school.
Rich Muniz Gallup, NM 2013-11-16 I am a teacher and I don't think it is right.
Damas Lane Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 Our children's education is at stake. As it is our children have been graduating out of high school with very poor reading skills.We need more, Reading, Writing and Arithmatic, along with values.
William Linderfelt Corrales, NM 2013-11-16 Concerned my kids are not getting the best education due to regulators uninformed agenda. Name Location Date Comment
Warren Mathis Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 This is obvious! I am not political in any way.
Amy Carpenter Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 The corporate reform agenda is bankrupting the NM State Public Education coffers. Further, it is being funded by "big money" and is thus being used to push political agendas that many of our citizens are unaware of and would not approve. It is gutting our schools, demoralizing our teachers, and turning kids OFF to education. If we really wanted to make a difference, we'd CUT the number of credits it takes to graduate, create sound vocational programs, and mandate double-blocked English and math classes every day of all four years of high school. Not ALL students want or should go to college, and to tell them otherwise is to perpetuate educational malpractice. robert clark albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 My child is losing time learnig dr. constance buck santa fe, NM 2013-11-16 I am not interested in what corporations have to say about our children, nor the teachers that work for us. Stop this.
Cathy Smith-Hartwig Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 Teachers and parents need to have their place at the table in this discussion! They have been by-passed in the process of deciding what will really work for our children and schools!
Anthony Torres Holloman AFB, NM 2013-11-16 Her Ideas Don't Make Sense. Unfortunately Our Governor Will Not Do Anything.
Paula Strongheart Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-16 Teachers need to be given the freedom to utilize their unique gifts in to make school vital, interesting and exciting for their students and standardized testing needs to stop...... it doesn't work.
Lorrie Francis Alamogordo, NM 2013-11-16 I am a certified teacher and mother. I care about the educational success of New Mexico's children.
Shirley Davis Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 Children need time to explore and be charmed by education. Teachers need time to teach!!
Lee Laney Los Lunas, NM 2013-11-16 Kids deserve better than this.
Casey Sims Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 This is important to me because I'm a student in this state. Since first grade, I've had to cope with numerous changes in the education system, many to my detriment and many leading to anxiety as teachers scramble to change their lesson plans. I've read through part of the new standards (they are many typos that should be looked into) and I can't help but feel like this is just another task that will lead to more anxiety on my part as well as on my teachers.
Debby De Bary Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 This is important to me because I an teacher who is very concerned about the direction our education system in New Mexico is going and the negative effect it is having on our students and teachers.
Mary Dornacker Alb, NM 2013-11-16 I have grandchildren that are being subjected to the worst testing policy ever in existence in New Mexico.
Kaitlyn Beaudet Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 This is important to me because I, along with everyone I know, is being negatively affected. This is not okay.
Sharon Gill Sandia Park, NM 2013-11-16 This looks like one more link in the attempt to kill public schools
Stacey Childs Berlin, NJ 2013-11-16 I believe in public education... Not corporate reform.
Carolyn Serafin-Abeyta Belen, NM 2013-11-16 I'm signing because as a parent I'm tired of my son's being assessed. As a teacher, I am appalled I am being held accountable for variables I cannot control.
Alice Murrey St. Louis, MO 2013-11-16 I am a retired teacher from the NM public schools and I do not agree with the way the evaluation system is set up. It needs to be revamped drastically. elyse trujillo Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 This is crap! Name Location Date Comment
Nancy Greenberg Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-16 Look at mobility rates in schools! Teachers don't even have kids long enough to evaluate the teaching methods of one teacher.
Cheryl Black Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-16 The Florida research that showed improvement after third graders were retained could have created the same 'results' if these third graders...as fourth graders...were provided the same academic interventions they received as retained third graders!! Where is THAT comparison group? I suspect that retention typically does nothing that better interventions could do. penny vincent Corrales, NM 2013-11-17 We live in a democracy. The very best education is a right that all children deserve. That means public education is every citizen's concern.
Jesus Barraza Mesquite, NM 2013-11-17 My fiancee is a teacher and I have seen how this has brought more stress on her in many ways.
Liberato Valdes Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-17 My daughter is a teacher.
Elisa Valdes Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-17 My daughter is a teacher.
Anastacia Nelson Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-17 I have taught in public schools in the past. My children attend them now. The amount of micromanaging is a hindrance to the teachers that teach and the children that learn.
Ida Vasquez Fairview, NM 2013-11-17 We need to care about our children more than corp. thinking
Anne Raeff San Francisco, CA 2013-11-17 I was a long-tome resident of New Mexico and am a teacher. Education is not about business.
Angela Vargas Los Lunas, NM 2013-11-17 Because I;m mexican n my grandkids are Navajo
Cindy Matson Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-17 I am a parent of over-tested students, and I believe a politician without educational credentials should not make this decision without voter input.
Janet Butts Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-17 This is important to me as a retired teacher and mother and grandmother! Our children are our best investment. They deserve a good education, not some corporate attempt to treat them like machines!
Elizabeth Thomson ABQ, NM 2013-11-17 Because I care about children, families, educators, communities and New Mexico
Jo Ann Grenemyer Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-17 I have even grandchildren in APS and I want to see them graduate with a good education to prepare them for life situations not how well they do on tests.
Tamara Maxie Lovington, NM 2013-11-17 I am a strong supporter of Public Education.
Joanne Kersting Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-17 Very concerned about the wrong direction the power's to be are causing the education system to fall apart. Let the teachers teach real topics instead of teaching to the tests. Forget about the standard testing.
Edwin Chavez Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-17 Let the teachers teach the children
Rosemary Pendleton Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-17 I disagree with the onerous position these teachers are faced with
Erika Jones 2013-11-17 Our kids are our future. They need actual help learning, not being held back or subject to private educational materials suppliers.
Brian DeMone Rio Rancho, NM 2013-11-18 I am a future teacher
Hannah Wecks Silver City, NM 2013-11-18 Martinez and Skandera are not listening to us- the parents and teachers of our precious children who deserve an education, not a test designed to make them fail.
Debra Alba Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-18 Educators must be involved in the process if true educational reform is to take place.
Pandora Van Auken Alamogordo, NM 2013-11-18 Because it is not what is best for kids. It is only about profit and greed. Name Location Date Comment
Alfredo Lujan Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-18 I agree that poverty is the problem ... duh ... "we need a war on poverty, not teachers."
Kristin Higginbotham Roswell, NM 2013-11-18 I am signing this petition because I have five children who currently attend public schools in New Mexico. My children deserve an education that is developmentally appropriate.
Tina New Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-18 I am a special education teacher at the high school level. These state mandated test DO NOT accurately reflect what my students know. They are continously tested at their peers level. They have different needs and often CAN NOT pass according to state standards. I am also a parent of 2 elementary kids, one having an auditory processing disability. He will also take a test that doesn't allow him to show what he knows because he is tested at a level he is not queit at in reading and math. It is hard for students with disabilities to continuously hear that they are not at a proficient level. Hearning this information over and over again does negatively impact their self-esteem and self-worth. Many of them have something to offer our community but these students have little faith in themselves because they have to contniously take tests that are not made for their true ability.
Willy Richardson Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-18 My daughter is attending Salazar elementary in Santa Fe.
Jennifer Hamilton Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-19 I see first hand what this is doing to education and our children. The people making these policies are not in our schools they do not see the stress that this is putting on our children!!!!!
Robert Baker tularosa, NM 2013-11-19 It is unfair to teachers.
Lori Erlendsson Westchester, CA 2013-11-19 Public education is under attack in many states. The citizens of New Mexico have a right to be involved in these decisions.
Starr Belsky Silver City, NM 2013-11-19 As a former high school science teacher of students from diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic stata, I believe the Skandera “reform” model is a total misuse and waste of our state’s education funds and will be destructive to both teachers and students. Put the money into smaller class sizes, better educational resources (including funds for field trips and the arts), and educational outreach to parents to inform them that they are their children's first teachers and how to fulfill that role as best they can. Spend the money on embedding master teachers in schools to observe, evaluate, and coach newer or struggling teachers or to implement some other in-house mechanism for teacher evaluation and improvement—NOT on meaningless and expensive one-size-fits-all (really DOES NOT fit all) formulas that will stress, overload, and demoralize teachers, and help children very little, if not harm them. Teaching is an art as well as a science, and definitely not a calibrated, die-cut factory operation. Children “trained’ that way will be set up to fail, learn to fear or hate school and learning, and be passive; such an approach cannot enable them to acquire the thinking skills that they will need to be able to teach themselves (which we all must be able to do) and be problem solvers in their lives and workplaces.
Lori Burney Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 I'm a teacher in New Mexico
Edith Reyes Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 I am a teacher at a D school , and It feels like a witch hunt. Assuming there are BAD teachers here when our D is probably tied more to socioeconomic means. jayn albury sarasota, FL 2013-11-19 I lived in Santa Fe for 20 years and owned private schools there. During those years, the school board was taken over by the state, my school was teaching Spanish, art, and music but the public schools weren't. My daughter works in APS and is working much too hard to salvage an education for children in a system that does not support the professionals who are devoted to their jobs. Name Location Date Comment
Theodore Spacagna Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 People with no teaching experience should have no business in attempting to mandate teaching strategies and/or policy.
Cindy Gaillour Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 Ms. Skandera has literally turned the state of education upside down in NM. She truly has no knowledge of how a school runs, nor does she know the difficulties of teaching in areas of high poverty. I have worked in both high poverty schools as well as an affluent school. Teachers who work in high poverty areas are dealt a much more difficult hand and have a higher mountain to climb. Please understand that the issues we have in education are all about poverty. These students are very capable of learning and excelling, they just need to be given the proper supports - which has nothing to do with testing. We want to develop students who are "thinkers" - not simply "test takers"!
Gladys Apodaca albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 education is important..thes chldren are the future. APS is a mess!!!
Bryan Jewell Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 I know several generations of educators.
Pamela Caffery Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 People who are qualified in education should be making these decisions and parents should be informed first and have a voice in the process. As a parent of two children in special education I feel like you are deciding who is "college material" and who is not. Too many hoops to jump through in High School in order to get a diploma! adrian bautista Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-19 Corporatism is taking over, please keep academia pure. Don't allow the capitalist agenda of a wealthy minority continue to exploit the minds of tomorrow. As elected officials, you represent the people!
Shiloh Carroll Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-19 I'm a teacher, and these policies are detrimental to my students, discouraging to my colleagues, and inhibiting my ability to effectively educate my students.
Kerry Bingham Aztec, NM 2013-11-20 Teaching, as an honored profession, is being ruined by our leaders who have decided that teachers needed to be told what to teach and when to teach and how to teach. They are sucking the life out of us....and our students. Thank God for the NEA to stand up for us. I am a 24 year veteran teacher and am under such intense pressure that I can't sleep at night. Testing every other week, administrators grilling you on what you are doing...being evaluated every 9 weeks by a standard form that may or may not see what you are doing in a 20 minute observation, which your pay may become dependent on. I am also a wife, mom ad grandmother and early retirement is looking like my only solution. betty romero Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-20 Because I feel testing should not be used to test if my child is compentent. Test do not measure how our kids character which is the most important. Test should be used to see where kids are at but now they are being held against them. The kids come home stressed as it is with there homework and now to add more stress. My daughter is so stressed as she doesnt do well at test taking. However she is a good student. For them to take the class and pass should be enough. The drop rate is going to increase and instead of worrying about left behind we are worried about implementing something that oviously affects our kids as much as the teachers. The kids here are suffering because they have to do it. There is more but I can go on and on. I just feel the parents are not being heard on this.why werent wr asked on this. We pay taxes we should have had some imput.
Patty Townley Aztec, NM 2013-11-20 I am greatly concerned for the future of our educational system. I see more and more good teachers retiring early or changing career paths simply because things are now so complicated, they are unable to accomplish what brought them to teaching in the first place...making a difference in the lives of a student. Simply put, the present system is not working for teachers or for our children. I will one day have grandchildren in a NM school system, and I choose not to wait until then to have my voice heard. Name Location Date Comment
Sherry Magee Aztec, NM 2013-11-20 Teachers are professionals and know how to do the job they are trained to do. As a retired teacher, it makes me very sad to see our teachers so stressed and ready to find other jobs. After 36 years of teaching, I finally retired only because of all the changes being made in education that didn't have any real benefit to teaching or learning. I do agree teachers need to be held accountable for student learning and progress , but there are so many factors teachers have no control over when it comes to student progress; parental involvement and attendance are two big ones.
Angela Fioravantes Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-20 I'm a concerned and dedicated teacher.
Margaret Brandt Peralta, NM 2013-11-20 Corporate-model education is destructive to teachers and students and ultimately the nation.
Keith Sanchez Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-20 This is absolutely not how to reform our educational system.
DyAnna Garcia Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-20 It's important to me because I was in New Mexico's Public Education system up until college. I would have liked to have a say on the matter when I was attending, and even now, if I raise a family here, I would like more of a say as a parent. It's important that first-hand experience has a say for what is going to happen to the program and why.
Daniel Urenda Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-20 Taking class time from my kids. Not a good way to judge teachers.
Joanne Scott-Arbuckle Bent, NM 2013-11-20 For all of the reasons that I just read. The monies put to this testing could be used to bring music and theater back into our school and perhaps organic gardens to improve the quality of nutrition our children are nourished with.
Laurie Atteberry Organ, NM 2013-11-20 I feel that we are all not the same and we don't learn the same and one test score is not the answer
Yvette Crofford Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-20 I am an educator and what Santa Fe in doing to us is a travesty. Let us teach......
Josephine Aspera Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-20 I want my kids teachers to be consumed with the art and love of teaching. I don't want those teachers to be consumed with anxiety, stress, and plain busy work!!!
Karen Warren Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-20 I am a retired educator and agree with this sentiment that those educators who are on the front lines with the students are overburdened with minutia of evaluation and paperwork that does not benefit the students nor the teachers. Let's show some respect for the hard-working teachers to actually work with and for the students, not administration!!! Name Location Date Comment
Herlinda Tercero Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-20 I am a parent and am extremely concerned about the high stakes testing students are expected to take. I am disappointed that a single test will determine whether my sons graduate with a valid diploma or not. I have heard terrible stories of students (people I know and young family members) being told to take a test for someone who might not test well and in one occasion this student took several tests in one year for different students upon the schools request. I also have friends with kids on the system who have been encouraged to drop out because college isn't for everyone.
The direction our educational system is going is a frightening one. My boys aren't in high school yet, but I fear for them. They not only have to survive the everyday social pressures of being a kid, but survive academic pressures placed upon them by our educational system. I don't know what their lot will be, outstanding academic achievers asked to test for others; or academic deficient encouraged to drop out because they will make our system look bad.
Don't get me wrong, I am for reform, my oldest has had more than his fair share of questionable experiences within our academic system, but there has to be a better way.
Felicia O'Hara Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-20 I have two students in my home (11 grade and 6th grade) and their education is getting highjacked by this foolishness! Between this and the decision to drop marching band as a PE credit this Education Department is doing great harm to NM students!
Melinda Shane Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-20 I have students in the public school and I am an educator-- every thing we do in school has to be researched, but this is a plan that has not been researched!! It is irresponsible! nicholas brown santa fe, NM 2013-11-20 education reform makes sense but corporate profiteering in education does not.
Hector Gallegos Santa Teresa, NM 2013-11-20 I am an educator in the state of NM.
Cynthia Paschall Aztec, NM 2013-11-21 For my grandkids.
Kevin Ayres Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 Because I have a 2nd grader and a 2 yr old. I want teacher who teach not test. It is also wrong that Hanna is in that position and not qualified by the rules set forth by the House and Senate of NM. We are a government of laws not man and we cannot pull an Obama and do what we want or we will cease to be a republic. Thank you. paloma garcia 87801, NM 2013-11-21 The stress of always having tests thrown in my face sucks! things are out of control!! melissa ashby Yuma, AZ 2013-11-21 This is completely unfair
Kimi Scheerer Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 As a fellow educator, i've seen talented teachers that connect with thier students be marked as 'ineffective'. That's not right and it's professionally demoralizing - we need a change! :)
Sonia Shepard Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-21 My children deserve to learn. Our teachers should be able to actually teach. Test don't measure much.
Dena Anderson Rio Rancho, NM 2013-11-21 As a parent and as an educator, I see what negative effects or current education system is having on children. My priority is, and always will be, the children. wendy orley albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 education is one of the key building blocks of a healthy democratic society
Margaret Berrier Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-21 Please consider our children and get opinions from everyone. Education is NOT a corporate assembly line. Name Location Date Comment
Allison Wright Jemez Springs, NM 2013-11-21 I was a public school teacher for 37 years and have a deep commitment to public education still. No private -- yes to government.
Willard Hunter Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 Keep for-profit companies out of public education!
Margaret Viers Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 The profit motive does NOT belong in education!
Tracie Sanchez Socorro, NM 2013-11-21 My sister is a teacher and has been for over 10 years!!!
Alicia Hawkins Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 I am a retired educator. I work with a tutoring organization and help out with a second grade twice a week. I've never seen teachers so agitated. I've never seen such poor administrative decisions brought down by the offices of Hanna Skandera.
Scott Weaver Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-21 An effective and broad educational system is essential to a functioning society.
Janice Pacifico Los Lunas, NM 2013-11-21 I am an educator myself and want the best for NM children
Katherine Turner Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 Corporations have great training for their companies work force however our schools education is about more than workers it is about lifelong learning and wonderment. Please don't marginalize education and the future of our people’s intellect. amber shay silver city, NM 2013-11-21 I am a teacher
Marilynn Szydlowski Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-21 Education is not a corporate, for profit, enterprise. It is an act of love for our children to provide them with the education they deserve
Glenn Landers Las Cruces, NM 2013-11-21 I have an 8 year old who is being denied precious learning time because of excessive testing.
Evelyn Wright La Plata, NM 2013-11-21 Because the PED's reform agenda is draconian and is destroying teachers and education in the state of New Mexico. Hanna Skandera has never taught in a classroom! An appointment that cries of political cronyism!!! shannon okeefe Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-22 Shannon O'Keefe
Patricia O'Connor Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-22 Hamstringing teachers does not make for good education. Teach students to think and explore, not just to take a test.
Dennis Dunnum Carrizozo, NM 2013-11-22 After teaching in the public school for 6 years I decided I didn't want to give my own children to them. So, I opened and ran a private non-profit pre-K through 9th grade school for nine years 1972 - 1980. I gave it to the community (Madrid/Cerrillos) and they continued to run it for 23 more years. Granted us teachers were willing to work for a maximum of $275 after nine years; we had parent volunteers, individualized instruction, no grades, no report cards, no tests except to move on to the next level of each subject. Our kids are now professors, teachers, actors, musicians, and even lawyers. Mostly they are happy and successful in their chosen path. There is no need for such strictness and uniformity, standardized tests or corporate interference for profit. Education is NOT a business deal, it is a passion and a love of children and a desire to help each child find his strength to give back to the community.
JOSEPH Hudson Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-23 My wife is a teacher and is getting abused by this Governor.
Jane Schreiber Blanco, NM 2013-11-23 Hanna Skandera is not qualified for her position. The Corporate Profiteering 'Reform' Agenda is a bad politically decision and not a decision for bettering NM's educational system.
Chari Kauffman Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-23 As a teacher for almost 30 years, I see the ridiculous demands on teachers. The students will not benefit from this agenda. We need to get creativity back in the schools, making learning fun yet meaningful for students. The love of learning should be the goal for all teachers, because once you get inspired, there is no stopping the learning that takes place. Name Location Date Comment
Gerri Lanter Hammond, IN 2013-11-23 I am a teacher in Indiana. We've been snookered in Indiana as well. Children are not commodities...they are people, who deserve to have a dedicated, intelligent teacher. Political parties and corporate donars are forcing the arbitrary losing of schools which have problems beyond a teacher's control. Leaders need to LISTEN to teachers and parents when making decisions regarding schools. We had Tony Bennett here, who CHEATED and changed school grades for the better, which benefited HIS causes, while he changed MY school's grade to a D when we deserved a B. This is so wrong!!! He got away with it !!! gordon strawn las cruces, NM 2013-11-23 As a public school teacher and long-time involved parent in our educational system this is wrong in so many ways!
Paul Bunker Bunker Chacon, NM 2013-11-23 This is NOT what is good for our children's education
Susan Deichsel Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-23 I don't trust Ms. Skandera and I don't trust this governor's agenda for education in NM at all. Don't get me started. carlos Gabaldon albuquerque, NM 2013-11-24 It is important to me because as a student in a New Mexico public school, I have experienced first hand the ridiculousness of the standardized tests implemented in public schools. It is for that same reason that I will not stand for what is happening or what could possibly happen with Hanna Skandera in the position she currently holds.
Betty Schaefer Datil, NM 2013-11-24 Teachers are the foot soldiers who see first hand what works and what does not. Education Dept needs to work with teachers to implement any new policies. Teaching to standardized tests does not work for a lot of children.
Candice Rood Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-24 Children are not a product.To treat them as such is a simplistic, ignorant and even cruel approach.
Danielle Rodriguez Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-25 I think its making it harder for kids to graduate. So the drop out rate will be a lot higher.
Sonia Maulsby Clayton, NM 2013-11-25 because teachers are being treated like peons!
Halima Christy Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-25 I am a special ed teacher, and I refust to work in NM public schools anymore. There is too much graft and power playing in the state gov't. Skandera must go. Martinez must go. lisa crane rio rancho, NM 2013-11-25 Let's teach our kids creativity and innovation so they are prepared to address the global problems we are leaving to them. Teaching them to memorize and regurgitate information won't give them the skills they need to make the world a better place.
Ted Cloak Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-25 I'm on the board of a charter school that is making great progress. The changes advocated by Ms. Skandera are interfering.
Bill Swift Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-25 As a former teacher, I understand how top-down, overdone management and regulation hurts teacher creativity and effectiveness.
Cynthia Yabut Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-25 Education "reform" has turned out to be a tactic to justify privitizing education, which only enriches the "reformers" while damaging education. Politicians pushing this are more interested in their campaign donations than in the education of our children. We'll be watching...
Jerry Wesner Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-25 Privatizing is not always the answer. Often it's merely a new, and worse, problem.
Aleatha Scholer Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-26 I have been engaged in education professionally and as a retiree - and this is the most concerning situation I have ever seen with the Governor and the unconfirmed PED Sec. Designate
Ke Whiton Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-26 I'm a retired Teacher. I know these "reforms" are wrong for Teaching and Learning for our kids. Name Location Date Comment
Barbara Grady Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-26 As a retired teacher in NM, I am distressed with what is happening in our education community. My grandchildren deserve better than the education that is being forced upon them.
Jan Fowler Aztec, NM 2013-11-26 I have signed this petition on the behalf of my children and all others to come and already attending public educational facilities in the state and across the country. We as a community need to stand by our morals and raise a generation with goals and high standards. I am a very active parent in my children's education and work hard both at home and at schools trying my hardest to make a positive difference for our future. Our children are being misled- confused - and given no standards in school. They are being taught to work harder not smarter and that being a failure is okay. I have two children scoring top in the nation on assesments and standardized testing yet are being pulled down into repetitive ridiculous curriculum that dulls their drive and causes bordem and frustraition. Constant ridicule and underminding comments are made towards them as they assist in teaching their peers in class.. That breaks my heart knowing they get singled out and made look foolish and have to explain themselves for any action or assignment they do. For parents and teachers when we ask when? Where? Why is this new process neccesary ....we never get a accurate response. Our children deserve the best education possible, public education is what we can provide our children help us not let them down.
Denise Kunz Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-26 There are protocals are in place...period...This latest move by Skandara..and our Gov. is a serious breach of the demorcatic process..
Wendy Simms-Small Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-27 My children are more than bubbles on a page. Critical thinking, and quality education are on the cutting block here. Wake up NM! This is real. jeremy torres albuquerque, NM 2013-11-27 It's unfair to test seniors last minute.
Kimberly Hooee Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-27 I am a senior!
Mary Slemp Albuquerque, NM 2013-11-27 Very, very concerned about the future of education, for both children and teachers! martha chavez albuquerque, NM 2013-11-27 I love our kids!
Tim Mansur Williamsburg, NM 2013-11-27 Child attends school
Buneesa Terry Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-27 Political agendas do not equal good education in NM.
Vicki Gottlieb Placitas, NM 2013-11-27 Education is NM's key to the future. Rather than impose a top-down, one-size- fits-all model, the PED must take advantage of the wisdom and needs at the local level, which is at the heart of how our system of education is designed.
Gail Vernon Corrales, NM 2013-11-27 I stand for public education.
Craig Ripley Santa Fe, NM 2013-11-30 You all keep screaming for more money but yet the scores keep going down ? Are you all really sure that the money is not going to UNION FATCATS ? If I really expect to buy that shit then You all must be smoking some good shit.
Mae Heermann Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-02 Teachers are doing more process and less teaching. It does not benefit the profession or the students.
Shane Allen Clovis, NM 2013-12-03 Because it's not the way to pressure our teachers this way let them concentrate on teaching not scores and attendance of their days out life does happen right.
Jeannette Tripp Rio Rancho, NM 2013-12-03 I see how frustrated all my former colleagues are this year. Something really needs to happen.
Marisol Tarango albuquerque, NM 2013-12-03 This is important to me because I want to do something in life to better myself and this won't be possible with all the tests we have to take. I get really nervous in tests and I tend to do worse than what I would normally do. Name Location Date Comment alan greenwood Hobbs, NM 2013-12-03 I'm a high school teacher watching the damage it is doing.
Pam Kennedy Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-04 My son has special needs, any kind of testing causes him extreme anxiety. His inability to take tests well, especially standardized ones, does not reflect the quality of teaching he has received.
Dixie Trebbe Rio Rancho, NM 2013-12-04 A woman with no class room experience thinks she knows everything and the Gov. also with no teaching experience backs her up.
David Hutchinson Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-04 This program is only going to increase the dysfunction of our educational system. carolyn newman santa fe, NM 2013-12-04 I am preparing teachers for the classroom.
Martha Ward Las Cruces, NM 2013-12-04 Effective PUBLIC schools are critical to democracy and AMERICAN (not corporate) values.
Lee Ann Rael Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-05 My daughter is a teacher. Skandera is making a mess of teacher evaluations...very bad policies.
Ryan Avila Sandia Pueblo, NM 2013-12-05 It takes away learning time and doesn't allow teachers to do what they need to for their own testing-sake.
Jin Yoshida Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-05 No End of Course Exam Equal focus on all classes instead of just and only math and English No teacher evaluation(once a year) No school evaluation
Maria Kelly Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-05 Taking advantage of students' precious classroom instruction time to make money off of useless and ineffective standardized tests is immoral and should not be condoned by any official of the government.
Linda White Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-05 As a retired school counselor, I am strongly opposed to the efforts to undermine our teachers and our public education system.
Amanda Torres Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-06 Because i need my diploma not a certificate of completion!!!!
Karla Contreras albuquerque, NM 2013-12-06 i've worked hard for my diploma not my certificate of completion!! all 12 years of high school. IT IS NOT FAIR!!! kayle leyba abq, NM 2013-12-06 the reason why it is important to me is so i have time to study for my finals and so i wont be so stressed out
Adrienne Jones Albuquequre, NM 2013-12-06 I'm doing this because I'm a human being not a robot, and I will not stand by and be treated as such.
Judy Higginson Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-07 children are the future
Karlene Rodgers Corrales, NM 2013-12-07 Teachers are the most important people the children in this country need.
Steve Brooten Silver City, NM 2013-12-08 I have personally experienced the decline of education since this onslaught of testing began. It must stop now.
Joe Lopez Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-08 The teaching profession has to be respected!
Albert Wood las Cruces, NM 2013-12-08 Skandera & Martinez have no basis for the reforms other than to further their political career outside of New Mexico.
Brenda Richardson Animas, NM 2013-12-08 This is not a fair or true evaluation process for our teachers and our administrators. There are too many variables in the formula to give teachers or administrators an adequate evaluation.
Gabriella Martinez Abq, NM 2013-12-09 This makes life so hard for students. It adds to much pressure!!!!!!
Ntalia Ruiz albuquerque, NY 2013-12-09 the end of course exams are not mad e by the teachers therefore, the material on the test may be different than the material covered in class. Name Location Date Comment
Eva Velazquez albuquerque, NM 2013-12-09 This lady is not even qualified for her position. A high position like this shouldn't just be given to you because you're friends with the governor. You need to earn it. She needs to be taken down.
Clay Campbell Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-10 I am a parent of a public school student. My wife is a public school teacher. Nationally, the GOP is determined to dismantle public education by placing operatives like Skandera in states, through Gov Martinez, and enriching affliated private testing companies thru educational reform. Kids and teachers are political pawns because the GOP hates unions, especially teacher unions. Teachers WANT to be accountable and are not eschewing evaluations!!!
Kayla Gallagher albuquerque, NM 2013-12-10 This directly affects me and i believe that it is not fair how teachers are evaluated. I hate that we are losing the best teachers in La Cueva High School because of this terrible legislation. It is very sad and can be easily stopped if APS changed their policy.
Maria De La Cruz Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-10 These tests are stupid as all hell. Skandera needs to be dropped, she isn't even approved by senate.
Hailey Barlow Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-10 2 finals for 7 classes is ridiculous.
Andrea Graham Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-10 It is unfair
Bill Tran Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-10 Students are tested enough on a daily basis they don't need another obstacle just for them to graduate from High school and hinder them from studying
Andrea Wexler Albuqerque, NM 2013-12-10 Every student learns differently.
Deborah Grant Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-11 I am a teacher and I see what is happening as a political effort to take money out of the public school system to fund private schools. Instead of "No Child Left Behind" we are headed towards "All Children Left Behind".
Mariah Luceero Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-11 I HATE TESTS
William Ellsworth Cerrillos, NM 2013-12-11 I am a career teacher and the video is exactly correct.
Daniel Yang Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-11 Despite the fact that I don't have to participate in a terrible education and am leaving the ship before it sinks, I believe that my teachers have helped influence my life in a major way. Letting them get unfairly evaluated based on non-scientific statistics hurts them and future students. I know they have helped me out a lot with my life and has shown me what to do. By pushing away teachers who are talented through terrible evaluations and to take away time from educating students who need help on the test is simply ridiculous. NM already has a poor reputation in terms of education. Driving away the teacher that helps raise talent in NM will not improve our competitiveness.
Jessica Gonzales Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-11 I refuse to follow mandates set by a woman who has never stepped foot in a classroom! curtis sherrodd santa fe, NM 2013-12-11 She has no experience in education and as such should not be in charge of education. skylar chavez Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-11 Because it's pointless.
Kelsey Summers Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-11 Because I am a student and all these tests are pointless.
Alexandra Roesch Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-11 This is important to me because all these tests we are having to take are very stressful. Stressful enough to make students sick from stress.
Diane Gonzales Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-11 We are failing our educators as well as our students. It makes no sense to have someone who does not have a degree in education as well as a teacher's license as our Secretary of Education. She is not creating sound educational policies.
Wil MacNeil Rio Rancho, NM 2013-12-12 I don't need over testing. As a student, that adds stress to my everyday stressful life. And to be a guinea pig of the NMPED? I'd rather not... Name Location Date Comment
Elizabeth Forster Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-12 EOC's are in no way a useful method of testing all students when we as students are already stressed with many other required tests. It's a waste of funding and could be directed towards poorly funded school organizations. alex esquibel albuquerque, NM 2013-12-12 This is important to me because I'am currently a student in APS and I feel that making us (students) take end of course exams is just plain dumb. we do not need to take these as well as finals.
Amy Hazelrigg Roswell, NM 2013-12-15 I agree with it entirely. I am now witnessing the devastating effects of the corporate approach to education among the college students I teach. They are very passive compared with students who were not educated after NCLB. deborah golden Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-16 I am a citizen of New Mexico, an educator, and a PARENT.
David Mackett Las Vegas, NV 2013-12-18 We need to produce citizens that can think for themselves - we do not need more corporate trolls.
Jonathan Wolfe Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-18 Our childrens' education is too important to be dictated by idealogues with no education background, pushing an agenda with no research support, demonizing teachers rather than improving education.
John Bowen Edmond, OK 2013-12-19 I am an educator, and know for a fact that top-down corporatized education does not work. stacey sullivan Santa fe, NM 2013-12-19 My son is in 3rd grade, and up till this year has enjoyed learning. Now all he says is "they make us take tests all week long to get us ready for the BIG test!" He no longer enjoys going to school, and at the age of 8 years old, is overwhelmed and worried about his performance. Instead of enjoying his studies he is becoming afraid of them! This means of testing is not benefiting his learning process, it is only hindering it, and pushing him farther away from becoming an educated, individual! The schools are meant to teach our kids, not use our kids! Stop filling the pockets of private investors and get these harmful, stress-inducing and for-profit of out-side parties, out of our schools! TEACH MORE! TEST LESS!
Emma Lathrop Los Alamos, NM 2013-12-20 I believe that education is not yet another "business" for corporations to make money. I believe that I am more that a test score. I believe that my teachers deserve to be treated as the professionals they are. I believe that I should not be taught to a test and that students cannot be subjected to any more standardized tests. I believe that no test can measure how smart I am, nor how well my teachers teach. I am DONE with a Public Education Department and a Secretary of Education with no teaching experience that continue to shove testing down our throats and ignore our please to stop.
Megan Shyr Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-20 I've lived in New Mexico my entire life, and do not appreciate the new implementations.
Victoria Pendleton Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-20 Focus on different aspects of learning not just writing and math. The arts play an important role in forming a well rounded individual.
Jeff Carr Eagle Nest, NM 2013-12-21 I am a teacher and I love my students!
Jeff Carr Eagle Nest, NM 2013-12-21 I also serve on the NMPEC
Alan Webber Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-21 The future of New Mexico starts with education--done the right way. It's time to teach to the child, not to the test.
Sharon Snyder Rio Rancho, NM 2013-12-21 Former teacher! joseph aragon albuquerque, NM 2013-12-23 Susana and skandera are non new Mexican and have no knowledge about teaching the diverse cultures of new mexico and I love my teachers, they were teachers not machines Susana and skandera are machines and want everyone to be gooid corporate conformist machines Name Location Date Comment
Tammy Roberts Farmington, NM 2013-12-23 As a NM educator and a parent, I am appalled at what Skandera has done to our educational system. More testing and less teaching will never produce more educated students. Students, teachers, and parents are feeling more and more disenfranchised with every change she makes.
Carol Furchner Los Alamos, NM 2013-12-26 This imposition of yet another set of standards diverts attention from the REAL issue underlying underachievement in the classroom, and that is poverty.
Rachel Hubata-Ashton Columbia, SC 2013-12-27 Higher Ed. Should be free for state residents! It worked for Univ. of Calif. and New York,
Dan Small Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-27 I have three daughters in APS schools, and I am concerned for their continued education and for the educators that are committed to them.
Betty Suber Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-28 OUR NM children deserve the best! WE do not need a politician, non-educator directing educational policy for our state.
Kelly Parsons Lovington, NM 2013-12-28 There is no logic in basing teacher evaluations on student test scores! How can one human (the classroom teacher) be held accountable for all the factors that impact the score a student, or 30 of them, makes on a test? I work in the schools, but I'm not a teacher-I'm an ancillary service provider. I have observed classrooms from Pre-K through 12th grade. I realize that some teachers do a better job than others at getting a particular point across-as does every person in every other job in the state of New Mexico. But everyone knows that student test scores are influenced by MANY other factors in addition to what was taught to them in class, and how it was taught. I am a registered Republican, but I DON'T agree with this proposal.
Stephen Younger Los Alamos, NM 2013-12-28 Moderate testing is a good idea, but we are going overboard - focusing on tests and not learning.
Claire Romero Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-28 We need informed education leaders in our state -- NOT government appointees who have no expertise in the area to which they were appointed.
George Murrey ALBUQUERQUE, MI 2013-12-28 Even though I am a retired teacher, it is important the we have Sec. of Ed. that believes in kids first. Common Core has been an eye that has hurt both students and the educational system. Also, school should be about book learning, not test learning. This is why support the petition to have somebody in the Dep't of Ed that actually understands what is important for teachers and students alike. Ms. Skandera does not hold those values.
Sharon Livingston Alamogordo, NM 2013-12-28 I don't think the the Feds should have control over what is taught in school. Check out the English Primer from the 1700's. It was the bible, we should be teaching values and morals and the three w's.
Aimee Colmery Glorieta, NM 2013-12-28 Our quality of our children's education is at stake, and the longer we wait, the more our children, our economy, and our great state suffer. Let's get moving in the right direction!
Gayle Treakle Las Cruces, NM 2013-12-28 As a retired teacher who taught at all levels (K-University) I remain concerned about public education and feel professional educators should have great input in the curriculum.
Carol Erwin Portales, NM 2013-12-28 As an educator with a long list of success, I can prove, with research, that the steps currently taken will not produce the results promised.
Mary Shoemaker Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-28 I am a former teacher and cannot imagine teaching under prevailing models. The joy of teaching and learning is being abolished.
SONJA FRENCH RIO RANCHO, NM 2013-12-28 BECAUSE THIS IS WRONG FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Rita Vacirca Regina, NM 2013-12-28 My daughter is a teacher Name Location Date Comment
Cate Moses Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-29 I am a parent of a public school child, and I care about my community and schools.
Julia Geffroy Penasco, NM 2013-12-29 Teachers need to focus on teaching the kids, they should not have extra burdens like providing special education services, that's why people get their degrees in Special Education-they are "specialized" to address these types of issues. Focusing and measuring the progress of students is more important than just pass/fail. Gov. Susana and Ed Sec Skandera need to take a holistic approach and not be linear. Too many people are suffering, especially our youth. How will they be able to take care of themselves and their parents in the future? No wonder NM is the ranks one of the lowest in education for the nation. eva thaddeus Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-29 As both a teacher and a parent, I want to make sure that our kids are best served by any changes made in education. I believe in thoughtful change, but not in rushed slapdash efforts. I like the Common Core standards. I do not like the huge discouragement I see among my colleagues in public education. It worries me for the future of our kids and the future of our state.
Diane Gledhill Embudo, NM 2013-12-29 Corporated education splits up resources and leaves too many children out. Also, it has failed to prove itself as a better system. Education shouldn't be about profit.
Dick Ribble Deming, NM 2013-12-29 My granddaughter's education
L. R. Zeitlin Las Cruces, NM 2013-12-29 I have raised two children in New Mexico, and each time corporate models were adopted in the schools, like the Baldridge System, they were disasters for the students and the teachers, the level of education dropped, and it fomented a great deal of hostility and divisiveness in the community. Leave corporations and privatization out of the schools.
Annette Hardin Carlsbad, NM 2013-12-29 I want my students to be independent thinkers. It is a hard fight when reformers don't want ME to think, but to deliver scripted untested garbage in the name of reform!
Tanya Tisdale Ojo Sarco, NM 2013-12-29 educators are big contributors to our society and in the future of the children. They deserve respect
Wendy Biondo Silver City, NM 2013-12-29 children's spirits matter
Karen Aversa Pleasantville, NY 2013-12-30 my granddaughter
Mary Wiebelhaus Rio Rancho, NM 2013-12-30 The evaluation is ridiculous! 50% of a child's test score should not determine if a teacher is effective. You can teach, but there is a lot of material for a child or student to remember for one test. There are also many variables that effect a test. It simply isn't right. Also, the evaluations as the same year as CCSS is too much.
Kayla Gmyr ABQ, NM 2013-12-30 This is important to me because my education is important.
Candace Breen-Lee Silver City, NM 2013-12-30 I'm a teacher & grandparent of school age children.
Mary Mackie Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-30 I am a teacher. I want to teach. venae warner Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-30 I want to see schools run by educators not business and bureaucrats .
Adele E Zimmermann Embudo, NM 2013-12-30 Corruption of our education system will destroy our future.
Katharine Bagby Cuba, NM 2013-12-30 Education needs to be public. Corporate schools will only confuse the issues we have in dealing with education. Improve instruction through better education, collaboration and community involvement.
Maria del Carmen Albuquerque, NM 2013-12-30 I want the best education for the children of NM. Skandera is wrong and Graham incompetent.
Mary Ellen Gonzales Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-30 We need to encourage creativity in our kids. This we are not doing! Name Location Date Comment
Stephanie Owens Questa, NM 2013-12-30 Would you hire a doctor who had never been to medical school. Skandera is the educational equivalent of a "quack." Teachers are the heart of education and need to be treated thus - in terms of esteem, pay, and ownership of changes needed in public education.
Lenny Tischler Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-30 Corporate education is wrong
Donna Bokatzian Santa Fe, NM 2013-12-30 I am an Early Childhood Teacher and Advocate
Taryn Israelson Las Cruces, NM 2013-12-30 I am a future teacher but because of the condition of the current education system I am dreading to do what has always been my dream. This needs to change.
Bob F. Leyba Newberry Springs, CA 2013-12-30 The best education possible for everyone [regardless of circumstance] is what the 'future' is really all about. Bob F. Leyba
Cindy McLeod LAs Vegas, NM 2013-12-30 We need to use researched best practices in educating young people.
George Dimsey Las Vegas, NM 2013-12-30 There is a war on children and it must be stopped at all cost.
Cynthia Risner Radium Springs, NM 2013-12-31 Non educators have refused to listen to those of us with experience, even if we serve on advisory committees! The humanity is being taken out of education.
Ron Cameron Hurley, NM 2013-12-31 My grandchildren deserve a better Sec. of Education
CHARLETA RECTOR PORTALES, NM 2013-12-31 We have to get back to allowing our teachers to teach!
Jeffrey Harrington Rio Rancho, NM 2013-12-31 While improving teacher evaluation and student achievement are important to our education system, the arbitrary bypass of the democratic process cannot be ignored. Also, the amount spent on the contract with Teachscape (an online teacher evaluation component) is obscene as we observe schools with out- dated text books, classrooms with 40+ students, and teacher salaries below most professions which require degrees. Obviously, our schools could use these funds elsewhere. The lack of democratic process is the direct causation of this confusing, unwanted, corporate reform. camille toma massapequa, NY 2014-01-01 Don't allow corporations to ruin public schools
Belinda Tsabetsaye Zuni, NM 2014-01-02 First of all I am a parent, and an educator myself and all the changes that are occuring has a direct impact on my children and myself.
Lisbeth Fischer Silver City, NM 2014-01-04 I am a mother and children deserve the very best! Name Location Date Comment
Amanda Longer Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-05 To: Hanna Skandera, Secretary-Designate, New Mexico Public Education Department Martin Esquivel, APS Board of Education President APS Board of Education Susana Martinez, Governor of New Mexico Representative Ken Martinez, Speaker of the House Senator Mary Kay Papan, President Pro Tempore Representative Rick Miera, Majority Floor Leader Representative Donald E. Bratton, Minority Floor Leaders Senator Michael S. Sanchez, Majority Floor Leader Senator Stuart Ingle, Minority Floor Leader Representative Nate Gentry, Minority Whip Senator Timothy M. Keller, Majority Whip Senator William H. Payne, Minority Whip Senator John P. Sapien, Chair, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator William Soules, Vice-Chair, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Craig Brandt, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Lee Cotter, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Bill B. O'Neill, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Michael Padilla, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator John Pinto, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Pat Woods, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Gay G. Kernan, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Howie Morales Representative Antonio "Moe" Maestas Senator Linda Lopez Governor Susana Martinez Senator George Munoz, Senate District 4 in the New Mexico Senate Senator Sander Rue, Rules Committee, Senate Rules Committee Senator Clemente Sanchez, Rules Committee, Senate Rules Committee Senator Daniel A. Ivey-Soto, Senate Rules Committee Senator Stuart Ingle, Senate Rules Committee Senator Mark Moores, Senate Rules Committee Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Senate Rules Committee Senator Cliff R. Pirtle, Senate Rules Committee Senator Jacob R. Candelaria, Senate Rules Committee Senator Michael Sanchez, Senate Rules Committee Matthew Montano, New Mexico Public Education Department Liz Thomson, New Mexico State Legislature The Governor of NM The NM State Senate The NM State House Rep. Ben Lujan, New Mexico-03 Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico-01 Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico-02 Sen. Tom Udall, New Mexico We demand thoughtful, planned out, collaboratively decided, scientifically research-based, responsible, non-punitive, non-corporately-influenced educational policies in New Mexico's public schools. Sincerely, Amanda Longer
Dominique Jones Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-05 This is an insane approach to educating our children! Name Location Date Comment
Jane Snage Lake Orion, MI 2014-01-05 Professional educators, NOT corporations/privateers care about our kids. The deformers are in it for the $$
Randee Ensor Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-05 Teaching to a test will not give New Mexico problem solvers and entrepreneurs. Creativity cannot be tested. These unvented reforms are a waste of taxpayer money. And, honestly, if you want New Mexicans to endorse you in your vice presidential aspirations, you should not trample all over their kids.
Carlos Zambrano Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-05 Because I want my best friend to get her diploma and not a certificate of completion
Michelle Cordova- Carlsbad, NM 2014-01-05 I am a teacher that just finished my Masters in Administrative Education. My Montalvo passion is to help our students, communities, support our staff and bring more confidence to our American Education system. As of now, our leadership is FAILING. If it means that I get one voice, I want mine to be heard. We need leadership that has knowledge and a foundational understanding of what our administration, teachers, and students need to succeed in our rapidly changing educational world. jeannette hanna sacramento, CA 2014-01-05 This would be comparable to a hostile take-over. Our students deserve an education system crafted for THEM, not for stockholders.
Rosalyn Jones Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-05 I grew up in the APS school system and I want to be a teacher when I'm done with college. Educating kids in a happy, healthy, and productive environment is one of the best things we can do for humanity as a whole. How could this not be important to me?
Elaine Wilson Torrance, CA 2014-01-05 Stop the Koch Bros., ALEC manipulation of state legislators.
Maria Sepulveda Sacramento, CA 2014-01-05 because schools are supposed to be about education not business
Brandon Conner Farmington, NM 2014-01-05 I recently completed my education in New Mexico in the 2012-2013 school year. Education is a key component to the development and sustaining of a democratic society. Though American public school have never been completely a bastion of democratic ideals and equality; reforms throughout the years have attempted to remedy this problem. The current mindset of corporate based educational reform is grounded in good intentions but also greed. Corporate reformers want to continue a pattern of color-blindness and corporate rhetoric which stresses individuals are responsible for the failing of public schools;i.e teachers and the "dreaded unions" instead of focusing on issues such as systemic/institutional oppression. Corporate reform is an attempt to reinforce the dominate culture and profit the economic elite, that is why stand against corporate reform.
David Sahyoun Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-06 there is a need for quality teaching
Mauna Richardson La Madera, NM 2014-01-06 I have grandchildren in school and I want the best education possible for them.
Barbara Zook Santa Fe, NM 2014-01-06 NM is the 50th in the country in educating our youth. We need better education but no Corporate Education Reform. joe ciddio Dixon, NM 2014-01-06 the trend to privatize education is profit motivated, take the profit out of education
Melinda Padilla Reynolds Bosque, NM 2014-01-06 As a retired kindergarten teacher, I am so saddened by the direction in which education reform in New Mexico is headed. Yes, reform is necessary, but the focus should be directed toward addressing poverty, implementing universal early childhood education, and improving teacher training at the university level. Please don't continue to waste our meager resources on unproven ideas imposed by unqualified leaders.
Colin Evans Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-07 Education is the only way to make progress as a community. Name Location Date Comment
Gwen Maldonado Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-07 I want to be respected for the professional I am and to offer the best education to my students possible. Teaching to a test does not give our students the best learning experiences and challenges. I am also a mother that wants more for my children's education.
Terry and Sue Cain Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-07 Providing quality public schools in New Mexico is the responsibility of all citizens in our state. The dangerous actions of the PED under the leadership of Skandera are hurting and not helping our students and educators.
Scott Hancock Santa Fe, NM 2014-01-07 New Mexico students deserve better than policies that enrich corporations, slavishly follow political solutions or do the wrong thing just to do something. m mayer albuquerque, NM 2014-01-07 the children of NM deserve better the future we all face needs better lets DO better!!!
Lisa Pinceloup Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-08 The new requirements for EOCs & Common Core take instruction time and money away from classrooms.
Katherine Killinger Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-09 I want a better future full of thinkers not robots
Cheryl Baker Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-11 I am a teacher, we need smaller classrooms and support, not blame.
Eli Vigil Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-11 I am a teacher and have had enough of Martinez and Skandera. They are pushing through policies which are proven failures in other states where they were attempted before. They are driving more teachers to other careers/early retirement and discouraging students of all ages. Enough is enough.
Nicole Shaver Rio Rancho, NM 2014-01-14 I have two students in New Mexico Public Schools. I see them spending hours and hours on testing, and not enough time on real learning. I see teachers "teaching to the test". In an age where we need more science and engineering, the kids barely learn any science as they are not tested on it.
Peter Voris Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-15 The education of our children (grandchildren, in my case) is all about preparing them for the future...theirs and the world's. To turn the whole educational process over to the hands of corporate interests whose REAL interests are profits, is a true perversion of the original intent of our educational. system camille varoz Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-18 It is time teachers/educators, parents and students make claim to public education in ways that are equitable and meaningful for all. I want to be able to use my dedication, expertise, and creative in my classrooms that reflect my teaching standards for the benefit of my students and their families. This Teacher Evaluation System forced on us by the Governor Martinez and Skandera if for their personal interest. This has to be stopped, NOW.
Ann Gibson Algodones, NM 2014-01-18 Skandera messed up Florida's educational system and now she's doing the same here. Her lack of educational credentialing is more than obvious. Changes she is implementing are not grounded in scientific research. And education is not a "one size fits all" type of enterprise. NM is unique in the make-up of students (rural v urban, impoverished v not, ethnic diversity, etc.). Much of what ails NM's poor academic ranking stems from problems over which teachers have no control (i.e. poverty, hunger, domestic violence, etc.). marcela mendoza albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 This is important to me because its not fair to most teens that want to graduate from high school , most teachers , school education boards always say they want to increase graduating rates , but by trying to put more test will only decrease the number and i as a student want to graduate like many others test don't actually tell you if there smart enough to graduate test are just pressure to put on us and many of us are poor testers. and again we want to be able to graduate with out having to stress more and more for so many test that mostly we wont pass. Name Location Date Comment
Cynthia Munoz Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 This is important to me because I am not a good test taker. Tests get me nervous. My grades are good but when it comes to tests my brain goes blank. We go to school for 12 years of our life so that at the end a simple test could decide weather we get our diploma or not. That's unfair in so many ways.
Martha Benner Deming, NM 2014-01-19 Our kids need our help.
Pamela McBride Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 These so-called reforms are not fair to teachers or the children who are supposed to be the first concern of education reforms
Barbara Leonard Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 I don't think these reforms are valid or useful. They are disrupting NM education for our children.
Camille Varoz Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 Less time for teaching with creativity; observations are more subjective than objective; more time spent on teachscape than time spent on thoughtful and meaningful teaching.
Herman Garcia Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-19 I am an educator for the children-not a politician for profits
Bill Bradley Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 As a parent of a 6th grader, I want to see my son spend less time on corporate- designed tests and more time being inspired by his amazing teachers.
Victoria Regina Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-19 Because in order to make educational decisions, we must include everyone involved.
Vera Turner Datil, NM 2014-01-20 As an educator I am against her punitive policies that hurt our kids and our teachers.
Colleen Orlovsky Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 All research shows that this form of corporate education is detrimental to teachers, students, and the all educational goals of providing the best research based learning experiences for student to achieve academic success.
Evey Jones Placitas, NM 2014-01-20 KIDS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME!
John Comstock Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 I am an ISP teacher who frequently stays 2 and a half hours after school to get prepared for the next day. I don't feel the constant evaluation measures are conducive to better teaching. I think it is wrong to base most of the evaluation on a test-based student achievement measure which can not be explained to us. I also don't feel so much testing is conducive to learning.
Emma Vaitkus Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 BECAUSE MY EDUCATION MATTERS. I AM THE FUTURE. scott wipf santa fe, NM 2014-01-20 We need to keep the teachers we have!
Jennifer Moss Los Alamos, NM 2014-01-20 Teachers are being treated like children and shuld be respected for all the time and energy that goes into their profession. These reforms put empasis on product, not the true learning process.
Bonney Hughes Santa Fe, NM 2014-01-20 Our children's education affects almost everything!
David Theis Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 Real education as well as not selling our children out is important to me.
Stacy Chesney Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 I have a daughter in elementary school
Bernice Dahl Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 We cannot have just one person making such important changes. I have a son in HS.
Thos Myers Taos, NM 2014-01-20 Corporate education is wrong. The purpose of education is create informed, critical thinking citizens, NOT corporate lackies to say "Want fries with that?"
By the way, Ms. Skandera and Governor Martinez, thank you for taking New Mexico to number 50, the lowest in education of all states.
Maurice Muhammad Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 Because our kids in NM need this
Ruth N. Rael Santa Fe, NM 2014-01-20 Our children are the future, they deserrve ahte best education we can provide. Shortcuts are not the answer, professional d=educators need oi=our support Name Location Date Comment
Patrice Goodkind Los Alamos, NM 2014-01-20 I am a licensed independent social worker (LISW) in private practice and am involved with children and their families. Additionally, I have a master's degree in education and have worked in the schools in Los Alamos on the Clinical Counseling Team. I think the content of this petition is right on and very, very important.
Ralph Coulter Cimarron, NM 2014-01-20 Teachers are the backbone of our society. They need more help. understanding and pay.
Camille Castillo Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-20 I taught in the elementary grades in Anaheim CA. After 32 years I felt that I was no longer teaching, but spending precious time prepping for tests. I now live in NM and am shocked at the drop out rate and poor student achievement in our Land of Enchantment!
Sharon Kayne Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-21 These reforms are not good for kids!
Ilene Weiss Alb, NM 2014-01-21 A well educated populace is key to a thriving democracy. Honor the educators and bring them to the table.
Paulina Aguilera-Eaton Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-21 Beurocrats are screwing up a generation of children and demoralizing many hard working, dedicated teachers.
Sally Blakemore Santa Fe, NM 2014-01-21 I work with children and I understand all the ways children learn. This "model", a template for learning, kills the spirit of curiosity and treats every child the same. I do not respect Gov. Martinez or Skandera for their "sell out" cookie cutter approach. karen swaine highland park, NJ 2014-01-21 similar 'corporate' reforms have taken place here much to the dismay of teachers and parents.
Elynn Cowden Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-21 I'm watching these reforms destroy our public education system from the inside. It will take years for us to recover, if ever.
Timothy Mings Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-22 I believe that teachers should be teaching, not testing.
J. H. Inskeep Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-22 Weighing the sheep won't make them fatter as testing doesn't make children more well rounded or smarter. carol campbell Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-22 We need to educate our children so they may become functioning people in society. Teaching to a test does nothing to prepare students for the real world they will become part of.
Michael Lee Clovis, NM 2014-01-23 New Mexico is third from the bottom in education for children. The only states lower than us are Mississippi and Louisiana. And she helps us how??????
Perdita Wexler Rio Rancho, NM 2014-01-23 This is important to me because our education system is being systematically destroyed.
Mary Miesem Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-23 Children are not automatons. They have minds that are hungry for learning about the world in which they live. Imposing such strategies and methods on these impressionable children squelches their enthusiasm for learning. They will be taught from an early age that their place in society is to adhere to the corporate model of greed and taking no action on anything unless there is personal monetary advantage.
Ross Davis Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-23 We have three kids in APS schools and are seeing first hand how this entire process is extremely detrimental to their education as well as that of all other students.
Tyhomas McLean Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-24 We need to get a good education for the children Name Location Date Comment
Nichalas Enser Washington, DC 2014-01-24 Madame Governor and esteemed Representatives of the Public,
Corporate-directed reform of the public school system is a travesty and has led to decreasing quality in a number of States and cities.
New Mexico should take pride in the coming generations and offer them the very best education, shaped by experts in education and child development - not the whims of whatever corporation comes along!
Thank you for your consideration!
Kelly Braun Austintown, OH 2014-01-24 If we do not speak .... who will??
Lesa Wilbert Taberg, NY 2014-01-24 Public education is crucial to all children. Stop trying to fix it. Embrace it. Fund it. Children are NOT PROFITS! Stop this nonsense now!
Chris Wiggins Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-24 I believe public education can be a great thing, but the current situation is not making this happen.
Charlene Brown Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-25 The petition says it all!
Lena Willis Los Lunas, NM 2014-01-25 I have 19 years experience in NM public schools as a teacher. Things are out of hand.
Linda Joyce Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-25 Educating our society is the most important issue facing our Country. This should not be put in the hands of Corporations so they can re-write history and science to fit their agendas.
Michael bowen cheektowaga, NY 2014-01-25 kids over corporations/
Barbara Chavez Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-26 Because my husband, daughter and son-in-law are hard working educators. Also my granddaughter is a student and I feel like all the testing and strain on our teachers is just hurting the educational process. We need to get back to basic, let the teachers teach and keep corp and Skandera out of it. She is unproven.... cliff Evans Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-26 Protecting New Mexico students from private education. Public education properly funded works.
Margaret Giese Rio Rancho, NM 2014-01-26 Those wonderful individuals who teach our children obviously do it because they care about their futures. The money definitely isn't holding them there, and I cannot believe this state will support grading our teachers by assessment performance scores which are very inaccurate! Ridiculous!
Chris Parker Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-26 I have kids at school.
Evelyn Genta Alamogordo, NM 2014-01-26 Because our children are important to me!!!
Asa Gregory Wilson, NC 2014-01-26 This is important to me because I served for 6 months as an Educational Assistant in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I see the specialized, personal attention and education those kids need. Corporations need to mind their own business...making profits off of THEIR products...not the minds of our young adults!!!
Kathalyn Noonan Aztec, NM 2014-01-26 I am a teacher and I care about my students.
Hillary Leona Abiquiu, NM 2014-01-26 I am educator and parent-
Thomas Welch Lolo, MT 2014-01-27 Because I want our educational system to improve through well reasoned problem solving and long lasting solutions. Excluding the experts such as teachers, parents, administrators and not utilizing scientific models is not the answer.
Andrew Tenneson Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-27 Because metrics and privatization don't work. Name Location Date Comment
Lillian Tenneson Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-27 As a future educator, I want to stay in New Mexico and teach our kids. Policies like this are very discouraging for students and teachers alike. We need a balanced approach to reforming our educational system. Students should be given an education and not simply taught to take an arbitrary test. Let's open communication and actually make education work for our kids.
Susan Lutz Abiquiu, NM 2014-01-27 Excellent education is the foundation of a civilized society.
Bobby Messenger Placitas, NM 2014-01-27 End of course exams are unnecessary
Kristine Barlow-Docherty Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-27 Concerned for my child's work load scott barlow abq, NM 2014-01-27 Concerned for the amount of work at the end of the year
Hailey Maurino Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-27 I can't handle finals and end of course exams, that's ridiculous.
Chris Dolphin Durango, CO 2014-01-27 I work in Aztec, NM and the programs that are being enforced in my district keep me from doing what is best for students. One test once a year is not an accurate measure of what my students know and are able to do. Huge amounts of money are being spent on initiatives that do not help students be more successful.
Sonia Gates Aztec, NM 2014-01-27 I work in a school district and see firsthand the ramifications of legislature that is implemented without research, studies and input from stakeholders.
Cynthia Le Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-27 This is important to me because education should not be like this! Do not punish those that should not be!
Rose Buss Tijeras, NM 2014-01-27 Because I don't think Corporations should own and run our country.
Frank Cannella Alto, NM 2014-01-27 These changes are destroying public education. Any joy that was once in education and learning has been removed by this bureaucracy. Teachers need to be trusted and not punished. Education is a very complex issue, and teachers have shouldered the blame for perceived shortcomings in achievement. What about students, parents, and politicians. Increasing class sizes and raising standards won't bring about the desired growth.
Thomas Allen Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-27 As a teacher, I believe that students' mastery is best measured individually and based on performance.
Kristin Hein Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-27 I have three children in the public school system and I am a former teacher. Why would someone who has never taught in the classroom, who does not fully understand what our teachers face everyday, be appointed PED Secretary? I do not agree with her reforms, as they are directly effecting my boys and the education they are or are not receiving!
Mira Marjanovic Belgrade, Serbia 2014-01-27 AS human being I want people to live according to their needs, not corporate! Because it can spread the world!
Dale Kraemer Ignacio, CO 2014-01-27 I am a teacher in Aztec NM and I care about kids...... Corporate Education Reforms HURT kids AND education!!
Lisa Myers Durango, CO 2014-01-27 I have been a teacher in NM for over twenty years. This proposed system of educational reform is untenable and basically absurd in its complicated nature. Most importantly, it does not improve our students' learning or how teachers will teach. Find a system that will hold teachers, students, and PARENTS accountable. The merit pay system is unfair, unmanageable (how can the PED budget for such an unknown), and unfair.
Carmen Perez Rio Rancho, NM 2014-01-27 First it was our non-profits who worked for our children and their families; now it is our educational system! What gives Skandera and Martinez?! This is not DEMOCRACY!
Erika Jones Santa fe, NM 2014-01-27 If kids are our future (and they are!), then teachers are our future!
Sheila Burns Santa Fe,, NM 2014-01-27 Education is more imporatnt that corporate profits. Name Location Date Comment
Jennifer Eilertson Washington, DC 2014-01-28 My friend's daughter is in the New Mexico public school system and they are working hard to make changes that we all believe in.
Linda Darnell Bosque Farms, NM 2014-01-28 Stop the wasteful spending ~
Brant Palley Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-28 It is important to teach a wide variety of subjects for kids to learn to think and create, thinking is important; teaching to a test is not the answer.
Mackenzie Everett Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-28 I enjoy having teachers who care and aren't trying to just "perform" for a corporation.
Hollie Jacobs Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-29 Our public school teachers are spending too much time 'teaching to the test' leaving little time for creativity in teaching. Further, the exponential increase in testing time leaves less time for learning. My son will spend 1 month of school time testing this spring. This is insane!!
Wendy Green Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-29 I am the parent of a first grader in APS and I am a teacher.
Helen Barber Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-30 I am a student of LCPS and am concerned about the measures the government is taking to make it harder for myself and other fellow students to obtain a proper education.
Jason Raucci Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-30 My children are students in Albuquerque Public Schools, and I strongly disapprove of the proposed approach to reform, and the secretary-designate promoting it.
Jacobo Vega-Albela Las Cruces, NM 2014-01-30 I currently attend highschool, and these policies could have a negative effect on my experience in the public education system.
Danita Gomez Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-30 stop using millions of my tax dollars for the out-of-state for profit private testing companies
Ellery Wuest Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-30 As a student who has had to deal with these so called reforms personally, I have firsthand experience of their negative impact on education. Not only do these tests waste time, but fail to asses more than bare minimum knowledge. No higher level thinking skills are assessed whatsoever.
Joe Ward Farmington, NM 2014-01-30 I once taught and was a school administrator in NM. You couldn't pay me enough to set foot in a classroom under the current political climate. Make New Mexico a decent state to teach in once again.
Julia Bondanella Saint George, UT 2014-01-31 Privatization of government functions has generally cost the taxpayer far more than good government services. We do not need corporations to operate public education, because it wlll fundamentally be nothing more than brainwashing. We need impartial, research-based, open reforms. Corporations are NOT the answer.
Junmo Park Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-31 because anna skandara is a f**
Jeremy Sment Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-31 Education is between a teacher, student, and parent. Each case is unique and requires flexibility. This is why teachers need more money for salaries, so they can hang in there and do what it takes because you can't just crank out tests and expect every kid to learn.
Rachel Baucom Albuquerque, NM 2014-01-31 Teachers are not allowed to teach anymore. Instead we are forced to test with developmentally inappropriate tests. Many of the tests are one on one which means the class is given busy work so the teacher can test. Children hate school. They are stressed out and unhappy and not having a childhood, recess or, meaningful learning. These corporate policies benefit no one but the corporate cronies of Martinez and Skandera. Stop child abuse. Let children discover the joy of learning again!
Gabe Richard Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-01 As a parent of public school children it is important to me that there exists a separation of school and state. Educators, not politicians, should be the driving force behind education reform. Name Location Date Comment
Geri Rhodes Tome, NM 2014-02-01 because Skandera doesn't appreciate the value of limiting class size, and I know from experience as a CNM English instructor where class size is strictly limited for writing students that small classes benefit students.
William Sprout Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-01 I am a teacher, and this nonsense has to stop now!
Mark Stone Portales, NM 2014-02-01 If the future of our children is important then non-educational people should not be making policies without consulting the parents and people within education first.
Elise Beaulieu Plattsburghn, NY 2014-02-01 I am an educator also. Name Location Date Comment cesar rossatto el paso, AL 2014-02-01 To: Hanna Skandera, Secretary-Designate, New Mexico Public Education Department Martin Esquivel, APS Board of Education President APS Board of Education Susana Martinez, Governor of New Mexico Representative Ken Martinez, Speaker of the House Senator Mary Kay Papan, President Pro Tempore Representative Rick Miera, Majority Floor Leader Representative Donald E. Bratton, Minority Floor Leaders Senator Michael S. Sanchez, Majority Floor Leader Senator Stuart Ingle, Minority Floor Leader Representative Nate Gentry, Minority Whip Senator Timothy M. Keller, Majority Whip Senator William H. Payne, Minority Whip Senator John P. Sapien, Chair, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator William Soules, Vice-Chair, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Craig Brandt, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Lee Cotter, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Bill B. O'Neill, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Michael Padilla, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator John Pinto, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Pat Woods, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Gay G. Kernan, Legislative Education Study Committee Senator Howie Morales Representative Antonio "Moe" Maestas Senator Linda Lopez Governor Susana Martinez Senator George Munoz, Senate District 4 in the New Mexico Senate Senator Sander Rue, Rules Committee, Senate Rules Committee Senator Clemente Sanchez, Rules Committee, Senate Rules Committee Senator Daniel A. Ivey-Soto, Senate Rules Committee Senator Stuart Ingle, Senate Rules Committee Senator Mark Moores, Senate Rules Committee Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Senate Rules Committee Senator Cliff R. Pirtle, Senate Rules Committee Senator Jacob R. Candelaria, Senate Rules Committee Senator Michael Sanchez, Senate Rules Committee Matthew Montano, New Mexico Public Education Department Liz Thomson, New Mexico State Legislature New Mexico Governor New Mexico State Senate New Mexico State House Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Rep. Ben Lujan, New Mexico-03 Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico-01 Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico-02 Sen. Tom Udall, New Mexico We demand thoughtful, planned out, collaboratively decided, scientifically research-based, responsible, non-punitive, non-corporately-influenced educational policies in New Mexico's public schools.
Sincerely, Dr. Cesar Rossatto Name Location Date Comment
Geraldine Feron Belen, NM 2014-02-01 No wonder we are at the bottom of the academic and financial ladders in this country if this is the plan for our public schools. STOP THIS NOW.
Edna Castillo 2014-02-02 Because is necessary to stop people who don't have nothing to do in the public education and that do not have anything to do in the field of education.
Joyce Johns Peralta, NM 2014-02-02 I am a retired teacher with 33 years of service and I know how much more effective I was when I had smaller classes. To think otherwise is foolish.
Beryl Hargis Hammond, LA 2014-02-02 It is a shame that corporate America is trying to take over school systems all over this country. It needs to stop. Let the educators do their jobs and let the profit makers stick to their corporations.
Garnet Hill Las Vegas, NM 2014-02-02 retired teacher, mother and grandmother of teachers
Belinda Phillips Clovis, NM 2014-02-02 Education decisions should be made at the local level by the experts and the stake holders.
Linda Melville Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-02 The current reform legislation is punitive to teachers and to schools and does not involve parent or community input. While I want accountability and evaluation, I do not want the high-stakes testing model promoted by this reform.
Anne Tenaglia West Chester, PA 2014-02-02 The reforms sought by the current range of corporatations do not reflect equity or even quality education as shown in the ineffectiveness of the current crop of charter schools. Reforms that eliminate tenure, demand the COmmon Core Standards, which are developmentally inappropriate in the primary grades, and initiate merit pay which has been proven to be ineffective, only serve to decimate the public school system, not to help it.
Jan Toolan Binghamton, NY 2014-02-02 It is critical that those charged with making major education decisions and policies involve the stakeholders, and have actual experience and credentials in education.
Joann Donahue Harper Woods, MI 2014-02-02 Corporate education reforms are NOT the answer. You cannot reform something without involving the experts. Reform has been harming children all across the United States. Don't do it!
Michelle Johns York, PA 2014-02-02 The teachers need to have a voice in reform. Corporate reformers have no business in education.
Jennifer Franz Astoria, NY 2014-02-02 We need teachers and parents to have a voice in educating our children - NOT corporations who keep infiltrating our education system.
Deborah Burtnett Deming, NM 2014-02-02 Because it is time to save our Children!
Susan Gottschalk Gulf Breeze, FL 2014-02-02 None of the major stakeholders (parents, teacher, children) have been a part of the process to replace public schools with charter schools and to force feed CCSS reform on public schools. Corporations do not have the expertise to drive educational reform - just look at the stats from NCLB - scores went down every year. Prescribed and scripted "one-size fits all" programs are NOT the answer.
Lynne Lafer-Halvorson Bismarck, ND 2014-02-02 We are not talking about making widgets. We're talking about passing along the Knowledge of the Ages--Education cannot be bought or sold. It is a life- long on-going event, and is not for the purpose of providing workers. It is for erudition of the mind.
Katrina Summers Lehigh Acres, FL 2014-02-02 I am a teacher!
Alandrah Bailey Rio Rancho, NM 2014-02-02 Students need to be taught that learning is more important than simply passing a class, not the reverse which is currently the norm. Furthermore, the teachers should not be evaluated on the standardized test scores of students for often there are multiple other factors that play a role in the students' performances on these exams, a majority of them unrelated to the teachers at stake. Name Location Date Comment
Kjirsten Territ Durango, CO 2014-02-03 I have taught for 12 years and have seen the damage that this kind of legislation has done to public school first hand- damage to both my students' education and to my own family's well-being.
Sara Maynerich Portales, NM 2014-02-04 Teachers spend their time cramming information for tests. So students, instead of learning, memorize what they have to, regurgitate it on some test, and then forget it. How is that making America's youth smarter? Looking at other Countries, they aren't nearly as strict on students and they receive better test scores than America. Also, students have become desensitized to tests because they are already over tested.
Mady Schreiner Alamogordo, NM 2014-02-04 Because the Parents and the community need to be involved in what is taught to our children
Amy Tischler Santa Fe, NM 2014-02-04 Our schools are no longer places where knowledge and love of learning are valued. Instead are children are being trained to regurgitate information for tests. Spend a day in a luic school and you will see that true education reform is all about smaller classroom sizes and giving teachers a chance to teach.
Scott Willem Green Bay, WI 2014-02-07 This is only one step in a process designed to destroy public education in America and supplant it with publicly funded private for-profit schools. Don't let it happen! If it happens there, it can happen here.
John Nolan Springfield, VA 2014-02-07 Common Core SUCKS! LEAVE THE TEACHING TO THE EDUCATORS!!!!
Susan Dommer Manassas, VA 2014-02-07 Test score should NOT be used to judge a teacher's effectiveness.
Agustin Morales Springfield, MA 2014-02-07 Because educational decisions should not be in the hands of a few. It belongs to the public.
Susan Tanabe Salem, OR 2014-02-07 I am an educator from a long line of educators, many in Colorado and New Mexico!
Lucianna Sanson Tullahoma, TN 2014-02-07 Hanna Skandera is UNCONFIRMED and has forced a corporate reform model of education on the children of New Mexico- this is a parent and teacher issue- a student issue- NOT a political issue. Please support PUBLIC education- a passionate teacher who cares about American ED on a NATIONAL LEVEL.
Mike Harris Sussex, NJ 2014-02-07 The destruction of PUBLIC Education must stop!
Jennifer Scriba Chesterton, IN 2014-02-07 Schools are NOT businesses, and children are NOT products! Corporations need to SUPPORT education, not try to RUN IT (and you can read as RUIN IT ).
Terry Preuss dania beach, FL 2014-02-07 Because teachers need to be inspired, not rated on a test, tied to kids' scores.
Kisha Allgood Jersey City, NJ 2014-02-07 Please LEAVE EDUCATION ALONE Thank you
Mark Nash Fort Wayne, IN 2014-02-07 I am a teacher in a state going through the same garbage.
Michelle Behnfeldt Crofton, MD 2014-02-07 I am a public school teacher and refuse to give up the free and public education our students are supposed to get without a fight!
Caroline Turman Crown Point, IN 2014-02-07 Children are not widgets
Brenda Guy South Bend, IN 2014-02-07 We need educators making decisions for education
Diane Ower Zion, IL 2014-02-07 Keep the scammers out of public education! Public education is for the people and historically maintained control at a local level where the locals have the experience and familiarity of the neighborhood school dynamics. This privatization is plainly a money grab and does not have a solid basis in best practices since they bypassed teacher involvement in any of the processes. No confidence.
Joanne Mayoza Henry, TN 2014-02-07 Public education is important to me. Name Location Date Comment
Beth Egbert Canton, OH 2014-02-07 Public Education needs to be protected and not thrown out with the dish water. Common sense needs to prevail in what is going to be the policy of not just the State of New Mexico but the whole US. What needs to be fixed in education is not all these corporate reforms brought in by not educators but changes that help kids learn and succeed.
Kathy Melendez Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-07 Educator for educating kids well and properly.
Melanie Meredith Laurel Hill, NC 2014-02-07 ALEC and Corporations need to stay out of EDUCATION policy. If they want to give grants, by all means! Education is like an apprentice program not a business! We do not produce widgets people! GET that out of your minds! Kids are PEOPLE not machines!
Deborah Nevarez-Baca Las Cruces, NM 2014-02-07 1. Unfair biased evaluations ( principal favorites get great evaluations noayyer what). 2. Putting in way too many over time hours that take me away from own little boy and family. 3. Too much stress to live under the conditions placed on teachers 4. Too much testing students are not able to have their own unique personalities 5. We are not treated as educated professionals ( This hurts when you have been recognized as a highly qualified and effective teacher and your being told ," Your not a highly qualified teacher, or your students would all be scoring 90 percent on CFAs."). I could say more. Please change things to keep teachers .
Liz Murray San Francisco, CA 2014-02-07 Our children's education and our children's lives are not for sale.
Elizabeth Lopez Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-07 I am teacher & mom and see how she is directly affecting my sons, students and teaching un a negative way.
Rhonda Baca Peralta, NM 2014-02-07 Teachers need to teach before they can test. To much testing and not enough teaching.
Frances Lute Rio Rancho, NM 2014-02-07 My child is not a weapon. Stop using him as such.
Larry Proffitt Greenbrier, TN 2014-02-07 Public Education is the foundation of our Republic and its democracy.
Nancy Jobe Clovis, NM 2014-02-08 I am a first grade teacher, and I am seeing the harm too much testing is doing to our children.
Ann McCartney Los Lunas, NM 2014-02-09 These reforms are not well-grounded and should not go through.
Michael Swick Los Ranchos, NM 2014-02-10 Our children need a chance for better education.
Mary Silva hemet, CA 2014-02-15 Because public education should not be destroyed by those whose only concern is profit and not the welfare of our children.
Charlene Shaulis Corrales, NM 2014-02-15 We need non-partisan, expert based, parent based and teach driven methods to help plan the direction of NM's education model.
John Kelly MD Rio Rancho, NM 2014-02-15 All I've become relates to publicly funded educational opportunities.
Michelle Black La Plata, NM 2014-02-15 I believe in a Democratic process and the means in which this is being implemented is not Democratic. What does this say about our state?
Sharon Alexander Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-16 Ms. Scandera feels that she can dictate reforms without having the input of teachers and parents. She needs to go!
Cynthia Hull Gallup, NM 2014-02-16 Your and Skandera's model for education doesn't work. Kids are being tested too much, and there is even less time for learning, which should be the point of education. Those end of course tests are coming from you, in case you forgot. pamela post Ojo Caliente, NM 2014-02-16 Important to me because our educational system seems to think that money is the answer to all of the social and economic problems!!! READING WRITING AND ARITHMETIC!!! JUST TEACH THOSE 3!!! Name Location Date Comment
Jane Hasenmueller Santa fe, NM 2014-02-16 Because education is about leading children to think for themselves, to be creative and able to contribute to their community. Skandera's policies do not do this.
Susan Stuart Santa Cruz, CA 2014-02-16 Education is the future of our society and a key determinant of health.
Brian Clark Gallup, NM 2014-02-16 I am a teacher!
Humanitarianism First Ridley Park, PA 2014-02-16 PLEASE investigation this connection to her: __ http://chiefsforchange.org/about/ and http://excelined.org/team/lydia-logan/
the title is misleading . they are not NAI. motives very confusing.
Anna Maloney Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-17 Political agendas are putting our students at risk
Vera Burright Albuquerque, NM 2014-02-17 I am a former educator and my daughter teaches and my grandchildren go to school.