Teach For America has had an amazing impact on some of New Mexico’s most challenged schools, and has demonstrated and proven its commitment to bringing educational equity to all of our state’s children. The Public Education Department is excited to partner with Teach For America as it lifts up even more of our young people by expanding into new schools and districts. I stand strongly behind the talented, motivated teachers that Teach For America has brought to New Mexico’s schools.
- Dr. Veronica Garcia, New Mexico Secretary of Education
Teach For America • New Mexico is playing a critical role in improving schools and communities. This year, a corps of nearly 80 of the nation’s top recent college graduates is working in underserved schools across New Mexico to ensure that students facing the challenges of poverty are given the educational opportunities they deserve. Our alumni are leaders in the classroom, in education more broadly, and across all sectors. Together, they are making educational equity a reality in New Mexico. Learn about living and teaching in New Mexico.
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Executive Director |
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During the 2008-09 school year, nearly 80 corps members are directly impacting the lives of more than 5,000 students in New Mexico. Lydia Wright is one example of the tremendous difference our corps members are making.
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Lydia Wright (New Mexico Corps '07) |
Lydia Wright (Corps ‘07) entered her seventh grade English class and found that her students, on average, were reading at a fourth grade level. Undeterred, Lydia set high expectations and began talking to her students about the impact of the achievement gap on their community. Determined to prove they could succeed, many of Lydia’s students declared that they wanted to be the first college graduate in their family. Lydia created a research project, in which her students researched colleges, wrote admissions letters, and interviewed college students. By year’s end, all of her students had improved, on average, more than two grade levels. In New Mexico, corps members like Lydia are working in over 30 schools across five districts to ensure that their students excel academically.
Principal Satisfaction
*"Teach For America 2007 National Principal Survey,” Policy Studies Associates, July 2007.
Impact on Student
Achievement
A growing body of research shows that corps members have a positive impact on their students' achievement. Read more about our impact.
Student Profile
*Percentages vary depending on school district
New Mexico: Corps Member Placement
| Assignment | % of Corps* |
|---|---|
| Pre-K, Kindergarten | 10% |
| Elementary School, Lower (1-2) | 8% |
| Elementary School, Upper (3-5) | 25% |
| Secondary Math | 13% |
| Secondary English | 13% |
| Secondary Science | 15% |
| Secondary Social Studies | 10% |
| Secondary Other | 8% |
| Special Education | 13% |
*Percentages are rounded and do not add up to 100 percent; corps members who teach bilingual, ESL, or special education are also accounted for in the grade-level/subject placement percentages
Characteristics of the 2008 Corps
| Corps Profile | Top alma maters by market share* |
|---|---|
| Average GPA: 3.6 | Spelman College: 16% |
| Average SAT: 1320 | Morehouse College, Williams College, Yale University: 11% |
| Held leadership
roles on campus: 95% |
Duke University, Georgetown University, University of Chicago, Wake Forest University, Wesleyan University: 10% |
| People of color: 29% | Amherst College, Harvard University, Haverford University, Notre Dame University, Princeton University, Rice University: 9% |
*Percentage of senior classes who applied to Teach For America
Fostering Alumni Leadership for Systemic Change
As the number of corps members grows, so does our alumni base. By 2010, we will have over 250 Teach For America • New Mexico alumni pursuing professional careers and impacting educational reform from every sector.
Elizabeth Bush (New Mexico Corps '04) |
After Elizabeth Bush’s two-year commitment as a math and science teacher, she began teaching health education and medical anthropology at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Gallup. The Department of Education and Community College Weekly cite UNM-Gallup as the top college in New Mexico and the third-ranked national community college granting associate degrees to Native American students. By dedicating herself to the students at UNM, Liz is reshaping higher education in our community. Like Liz, 93 percent of alumni report that they continue to support Teach For America’s mission through their career, philanthropy, volunteer work, or graduate study.
Growing Our Impact: Funding Needs, 2007-2010
Each additional recruit is another dedicated teacher for children growing up in low-income communities in New Mexico, and another talented leader with the insight and commitment
necessary to sustain the reform efforts underway, which is critical to the ongoing vitality of our region.
| Year | Corps Size | Revenue Needs |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 75 | $1.16 million |
| 2008-09 | 90* | $1.39 million* |
| 2009-10 | 110* | $1.7 million* |
*projected |
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We are grateful to have many supporters who generously contribute to our movement in New Mexico. The foundations, corporations and individuals listed below have made it possible for Teach For America to continue to recruit, select, train, and support teachers who are working to eliminate educational inequity in our city.
To support Teach For America • New Mexico with a gift or to request additional information about our impact or finances, please contact:
Teach For America • New Mexico
Landon Mascareñaz, Executive Director
Katherine Crisler, Office Manager
1206 E. Aztec, Ste. C
Gallup, NM 87301
p 505-863-2887, f 505-863-3794
landon.mascarenaz@teachforamerica.org
katherine.crisler@teachforamerica.org
Landon Mascareņaz became involved with Teach For America as a 2005 corps member teaching first grade in Gallup, New Mexico. During his first year teaching he made significant strides toward strong academic student gains, yet it was during his second year he was fully able to utilize many resources to see upwards of 2 years' growth in writing and reading with his students. He initiated a Student Council at his school which put together a Veteran's Day Breakfast and coordinated with a local businessman to direct funds from the local Balloon Rally into classrooms that needed it. In conjunction with the after-school program, he started a youth debate class with 4th and 5th graders discussing current events and social issues. He graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, with a degree in International Affairs and Honors in Communication.
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