Posts Tagged ‘Public Education Department’
Education Cabinet Secretaries Featured at January Luncheon
New Mexico Public Education Department Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera and New Mexico Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Dr. Jose Z. Garcia will be the featured presenters at the January MVEDA Business in the Borderplex luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet.
MVEDA, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber de Las Cruces, and the Bridge of Southern New Mexico are pleased to kick-off 2012 by co-hosting a conversation with the Cabinet Secretaries on their work in building a strong, well-prepared workforce.
Secretary Skandera
Previously, Skandera served as Florida’s Deputy Commissioner of Education under former Governor Jeb Bush, working to advance middle and high school reforms that instituted greater accountability, incentives for high performance and the end of social promotion. Her work led to scores that improved dramatically across ethnic groups, with Hispanic students outperforming all students in 31 other states. Florida has been recognized nationally as one of the only states to narrow the achievement gap for poor and minority students. She also served as a senior policy advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education and as former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Undersecretary for Education.
Secretary Garcia
Jose Z. Garcia has been on the faculty at New Mexico State University for more than three decades. He has conducted research and lectured throughout Latin America, specializing in questions of political instability. Dr. Garcia directed the Center for Latin American and Border Studies at NMSU for 13 years. In recent years his research has focused on the U.S.-Mexico border. He is one of the founding members of the Paso del Norte Water Task Force, a non-governmental, tri-state, bi-national organization created in the late 1990s, grouping together irrigation district and water utilities managers with environmental groups, citizens, and academics, to stimulate greater cooperation toward more efficient regional water management in the Paso del Norte region. Dr. Garcia was chair of the organization from 2010-2011. He has also taught a course in New Mexico politics for many years. After receiving a BA from Occidental College, Dr. Garcia was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to Ecuador. He received an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a PhD from the University of New Mexico.
The vital link between education and workforce and economic development has been highlighted by The Bridge of Southern New Mexico. The Bridge is working alongside Secretary Skandera and Secretary Garcia to create stronger linkages from public education to post-secondary education to give New Mexico a prosperous, sustainable future for business by building a strong, well-prepared workforce.
Luncheon cost is $20.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. Due to space limitations, reservations are required. Please confirm your attendance no later than Thursday, December 29th by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852. The meeting is open to the public.
Governor Bill Richardson Welcomes New Mexico’s First Early College High School
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was on hand today at a press conference announcing New Mexico’s first Early College High School.
Governor Bill Ricardson speaking at ECHS press conference
The new school will be built in the Arrowhead Research Park on the campus of New Mexico State University (NMSU). It is slated to begin holding classes in the fall of 2011.
The Early College High School(ECHS), a regional project, will focus on increasing the area high school graduation rates, enhancing career and technical education opportunities, and ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education and the 21st century workplace.
ECHS will provide new and enhanced opportunities for up to 500 Dona Ana County teenagers. Students will experience an academic environment in a small, active learning community, which includes connections to learning opportunities outside the classroom through industry internships, online learning, and independent projects and participation in dual enrollment. Students completing Early College High School will graduate with a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit, with the potential of earning an associate’s degree.
Dignitaries joining the Governor at today’s press conference included: NM Department of Education Assistant Secretary Dr. Gloria Rendon; NMSU Interim President Dr. Manuel T. Pacheco; NMSU Provost Dr. Waded Cruzado-Salas; NMSU Vice President of Economic Development and former Governor Garrey Carruthers; NMSU College of Education Dean Dr. Michael Morehead; Dona Ana Community College CEO Dr. Margie Huerta; Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Stan Rounds; and Suzanne Quillen, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bridge of Southern New Mexico.
The ECHS is a collaborative effort of New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College, Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District, Hatch Valley Public Schools, The Bridge of Southern New Mexico, and regional business and industry partners.
Dona Ana County’s First Early College High School to Be Announced
On Thursday, August 20, 2009, Dona Ana County’s first Early College High School will be unveiled. The project is the result of a partnership between New Mexico State University (NMSU), Dona Ana Community College (DACC), Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District and Hatch Valley Public Schools. The announcement will be held at the NMSU College of Education, O’Donnell Hall Atrium, 1220 Stewart Street, and beginning at 10:00 a.m. NMSU Interim President Dr. Manuel T. Pacheco, Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Stan Rounds, Governor Bill Richardson and NM Public Education Department Secretary Dr. Veronica C. Garcia will be among the speakers.
The facility will be built on land adjacent to the Arrowhead Research Park and will have a career-tech STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) focus along with introducing entrepreneurial skills. The dual credit program established between higher education institutions and the public schools will allow a student to enroll for a class at Dona Ana 
Community College (DACC) or New Mexico State University (NMSU) and receive both high school and college credit. This program will allow a student to not only complete a high school curriculum, but also permit that student to graduate with over 30 college credits and in some cases even qualify for an Associates degree from DACC. The project has been a focus of The Bridge of Southern New Mexico since its inception. The participating educational institutions are members of the Bridge.
Visitors may obtain an E-Permit for the event on-line: http://www.campusvisitor.com/.
