NMASCD Board of Directors

Penny Coppedge
President
Cimarron Municipal Schools
Principal

Ladona Clayton
President Elect
Clovis Municipal Schools
Deputy Superintendent

Dr. Judy Tanner
Past President
Las Cruces Public Schools
Principal

Carmen Torres
Secretary
Magdalena Schools
High School Teacher

Kathleen Pittman
Secretary Elect
Eastern New Mexico University
Faculty

Dr. Chris Milyard
Executive Director

NMASCD Board Members

NMASCD Support Staff

Alma Meza
NMASCD Exec. Secretary

Regarding leadership, we were asked at Leader to Leader (L2L) in July, “What constitutes leadership?” Keynote speaker Cile Chavez taught that good leaders are informed or prepared, intentional or purposeful and inspired or inspirational. As I reflect beyond those statements, I am also reminded of her call for us to be “spirit movers”.

She spoke about our vital role in enhancing relationships. She said it is our charge to elevate the human spirit. So, how do we do this? How do we elevate the spirit of the children in our schools?

I come repeatedly back to The Whole Child Initiative. As we work toward assuring that our children are healthy, safe, engaged, challenged and supported, we must then assure that we are giving attention to them in spirit as well as in pedagogy. We must assure that our children have opportunity to play and to learn through free play. We must advocate for the arts as well as other curricular topics. And this all takes money.

And this leads me to what I think one of my most important roles as an educator is in today’s world - that of advocate. While many speak of supporting education, we are faced with shrinking budgets and constant attacks on public education. Our legislature is going into a special session, and by all accounts the outcome is expected to bring yet more cuts to education. It is up to us to advocate for those cannot advocate for themselves_the children. We are holders of the children’s trust. What are the children asking us to do?

The answer for me is that in order to be an advocate for children and in order to be a keeper of their trust, I need to get involved. I need to attend meetings. I need to go to the legislature. I need to be informed, and in turn, I need to keep my legislators informed. Above all, I need to be intentional and purposeful in my actions, so that when I act, my actions are well received.

At the end of the day, today in my 47th year, while many things in education have changed, one thing has not - it is still about the children. Please get involved.

I mentioned to many that this was my 47th first day of school. I started kindergarten in 1962 and have been starting school at one level or another every year ever since. As I reflect on 47 years of formal education, I am called to consider many of the things I have learned through ASCD…

A Note From the President