New Mexico’s flagship university works to retain homegrown teachers
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Teachers are the lifeblood of many communities and the University of New Mexico wants to make sure they know it.
The university's College of Education and Human Sciences has stepped up its recruitment efforts, expanded culturally grounded programs and invested in statewide partnerships aimed at transforming the state's educator workforce.
Jay Parkes, the school's senior associate dean for student success, said because rural communities have a harder time retaining teachers, they are rebuilding a homegrown pipeline starting at the high school level to make sure New Mexicans know they are needed.
"We work in local communities to identify the people who love those communities and wish to remain there and wish to contribute to their local communities through education," Parkes explained.
Federal government data from 2024 show education majors made up nearly 20 percent of all college graduates in rural counties, compared to 8 percent in major metropolitan areas. At the same time, a 2022 Pew Research survey found fewer college graduates are earning degrees in education compared to previous generations, a trend especially true for women.
The New Mexico chapter of Educators Rising is holding its annual conference on the Albuquerque campus starting Feb. 24.
Parkes noted the university is working to reach the state's Indigenous population through high school engagement, residency programs and more online or distance learning. While a large percentage of students live within a 90-minute drive of Albuquerque, he pointed out New Mexico is the 5th largest U.S. state based on square miles, most of it rural.
"Those communities need access to teacher preparation programs," Parkes stressed. "The University of New Mexico has been working hard to get our programs accessible to folks outside of the Albuquerque area."
Parkes added the school's Indigenous programs also are reaching new milestones, with multiple entities working to create a more inclusive and affordable environment. Currently, Native teachers and administrators make up less than 2 percent of all public school teachers in the country.
