Saying the sky's the limit, former SFPS Superintendent Dr. Veronica C. Garcia, SFPS' new contracted chief strategic officer, presented to the SFPS Board of Education at its September 22nd meeting to launch the effort to reimagine SFPS.
The board initiative was envisioned in two resolutions, sponsored by Board President Kate I. Noble, passed in 2019 and 2020 on the heels of the pandemic.
“This exciting initiative is a direct response to the community’s strong desire for change. Reinventing SFPS aligns with innovations underway like standards-based learning to improve equity and college and career technical education to make education more engaging and relevant. At the end of the day, it’s all about the students,” said Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez. “This is a time to get creative. Everyone has a role to play and we look forward to engaging with our community,” he said.
For the next 12 to 18 months, Dr. Garcia will work hand-in-hand with Superintendent Chavez and the board to place teaching, learning and students at the center of the initiative. As stressed at the meeting, this effort is about charting a path for public education to better meet the needs of the community. The effort will weave new, creative ideas with what's proving successful.
A reimagining steering committee, co-chaired by President Noble and Dr. Garcia, will be named in mid-October. Members will represent board districts, parent-teacher organizations, unions, school principals, Santa Fe Community College, tribal leadership, the Superintendent's Equity & Diversity Council and government and other partners.
Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) funding is supporting the reimagining effort. The effort is also occurring at a time of improved public school financing when SFPS is not facing budgetary pressures.
The board is looking to complete the reimagining effort by the end of 2023.
To learn more about the Reimagining, please visit the Reimagining SFPS webpage.