On July 9, the New Mexico Public Education Commission had a community input hearing for the proposed Equip Academy of New Mexico at the New Mexico Activities Association.
Plans are to locate the K-5 college prep charter school plans on Albuquerque’s West Side.
Equip Academy will have a lead teacher and an assistant teacher in every classroom, and every classroom will be named for a different U.S. university. It is founded by Mercy Hererra.
Bruce Stidworthy, GACC’s immediate past chairman of the board and president and CEO of Bohannan Huston, Leadership Albuquerque director Scott Darnell and Executive Vice President of Policy and Programs D’Val Westphal all testified in support of the charter school. Six graduates of Leadership Albuquerque were also there in support of Equip, which will offer “a top-tier, inquiry-based, college-preparatory education” and ensure “K-5 students master the knowledge and skills to dream audaciously, engage deeply, and pursue a life of purpose.”
Some of the testimony, via Zoom and in-person, included:
- It’s hard to find superstar talent. Equip will help produce great employees.
- Equip has a commitment to teacher excellence, which gives N.M. children the best of the best.
- The school will prepare students for when, not if, they go to college.
- There is a strong emphasis on literacy.
- Equip will prioritize high-quality education.
- It will offer flexibility for military families and a quality-of-life factor for Department of Defense.
- Equip will align with CEE competency-based education.
Albuquerque director, spoke about the need for high-quality public school seats for New Mexico’s students and the impressive qualifications of
Equip’s founder at the New Mexico Education Commission’s public
input hearing on Equip Academy of New Mexico. Testimony was shared in-person and online via a big screen.
The Chamber looks forward to the continued expansion of high-quality charter schools and supporting the mission of moving education forward in New Mexico.