It’s just over a month until the Nov. 4 election, and the Albuquerque Public School Board race is heating up.
The Chamber’s Board of Directors has thrown its support behind four candidates — Danielle Gonzales, Courtney Jackson, Joshua Martinez and David Ams.
At the Chamber’s Board of Directors meeting on Sept. 25, the body heard from Amanda Aragon, NewMexicoKidsCan executive director, on the status of the races.
Aragon said all of the races are important, yet Gonzales in District 3 and Jackson in District 7 are the two tightest races. Both are incumbents and are the APS board president and vice president, respectively.
Aragon reminded the board that the candidates not only need the Chamber’s support, but support out in the community.
“Talk to your neighbors and let them know the importance of this election,” Aragon said. “It is insane that we have Danielle in this community. She just got the Medallion of Excellence by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and is endorsed by (former U.S. Secretary of Education) John King. She is incredible.”
GACC President and CEO Terri Cole has emphasized how important it is for the business community, and the community at large, to have school district leadership aligned with student academic improvement. “Dr. Durán Blakey has made tremendous progress, working in tandem with the board majority, to ensure our district has a strategic plan tied to student improvement. She and Danielle and Courtney have instilled accountability in the system, and voters should support them so that work can continue.”
And GACC Education BIG Chairman Paul Madrid also encouraged the board and its members to support the Chamber’s four candidates to keep our progress moving forward.
The Chamber encourages its members to support these candidates in the November election:
Danielle Gonzales
Incumbent I District 3: Downtown, North Valley, Los Ranchos, Corrales
Gonzales was elected to the APS Board of Education in 2021 and now serves as board president, leading bold efforts to improve outcomes for students across the district. A proud graduate of Albuquerque Public Schools including Valley High School, she has spent her career working to advance equity and opportunity in education — beginning as a fourth-grade teacher and growing into roles as a policy expert, advocate and nonprofit leader.
Courtney Jackson
Incumbent I District 7: Far Northeast Heights, including La Cueva and Eldorado High School
Jackson was elected to the APS Board of Education in 2021 and now serves as board vice president. A proud New Mexican and graduate of La Cueva High School, University of New Mexico and the UNM School of Law, she brings a strong background in law, business and education to her leadership. She has focused her first term on improving student outcomes, increasing community engagement and promoting transparency across the district.
Joshua Martinez
District 5: ABQ West Side – Middle and South
Martinez is a proud father of three and a dedicated public servant running to bring fresh leadership to the APS Board of Education. He currently serves as the New Mexico Health Equity and Community Impact director for the American Diabetes Association, leading statewide efforts to support families and strengthen community well-being. Rooted in a family of public educators and involved in his children’s school community, he brings personal and professional experience to his advocacy for students.
David Ams
District 6: ABQ Heights including Sandia and Manzano high schools., Four Hills and East Mountains
Ams is a father, PTA president and accomplished scientist running for the Albuquerque School Board to ensure every student has access to a high-quality education. Raised in a working-class family, he understands the transformative power of public schools — he credits his own path from student to PhD chemist as being made possible by the support of great teachers and mentors.
The APS Board hires the superintendent, and APS is fortunate to have a reform-minded, student-focused superintendent in Gabriella Duran Blakey. That could change if these candidates do not prevail in November.
Early voting begins in earnest Oct. 18 – the GACC urges voters to support the APS GO bond and these four candidates to keep the district moving forward!