Class of 2024: Celebrating the graduates of Taos County and the Moreno Valley

Class of 2024

You’ve worked hard to achieve your goals, and graduation marks the start of a new and exciting journey. As you transition from high school to majoring in life skills, all of us at Nusenda Credit Union congratulate you on your accomplishment!

Congratulations! Class of 2024

TAOS Ski Valley, Inc. would like to commend all of this year’s graduates, and a very special thank you to all of the graduates on our staff for your hard work and dedication!

Athanasios Bertin Athanasios Bertin has worked for the Resort Ambassador team for three seasons. His work ethic, knowledge, and positive attitude have really benefited our team and the guests. Congratulations Athanasios from your Resort Ambassador family!

Hawk Foster Congratulations on carving your way through high school and achieving greatness, Hawk. Whether you’re carving through fresh powder or charting your course in the world beyond, may your passion for adventure and determination to succeed guide you always. We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you next season.

Jonah Salmons Jonah, as you embark on your next adventure, remember that life is like a game of Magik: full of surprises, challenges, and endless possibilities. Congratulations once again and may your journey in life be filled with endless enchantments and epic victories. Love, Your Nerds at Ski School

Hanna Weinman Congratulations on your high school graduation! Thank you for being a valuable member of the Resort Services team: always positive and helpful in all our workspaces. Please know you will have a home with us! Come visit us over breaks from college. Go Hanna!

Kayden Keahbone Kayden, may you always find fresh tracks and smooth landings along the way. Just as you find balance and control amidst the snow, may you find balance and purpose in all your endeavors. Best wishes for a bright and snowy future; we hope to see you next season!

Talon Trujillo Talon, embrace the challenges life may bring with the same fearless spirit and enthusiasm that you bring to the slopes. Your graduation marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another, much like navigating through the twists and turns of a challenging snowboarding course. We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you next season!

Ben Varos Ben, as you strap in for the ride ahead, may you carry with you the resilience and perseverance you’ve honed on the mountain. Congratulations on your achievement, and may your future be filled with endless slopes of opportunity and boundless peaks of success. We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you next season!

By Liam Easley

By Arcenio Trujillo

Liam Easley

By Liam Easley

Liam Easley

CL ASS 2O24

Graduation day! A special time in your life that brings such hopefulness for a better future. Some of you, maybe all of you, will receive well-intentioned advice on what to do next. Maybe you’ll even listen. You’ll hear earnest speeches — some uplifting, some, not so much. Maybe you’ll even listen. But as the Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich once wrote, “Advice, like youth, is probably just wasted on the young.” That said, you’ll occasionally hear nuggets of wisdom worth saving. For this Class of 2024 magazine, we thought we’d share a few of my favorites:

“Take action. … You can either be a passive victim of circumstance or you can be the active hero of your own life. Action is the antidote to apathy and cynicism and despair.”

— Bradley Whitford

“There is more to life than work. … Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses.”

— Bill Gates

“Be curious, not cool.” — Ken Burns

“Success can lead to arrogance and pride. Failure can lead to humility and learning.”

— David Brooks

Finally, here is good advice from Australian musician/comic Tim Minchin: “Be micro-ambitious. Put your head down and work with pride on whatever is in front of you … You never know where you might end up. … Play a sport, do yoga, pump iron, run … whatever… but take care of your body. You’re going to need it. … Think critically … Be hard on your beliefs. Take them out onto the verandah and beat them with a cricket bat. … Respect people with less power than you. … Be kind. Just be kind. To everyone. Always.”

SENIOR STORIES

Graduating seniors look back as they plan for the future

Nothing changed the face of education more than COVID-19, and no one knows this better than the Class of 2024: These seniors’ introduction to high school was online. Every year, the Taos News asks graduating seniors from each of our six regional high schools to write about their experiences. (This year, Taos High School sent essays from two seniors, so — rather than choose — we are printing both.)

In reading their essays, you’ll be struck by their resilience. Nationwide, students struggled to catch up academically, emotionally and socially following their time in near isolation (one student in particular suffered a devastating loss), yet all these students found ways to survive and even thrive. We are proud of each and every senior in the Class of 2024.

Rozzlynn Sanchez

Twelve years of schooling, four years of working, and 17 years of living have led me to the end of my high school chapter. As a graduating senior, I have spent this past year in a whirlwind of classes and college prep. Now, I stand on the doorstep of reality, with my wits about me and my expectations jumbled. Luckily, during these precious years of my youth I’ve gained memorable experiences to see me through this great unknown.

In the two years I have attended Taos Academy, I have not only discovered my core

values, but put them into practice. In 2022, I was an intern for the Paseo Project, which opened doors to art, people, and Taos itself. Thanks to connections through Paseo, I am now an intern at TCA.

At TCA, I get to do everything from technical writing to skits on stage. I now know how to thrive in a professional setting, how to write in a professional language, and, most importantly, how to appreciate the opportunities right in front of me.

There’s no way to build character like playing in the dirt, and I do just that every summer at my family’s business, Red River Stables. I’ve

TAOS

learned how to work with cash, customers and — most stressfully — cowboys. Without my experience in the “Western” side of our culture, I wouldn’t know the roots of my home or the people who give this place its undeniable character.

My biggest personal pursuit over the past 4 years has been discovering my voice through writing. Finding the channel on which my creativity flows most naturally has been a long road, but expression is a part of myself that persists despite all suppressors. I can now confidently call myself a writer and poet, thanks in large part to SOMOS Young Writers Group and composition classes at UNM.

ROZZLYNN SANCHEZ, TAOS ACADEMY

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL PEARSON

Mariana

Kyle

Esmeralda

SENIOR STORIES PEÑASCO

from page 6

I have experienced all this while also doing my best to enjoy the road I’m on. This past year with my classmates and friends I’ve made memories I will never forget. My senior project was making a short movie about skiing. I get to spend my evenings in the sunset light and fresh air, laughing with friends from every town in the Enchanted Circle. I’ve come to know that even in a small town, there is room to be completely individual. It’s been an incredible year thanks to all these experiences, and I feel lightyears away from that first freshman year where nothing really felt possible. I started high school feeling utterly alone, and now my life is full of people I truly believe are the best this world has to offer.

The learning doesn’t stop at graduation. I am excited to be attending college to study journalism and ecology, either at the University of Utah or UC Santa Cruz. It is my goal to be able to take the knowledge I will gain elsewhere and bring it home to serve the community that raised me so well.

Matias Vigil

I can’t ever remember a time when I’ve been bored. Words like “challenging” and “demanding” can describe my high school years, but I chose to be busy and had many rewarding experiences.

Through middle and high school, I participated in cross country, track, and basketball. As a three-sport athlete and dual-credit student, I had to carefully manage my time, make it to practice and show up with a positive attitude. At school, I have provided leadership as a Near Peer Tutor in mathematics and I am also a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region.

I have participated in student council throughout high school, and this year, I was elected Class President and Student Body President. Since elementary school, I have participated in music programs: I played guitar, vihuela, guitarron, and violin in the band Mariachi Pantera de la Sierra. I also currently play bass guitar in a metal band called Agony. This year, performing metal music live at the Peñasco Theatre with my friends was a memorable experience.

I was raised by a hard-working and creative family, so I grew up unafraid to try new things. This year, I am focusing on developing my hobbies, including leatherworking, blade-smithing, welding, auto

mechanics, and 3D printing. I put a lot of time and effort towards dual-credit classes and on Dec. 16, 2023, I earned an Associate of Science in pre-science from the University of New MexicoTaos. This May, I am also earning a certificate in 3D printing from UNM-Taos.

I am most happy spending time outdoors with my dogs. I find joy in helping others and caring for animals, so I have decided to pursue a career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. For two years, I tried hard to find a veterinary clinic that would allow me to volunteer. I persisted and was finally given a chance by Dr. Doug Thal, owner of an equine

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

JOE ANTHONY LEWIS, VISTA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL

SENIOR STORIES TAOS HIGH

from page 8

hospital in Santa Fe. While I expected to spend the summer cleaning barns, I did much more: I assisted with examination and treatment preparation, I observed horse surgery to repair colic and other major injuries, I became familiar with high-performance digital ultrasound and radiography systems and observed anesthesia protocols and procedures.

After graduating high school, I will attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins to study veterinary medicine.

I believe the most valuable experiences for me and my classmates at Peñasco High School came when someone pushed us outside our comfort zones. Many of our teachers, coaches, mentors, family members, and classmates challenged and encouraged us to be the best versions of ourselves. I am thankful for everyone who did that for me. I am proud of the work I have done, and I am excited to graduate and explore the next phase of my life.sometimes go out-of-town and do this work. I stay pretty busy working, and plan on working fulltime with my dad once I graduate

Jade Mares

My name is Jade Mares, and I am a senior at Taos High School. It has been such an exciting year. I have had so much fun and so many learning experiences throughout the year. I really have enjoyed participating in soccer and basketball this year. I have been in soccer forever and playing for Taos has been such a blessing. Soccer has helped me meet so many new people and try so many new things.

Basketball is my primary sport, which I love so very much. My

family and I have grown around basketball. Playing and competing with my dad and grandpa guiding me as coaches was the best experience in sports I could have had.

I also work at the best chocolate factory in town — Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I have never loved working more. I love how much of a family we are there and the support that comes from my boss and co-workers. I will forever say the best job ever is here in Taos at that chocolate factory: you have a long-lasting supply of chocolate,

and you get to give kids chocolate coins when they walk in.

Volunteering is so important to me, being able to help others especially with mentoring and coaching the youth. Going to soccer after dark, or even Taos Youth Basketball League to keep score or referee is an amazing outlet for me to just go out and give my energy to something I love to do. It is so important to be motivated and to show yourself that you can compete and perform outside your comfort zone. It’s okay to perform in a role that may be unconven-

Questa High School Class of 2024

Joaquin Arellano Diego Caraveo

Faith Cisneros

Esteban Gomez Gerald Gomez

Praxedes Gonzales Amalia Gonzalez Marivel Gonzalez Zander Jadlocki AJ León

Markie Mascareñas Ashton Mckenney Isaac Ortega Nathaniel Rael Martin Rivera

Antonio Romero Ricardo Sanchez Jeremiah Vialpando

Anisa Clark

Destinee Vigil-Martinez

SENIOR STORIES MORENO VALLEY

from page 10

tional to you because it will give you so many skills and experiences that can only encourage your growth and success for the future. I want to teach the youth that it is okay to get out of your box and learn, that is why I love volunteering with youth, and working within the community.

The most memorable thing I have experienced and learned throughout high school was that no one is above or below you, so treat others with a loving heart and open mind. Everyone comes from so many unique places and experiences.

The class of 2024 is the best and most hype class ever at THS, winning the spirit stick over and over. With the pride and energy we bring to homecoming events, all the dances, and the creative minds we hold in our class, I’d say this year has been amazing.

After I graduate from Taos High, I plan on going to UNM in Albuquerque to pursue a master’s degree in speech and language pathology. I am so excited to enter my next chapter, but I am also so thankful to the community of Taos and THS for all the amazing opportunities I have been provided growing up as a Taoseña.

Angel Moreno

The day I waited my entire academic career for is right around the corner, and days seem to be going by faster and faster. I feel ready to graduate from high school, but it’s a very bittersweet feeling. My senior year has been very memorable, from all the field trips to the time spent in class with friends. It has been an amazing year and being able to spend this time with my friends just makes it all the better. We went to the state fair, which was the best field trip I’ve ever had with the school. All my friends had a blast going on

the rides and playing all the games, and we all made new memories together. I will truly never forget the experiences I’ve had this year.

I plan to attend UNM in Albuquerque this fall, where I plan to major in business administration and minor in film. I decided on business because it is something that I’ve had to handle recently with my job. I work for my dad at his restaurant, Mi Cocina Mexicana, and my whole family has had to help figure out what can make the business successful. I also believe this degree will help me develop universal skills I can use in any business. I want to minor in film

because I have always been a movie enthusiast. At MVHS, I received the opportunity to produce a short film for Film Prize New Mexico and became even more interested in the film industry.

Soccer has always been a hobby of mine and being a part of the MVHS team was very special. This year, I captained the MVHS varsity team alongside one of my best friends. Regardless of the outcomes of the games, our team members always had each other’s backs. Playing my final season was sentimental and being able to do it alongside a very connected team just added to the feeling.

SENIOR STORIES VISTA GRANDE

from page 12

Theater is an extracurricular activity at MVHS that I really enjoy. I started participating my sophomore year performing in “Shrek the Musical.” In my junior and senior years, my MVHS theater troupe went to the NMAA One-act competition where we performed “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” and “Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” I enjoyed attending these competitions, as it allowed us to experience what theater could truly offer, and I’m very thankful for my teacher Beth Tafoya who gave me this opportunity. This year, I will star in the musical, “All Shook Up.”

My entire high school experience will always hold a very special place in my heart, and while I am glad to be graduating soon, I also have a slight feeling of sadness as my life heads in a new direction. I am grateful to my MVHS teachers who have pushed me to do hard things, even if I didn’t want to, because being able to do those hard things now shows me that I will be able to overcome any obstacles in the future.

Christina Pacheco

My name is Christina Pacheco. I am a senior at Vista Grande Charter High School. I like to listen to music a lot, play video games, and do gem puzzles. Currently I work at Walmart and I enjoy working there. My coworkers are great, funny people and after working there for a year I’ve learned a lot about the retail industry.

I’ve always been the type of student to stay on top of my grades from elementary to high school. I’ve

always told myself that my grades are the thing to help me succeed in life and help me achieve greatness.

I’ve volunteered planting seeds at our school farm during the springtime. When it got colder, we would also go and help pick vegetables and put hay on the other crops that still needed time to grow.

Recently I’ve also helped pick up trash around streams in the Carson National Forest so when people decide to walk on those trails, they

can enjoy the beauty of the forest without seeing trash.

A good memory I have had with some of my classmates from this year was during our camping trip for an elective. We went camping in Tres Piedras and we did not realize a thunderstorm was coming. We ate and then it started to hail so we all ran to our tents. Throughout the night it still was raining and thundering, it was a very cold night. We were also visited by coyotes a couple of times throughout the night which was a little scary. Some

Your mountain is waiting, so...get on your way!

But before you start your next adventure, we want to recognize the achievements and the impact you've already made in our community. Special shoutouts to Lukas Backer, Damian Martinez, Andre Ortega, and Perry Kushner — your dedication and passion have inspired us all.

Sincerely,

Cid’s Food Market

SENIOR STORIES QUESTA HIGH

of my classmates said their tents were flooded but none of us were really upset. It was a funny memory for all of us.

My classmates and I are excited to end our final high school year as we’re ready to begin this new chapter in our lives. Not everyone plans on going to college but we definitely plan on starting our lives so we can see what it’s like and start our careers. I plan on going to college in Albuquerque and moving there with my family for a fresh start. I would like to pursue a degree in child, youth, and family social work. I’ve always liked the idea of being able to help kids who are struggling mentally and need help overcoming those struggles. I want to go to a community college for my associate’s degree and transfer to UNM for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

After I get my master’s, I plan to move to another state when I’m financially stable as I would like to see something different for a change. I am fully ready to start my adult life and although I will hit bumps along the way I am determined to get past them and make something of myself.

Marivel Gonzalez

As a 2024 graduate of Questa High School, I have come to appreciate my accomplishments and growth throughout the years of my high school life. With every week that passes, and the closer I get to graduating, I come to appreciate every experience and the people that came with them. Graduating is a very important and sentimental part of my life because I will be the first out of my five siblings to graduate. I would love to do this not only for myself, but also to show my younger siblings they can accomplish big things even at the hardest times in your life.

High school was very hard for me during my freshman and sophomore years — of course,

because of COVID and everything revolving around that. In the fall of 2021, my freshman year, my mother passed away from COVID and pneumonia. After that moment I felt like giving up many times that year and the year after that. My whole world fell apart and school felt useless as it was hard enough to find motivation for anything that before filled me with joy and happiness.

One day I came home from school and I was failing half my classes. I felt hopeless. I was tired of failing myself when I knew I was better than this. I thought about my mother and how sad she would be if she saw how I gave up on myself and that made me sick to my stomach, not only because I felt I failed her but I had failed

myself. That day I made a promise to myself that I will not give up no matter how hard it gets. I will get to the end. Because I know nothing will make me feel more proud of myself than walking to get my diploma with my mother by my side.

After my sophomore year, I pushed myself to be better and I cared more about how things affected me. I joined a few sports after that like volleyball and track. I also took up multiple jobs revolving around the service industry, first as a busser then a host and waitress. This was not my first choice as I was nervous to talk to people. But over my four years of waitressing, I’ve learned so much especially with having to communicate with people and just overall being able

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

— Eleanor Roosevelt

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

– Robert Collier

SENIOR STORIES TAOS HIGH

from page 16

to know how to deal with certain problems.

This last year I have really been on top of my work and have recently been admitted into the National Honor Society. Overall, I had a great time this year finishing up school and getting to know my classmates better. We have had many adventures throughout the years but this one has to be my favorite: to see everyone make it to the end of this chapter in our lives. As for my plans after school, I am planning to attend CNM in Albuquerque for the fall semester to become an electrician. I’ve always been interested in more hands-on work. I also just think it has a lot of room for creativity and growth.

This industry is also very in-need and is something that, over time, I would love to bring back to our community and communities around us. I would love to give back to our community and put my trade to use in places of need. I want to give back to the place and people that raised me and helped me become the person I am today. I am grateful to have a community that comes together to support one another.

Sophia Weatherly

As a senior at Taos High School, I have had my up and downs of experiences. During my freshman and sophomore years I had no intent to go into higher education and no idea what I would truly do with myself. During my junior year I started to form some thoughts of what I would do but never cared much about it. Senior year was my year, not because I was a senior but because I finally found myself and deeply thought out what I was going to do. I plan to be a tattoo

artist but before I can pursue that I must first have a career to support myself. Because of my history and my skills, I plan to become an EMT. This year I pursued many things to get things in order, such as meeting my future professors, getting class schedules, sitting in classes, and truly just making my name known within the community.

I work after school almost every day of the week and have all year. I train service dogs with Assistance Dogs of the West. It has been the best experience, and I would not want any other job. Although it can

be quite a lot to do on top of being a senior, it was something necessary to do. I also volunteered at Twirl’s recent Invent Event, and I had so much fun doing it.

Something that happened this year that was memorable would be all the Gear Up college trips I took and how much fun they were to me. Gear Up is an amazing resource that Taos High has, and everyone should take advantage of it.

Senior year was truly the best year I have ever had in my school career for many reasons. This year was my first year my house was a safe place, which really says a lot about how I learn and how I act with my new beliefs. I became more confident and finally was able to focus on school. I finally had support and was in a mindset where I could feel these positive emotions in school and within myself. I know other students in my class may not have had the same experience as I have but I know that, collectively, we are so ready to be done and have pride in ourselves — especially since we were freshmen during COVID.

This next chapter of my life I already know is going to be amazing due to my hard work. I will make myself successful and I know things will get in my way but if they did not, I would not truly be successful. I will go to school for my EMT licenses and once I obtain those, I will be an EMT while in an apprenticeship to be a tattoo artist. My biggest goal and dream in life is to own my own tattoo shop and be a successful woman in a male-dominated occupation.

WHY TEACHERS TEACH

As Taos International School eighth-graders geared up for their International Baccalaureate exhibitions, which took place on Wednesday (April 17), one student, Natalie Velarde, chose to answer one question: “Why do teachers teach?”

Velarde, 15, approached educators with objective questions about their field.

Her aim was to keep the research positive, highlighting the difficulties of the profession while simultaneously focusing on the reasons teachers entered the field in the first place. Velarde figured her positive focus might encourage her peers to pursue careers in education, the field she wants to enter.

Velarde queried six teachers in schools around Taos County, asking them why they remain

by Liam Easley

in the profession in spite of the challenges educators often face. Velarde approached these educators with three questions she developed through the appreciative inquiry model, first asking them to share a story about the best experience they had with their community and school.

“Appreciative inquiry is a pretty simple set of three questions that kind of keep people in a positive space, instead of letting them start

going negative,” said Warren Kelly, Velarde’s advisor. “Because we wanted to know why people teach instead of what’s wrong with teaching. We wanted to frame the discussion, to encourage people to [become] teachers, and hearing people complain about teaching isn’t going to do that.”

Kelly, who responded to the survey, said a recent highlight of his teaching career was assisting students at Taos Academy with

Sitting from left to right: Althea McCann Tabor, Sierra Archuleta, Christina Pacheco, Marie Billie

Standing from left to right: Amber Bigbee, Celina Martinez, Emily Gonzales, Martin Hinojosa, Joseph Gonzales, Tyler Smith, Zackery Romero, Amethyst Yepa-Morales

Not Pictured: Asia Lucero, Alexis Ortiz, Haleigh Concha, Adelina Valdez

WHY TEACHERS TEACH

their bilingual seal last year. He said he learned the value of encouraging students to use their native languages in education instead of relying solely on the dominant language.

Her next question was “What do you value about yourself, your work, your family and your organization?” Most respondents said they enjoy teaching because of the excitement expressed by students when they learn something new.

Her final question was “What are your wishes for the future and your organization?” Velarde said the most interesting response was in regards to artificial intelligence. According to her research, educators worry AI might take over the educational space, possibly replacing the cognitive functions educators hope to instill and develop among their students.

Velarde also emphasized the importance of the human quality in education.

Velarde said educators she polled believe AI can be utilized as a tool, but students tend to use it as a crutch. AI can write papers and solve mathematical equations in mere seconds, allowing students to quickly dispense with homework.

“What I’ve come to understand is kids aren’t learning if they get it all off the internet,” Velarde said.

“I have the feeling that AI technology could almost replace teaching,” Kelly said. “If we were only in the mindset of keeping the education system efficient — we’re going to get more kids through the door, and we’re going to get more kids out the door. Sure, they’d have the world of information at their fingertips, but they wouldn’t know how to think about it.”

“Originally, I didn’t know what I was going to do for my project, and something I’ve wanted to do for a while is I want to become a teacher,” Velarde said. “I’ve been looking around the school with the teachers, helping them, and I’ve come to the conclusion that we severely need teachers.”

Velarde puts in 20 hours a year reading to fourth graders. She said this experience equipped her for the project and taught her that students’ attention span tends to be more receptive to fellow students rather than teachers. She believes this makes her readings more effective.

“This project made me see that, even though [teaching] is hard, it’s something that I would really like to do,” Velarde said. She is currently on track to graduate early to sooner pursue her

teaching career. Her research also made her look into the path to becoming a teacher — an expensive and extensive endeavor that many, she said, are unwilling to undertake.

Despite incentives at the state and district levels, there’s still a dearth of teachers. Velarde found a 2023 New Mexico teacher vacancy report from New Mexico State University that said there were over 1,400 vacancies in education. The bulk of the vacancies were for teachers, which accounted for 751 vacancies. The highest number of vacancies are in special education.

“Teachers are the people that make doctors and engineers,” Velarde said. “You need a teacher to become a doctor; you need somebody to teach you how to do that. You need teachers for most of the stuff that you want to do, and if we don’t have the teachers for it, then it’s going to be going downhill fast.”

Her research also showed there are less than 400 annual education graduates in New Mexico. Part of her project is to find a solution to the identified problem, and Velarde proposed an increased promotion of the profession among students. However, she believes that most students are turned away from the career because of the work involved and the behavior of their subjects. Still, she hopes to show fellow students that “it is fun to be a teacher.”

“With this [project], Natalie has put herself on the same level with six colleagues, and I think she had six conversations with six people who treated her seriously as a future educator and a fellow professional,” Kelly said.

COURTESY IMAGE

A graph from the New Mexico State University 2023 New Mexico Educator Vacancy Report indicating job vacancies by subject.

COLLABORATION A PRIORITY FOR NEW SUPER

by Liam Easley

His hiring proved a bit contentious, but Dr. Antonio Layton Jr., Taos Municipal Schools new superintendent, said he will bring a collaborative approach to the position.

The process was guided by JG Consulting, a firm that assists schools and greater districts in their search and hiring process of new superintendents. Layton, himself a graduate of JG Consulting’s Leadership Academy, a year-long program that trains educators to be superintendents, was selected over interim superintendent Renetta Mondragon, who will resume her role as assistant superintendent.

Before starting work May 20, Layton was completing his tenure as the executive director of human resources at the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District in Southern Texas, where he has spent the majority of his career.

“I like to say I took the very scenic route through my career,” Layton joked.

A longtime resident of Edinburg, Layton began as a tutor and then worked as a paraprofessional, a substitute teacher, a mathematics teacher, an instructional technology specialist, and a testing facilitator before moving into the administrative realm as an associate principal and,

later, the principal of a high school.

He received his doctorate in educational leadership in 2020 from Texas A&M University in Kingsville, where he said he gained insight into the superintendent role in an educational capacity.

“Through those 30 years, I’ve experienced quite a bit in different areas: curriculum instruction, human resources, discipline, policies,” Layton said. “Through those same years of experience, I’ve met wonderful people who have shaped my leadership style, and so I take those experiences with me and grow every year.”

Serving as an associate principal for Harlingen High School from 2013 to 2019, and then principal of La Villa High School from 2019 to 2022, he said he learned the most from these administrative roles that he will carry with him as he enters the Taos Municipal Schools superintendency. A key aspect of his work with both schools has been collaboration, he emphasized, which involved building connections with community organizations and stakeholders.

“My role as I begin the superintendency is to build those relations with all our community, so that we can clearly communicate what our goals are for student outcomes,” Layton said. “I think it’s going to be through that collaboration and community input that the community will come together because everybody wants the best for our kids.”

His process for building collaboration begins with identifying specific goals, usually by gauging community members, students, staff and faculty

within the institution.

“Once you set those goals and provide that collaborative approach, then you start to ask, ‘How?’” Layton said. “What are we going to do on a consistent basis that’s going to help us achieve? Once you establish those goals and how you’re going to achieve them, you want to make sure and monitor to see [if] they’re working, and if they’re not, make adjustments. You hold each other accountable to make sure that what we said we were going to do to achieve these goals is going to happen.

That approach has helped, in my experience, increase attendance, increase academic achievement, scholarship amounts, graduation rates. That collaborative approach is what I anticipate bringing to Taos.

“That approach has helped, in my experience, increase attendance, increase academic achievement, scholarship amounts, graduation rates,” Layton continued. “That collaborative approach is what I anticipate bringing to Taos.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Antonio Layton Jr.

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s

At both La Villa Independent School District and the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, Layton said he identified a need for higher graduation rates and college acceptance rates. According to him, these metrics increased to record numbers for the district during his tenure, and students were being accepted into Ivy League universities. During his time at Harlingen, achievement rates in advanced placement classes rose.

“The look of hope for the future at graduation — it’s a big one for me,” Layton said. “That’s what we’re going to strive for. We’re going to make sure that when our kids graduate from Taos Municipal Schools that they have options for whatever future they decide that they want to take.”

When the position first opened up, Layton said he began researching Taos and found that it shared some similarities with Edinburg, a town in the far south of Texas near the Rio Grande, which marks the border between the state and Mexico.

Although Taos and Edinburg are vastly different in size, Layton said both towns hold community and culture as core values.

“There are a lot of deep traditions in our culture in the Rio Grande Valley,” Layton said. “You realize through culture and education — when you combine those two, you’re teaching the culture and continuing the cultures and traditions that are unique to the area. The connection for me is having that passing on of traditions and values through education.”

As he prepares to arrive in Taos,

Layton said he looks forward to experiencing the local traditions that he said he has read about. During the interview process, Layton said he was able to spend some time exploring Taos and meeting community members and even some students.

However, Layton said he has yet to familiarize himself with the current toils of the district, which include two civil lawsuits and an ongoing forensic audit. He noted with his experience in human resources, he is very familiar with litigious matters and investigations.

The final decision in the hiring process was met with division, not just among community members, but even among the Taos Municipal Schools board of education. Board President Mark Flores said in a written statement that he was

“disappointed” the board did not favor interim superintendent Mondragon, who was the other final candidate for the position.

“Dr. Layton brings a myriad of life and professional experiences to the table,” school board Vice President Cynthia Spray said in a written statement. “The combination of the specific areas of expertise of Dr. Layton and Ms. Renetta Mondragon compliments one another incredibly well. Together, they have a wonderful opportunity to build a necessary and very skillful team. We anticipate increased student outcomes for our treasured public-school community.”

Regardless of the divide on his hire, Layton said he is looking forward to working with the board and Mondragon, who will work with him as he settles into his new role.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2024 GRADUATES! From the Taos County Democratic Party

PEÑASCO LAUNCHES CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM

by Liam Easley

Peñasco Independent School District took more than a year to cook up their culinary program, but now they have all the necessary ingredients: a professional chef to lead it, community interest and a fully equipped industrial kitchen.

A little over a month ago, the district hosted a ribbon-cutting for a new kitchen, where Peñasco High students will begin learning culinary arts, or hone the skills they’ve learned at home. Headed by Adonais Nité Marquez, a professional chef who started his career at Doc Martin’s Restaurant at the Taos Inn, the program was

slow to start but had guidance from Mary Spears, who founded Taos High School’s culinary arts program.

Peñasco already has its sights set on next year’s ProStart competition, and Adam Medina, the culinary program director at Taos High, said he looks forward to competing with Marquez’s class. Medina’s team won first place in the state competition again this year and went on to cook at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore The Taos High culinary team recently returned from a trip to Baltimore, Maryland, where ranked 27th in the National

ProStart Invitational.

Spears had been contacted by Melissa Sandoval, the superintendent of the Peñasco Independent School District (PISD), to teach culinary arts to students, but declined. Instead, she opted to join the project as a consultant. Since she started the program at Taos High in 2003, she approached Peñasco with the benefit of experience and local connections. She knew chef Marquez from her time at Taos High and recommended him to head the program in Peñasco.

In the ‘90s, Taos High had a

kitchen equipped for a home economics classroom, and the kitchen at Peñasco High School was no different. Spears said the Peñasco kitchen was equipped with outdated appliances in a cramped space. As a result, the program had a rocky start. In order to make the desired changes, the district needed money, but in order to get funding, they had to prove the program existed.

“Bless his soul,” Spears said. “Chef Nité worked with his students just in a regular classroom, using tubs with water, and they cooked on little butane burners. They thought the room would be ready at the beginning of the school year, but it wasn’t. They’re up and running now, and it’s beautiful.”

Initially, however, the students were using the same equipment they would use if they were competing in ProStart, in which students are tested on their culinary proficiency and hypothetical restaurant management skills. At competition, students also cook on butane burners and have a limited supply of water available.

Sandoval said the entire project cost the district around $350,000, from hiring Marquez and getting him licensed to renovating the entire space, among other clerical tasks necessary to getting the program on two feet. Much of the money was donated. Community members also donated plenty of culinary equipment.

“What I foresee here is not only becoming a family and teaching them how to cook and going into

DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News

Peñasco High School Head Chef Adonais Nité Marquez unveils the school’s new state of the art kitchen at the ribbon cutting for the new culinary program.

PEÑASCO LAUNCHES CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM

from page 30

the world with their workforce,” Marquez said, “but these are our future chefs. They’re the future me, so what everybody’s trying to do here is better that opportunity for the kids.”

According to Spears, the culinary program was an instant hit among the students in Peñasco. They had 100 slots for the course, but many more expressed an interest in participating, and they had to set up an application process to properly fill the program.

In the future, Marquez hopes to open a culinary cafe, similar to the Edu Cafe at Taos High, which gives students practical experience working in a mock diner. He also hopes to utilize social media to spread the word about the program. After all, Sandoval said, much of the career and technical education at PISD, including the culinary program, aims to retain and grow the student body.

Spears graduated college with a degree in career and technical education, which today would include career-focused courses and some project-based learning. She moved around, taking different jobs in different states. After getting married, she moved to Taos, where she recalled there were very few career-based learning initiatives at the time. The Taos High culinary program was one of the first, she said.

Spears said the food industry is not an easy place to thrive as an employee, regardless of the many job openings that exist. Hours can go long, pay can be low and working in a commercial kitchen can be extremely stressful. In other words, she said, students should know what to expect, and the culinary program seeks to

LEFT: Peñasco culinary students offer their creations to attendees of the ribbon cutting event celebrating the new state of the art kitchen. ABOVE: Peñasco High School Head Chef Adonais Nité Marquez gathers alongside Rosalinda Romero, from right, Elizabeth Rodriguez, and Italia Aguilar at the ribbon cutting event for the school’s new culinary program and upgraded state of the art kitchen.

DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News

bridge the gap between what is commonly perceived to be the restaurant industry and what it really is.

“I used to tell my students that I loved teaching what I did because it wasn’t just memorizing things out of a book,” Spears said.

“You have to actually do applied knowledge, and you have to be able to think ahead, you have to be able to solve problems.”

With a focus on career education, the culinary program will not only focus on the students’ cooking abilities; they will also learn about

the industry and what it can be like operating or participating in the operation of a real business. Students learn how to budget a menu, work with people (both coworkers and customers) and sanitize themselves and their workspace.

“It is exciting for students who want to go into the culinary field,” Spears said. “It teaches them not just culinary skills, it teaches them work ethic, teamwork and team development. It gives them confidence, and students just do really well. I’m real excited for Peñasco.”

A NEW EDUCATIONAL MODEL?

Discussion is taking place within Taos, Questa and Peñasco school districts

by Liam Easley

Administrators, educators and board members from each school district in Taos County joined elected officials in the Taos County Commission Chamber Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 5) to discuss community school, a holistic remodeling of a school’s function within the greater community.

Kicking off the meeting, Taos County Commissioner Darlene Vigil referenced the 100% New Mexico initiative, which lists 10 services meant to strengthen

a community — one of which is community schooling. This educational model encourages educators to identify needs within a community and address them by partnering with other local organizations and obtaining grants, turning the school into a place of support for its students and their families.

Not a new concept, community schooling has existed in New Mexico for more than a decade, fostered mainly by Danette Townsend, the executive director of the ABC Community Schools

Partnership. Townsend attended Tuesday’s meeting to help answer questions about how schools in the area not currently using the model can adopt it.

Since ABC is based in Albuquerque, the New Mexican version of this model formed in an urban setting, making implementation in rural areas a greater challenge. Regardless, community school advocates have been working closely with the Public Education Department, and the idea of a community school in New Mexico has become more

accommodating for rural schools in recent years.

Many, but not all, schools in Taos County have moved toward the community school model in recent years.

Angelo Gonzales, the executive director for Southwest Institute for Transformational Community Schools (SWIFT), highlighted several “key practices” involved with running a community school centered around leadership, support systems and allowing space for local culture and history in the curriculum.

“Community schools are more than just a program,” Gonzales said. “They’re more than just a collection of their programs. They are actually, in their most radical iteration, an opportunity for communities and schools to come together and think about how we really share leadership and decision-making at the school level. How do we put the voices of our students, families and local communities at the table with the voices of educators?”

SWIFT is a new initiative started in February that aims to foster the development of community schools throughout New Mexico.

We have to listen to the lived experiences of people in our communities and really ensure that education is much more responsive to our communities than it has been for the entire history of our state. “

Angelo Gonzales, Executive director for SWIFT

“We cannot address our community’s needs in silos,” said Bettina Sandoval, director of the Taos Pueblo Education and Training Division. “Essentially, we are all out to do the same thing, whether you’re providing health, education, food, housing or other types of services. In general, our main goal is the well-being of children and families. The community school approach recognizes this and requires that we work together, with other organizations, and not recreate what already exists in our community.”

Sandoval made mention of the Yazzie–Martinez v. State of New Mexico lawsuit from 2018,

which concluded that there was a gap in the education of Native Americans, English languagelearners and low-income students. She noted that although five years have gone by, not enough progress had been made as a result of the lawsuit.

“My point is that this lawsuit was not only about Native Americans; it’s basically about all students in our county, and many of the families we serve are low-income,” Sandoval said. “That being said, community schools and communities that collaborate and work together will be that much closer to truly addressing the needs of their students and families.”

Class of 2024 High School Graduations

Taos Academy

FRIDAY MAY 17

2 P.M.

Taos Academy campus

Moreno Valley High School

SATURDAY MAY 18

3 P.M.

Angel Fire Community Center

Peñasco High School

SATURDAY MAY 25 10 A.M Jicarita Gymnasium

Questa High School

SATURDAY MAY 18 10 A.M.

Questa High School gym

Vista Grande High School

FRIDAY MAY 31 10 A.M. Taos Country Club

Taos High School

SATURDAY MAY 25 10 A.M. Anaya Field

“Ithink what Martinez–Yazzie was really telling us was that we have to listen to our communities more,” Gonzales said. “We have to listen to the lived experiences of people in our communities and really ensure that education is much more responsive to our communities than it has been for the entire history of our state.”

A community school usually requires partnerships with local institutions to provide supplies or funding for certain educational programs, but there are less of these opportunities in rural areas. In places like Peñasco, where the district is deep into implementing a community schools model, they often have to go to Taos to find organizations willing to partner up.

Michael Noll, the community schools coordinator for the Peñasco Independent School District, also spoke at the Tuesday meeting. To him, the largest barrier in their endeavor has not been partnerships or funding — it’s been staffing, he said, adding that a possible solution could be to retain college graduates within the community.

“We hired a [UNM–Taos] student a couple of years ago to teach 3D printing in our after school program,” Noll said. “He’s now the instructor of 3D printing at UNM–Taos, and because of the work he’s done at Peñasco, he learned how to develop programs that they teach in schools across the county. When we give people the opportunity to do that work, it’s good for everybody, and the more that we’re able to formally work together, the more of that work we can do.”

Since the implementation of certain programs under the community schooling model at the Peñasco Independent School District, Noll said they observed a “25-percent increase in the number of kids who like being at school and a 25-percent increase in the number of kids who say they have a group of friends at school. Not coincidentally, our test scores went up.”

Hiring a community schools coordinator is expensive, but the benefits can be significant. In a study published by the ABC Community Schools Partnership, a snapshot was taken of an unidentified community school coordinator, whose hiring cost the school roughly $150,000, including salary, benefits and other boarding costs. Despite the expense of a coordinator, the school saw a return of around $1.05 million, which includes all grants, funds and

tangible donations brought in by the coordinator. In other words, the school saw a 711-percent return on investment, or $7.11 for every dollar invested. Peñasco’s financial return on investment for hiring Noll, however, was not discussed at Tuesday’s meeting.

The idea of community schooling relies on the cooperation of other local institutions to provide services or products that might improve the students’ time at school. This does not only mean extracurriculars; it also refers to converting the school into a sort of community center. The model is especially focused on enriching the lives of children who are homeless or in foster care, so that they might have accessible resources they might not have at home.

Florence Miera, a clinical social worker who specializes in crisis intervention and homelessness,

has been working with the Questa Independent School District for some time now. Ever since she began working with Questa, she’s found an alarming amount of students are homeless.

“When we start school years, we have what’s called a New Mexico residency form,” Miera said, showing the document, “and the parents will write their name and check-mark where the kids live. That’s how we identify how many homeless students we have. Last year, at the end of the school year, we had 138. I know when I first started in this department, I was blown away to know that we even had any students who were homeless.”

So far this year, Miera has already received several calls from parents requesting clothes, food and hygienic supplies. Some families are even living in cars.

At the Tuesday meeting, Taos County Commissioner AnJanette Brush recalled reading about one community school that installed laundry machines in their school, so that low-income students could wear clean clothes. By providing an extra layer of support for students, levels of insecurity and distractedness might decrease, she said, leading to a better quality of education.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Noll said. “When kids are happy at school, when they’re engaged, when they feel supported and have friends — and of course, you pair that with all the good academic work their teachers and staff do — then they will learn more. This work that we’re talking about leads directly to academic success.”

The idea of a community school is easy to comprehend on paper, but its application can be tedious. Townsend herself noted that her efforts began in 2006 but never gained traction until 2019, when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham funded the partnership with $2 million. Since then, ABC has grown from a network of 23 schools to 60, with assets of $10 million.

“Community schooling might be the most important driving force in state education today,” Noll said. “Community schools are not going away. In fact, it’s probably going to continue to be integrated into the fabric of the school system in really big ways in the future.”

The county is planning to host another meeting on community schools in one month at Questa, although a date has not yet been set.

TAOS COUNTY

ALL STARS

Charnelle Gonzales

AS A FOUR-SPORT, STAR ATHLETE AND AMBITIOUS SCHOLAR, GONZALES EARNS A PLACE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS

By Arcenio Trujillo

At the start of a crosscountry foot race, when runners are instructed to take their marks in their starting lanes, athletes generally bear a stoic, faraway look as they wait for the starting gun to go off — eager to tussle through the surging scrum to find a favorable spot from which to settle in and compete.

A member of the Peñasco Lady Panthers crosscountry team, Charnelle Gonzales often stood with those fellow competitors with the same anticipation, and the same strategy. She would not, however, let those same bellicose facets show on her face. No gritting teeth; no snarling or pursed lips; no gunslinger squints and no unnecessary trash talk. Gonzales was simply, an athlete in “ready” form — with head bowed, elbows slightly bent, hands open and loose — waiting for an expected gun blast.

Once the race was underway, however, the heart of a champion would surge to the surface, and Gonzales would consistently remind her competitor’s she was a force to be reckoned with. This outward display of endurance, and will to win occurred often throughout her prep career, but the apex of this supreme athlete’s ascension was on full display this past year. Gonzales, a high school senior, was a formidable, all-around athlete, and she leaves behind a lasting legacy of wins and commitment to her teammates.

The comeback

The most recent example of such a reveal occurred during her team’s first running event at the state track meet May 10.

As the third leg of the Peñasco Lady Panthers’ 4x800-meter relay team, Gonzales

waited for her turn to run, and saw the chances of her team placing in the top six dwindling with every passing second and subsequent hand-off.

To her left were many runners — with their hands extended back and torsos pointed forward — waiting to receive the baton from their teammates to begin their own grueling, two-lap run. One-by-one, teams made the hand-off and a new set of runners darted towards the first turn on the innermost lane of the rubberized track. Off went the team from McCurdy (Española), followed by teams from Academy for Tech and the Classics (Santa Fe), Hagerman, Capitan, Texico and several others. By the time Gonzales received the baton from her teammate,

Champion profile

home life any easier for Charnelle during high school. According to her mom and her older sisters, Charlyna and Carly, the demands to strive to do better were always encouraged.

We always push each other in everything,” said her mom, who was affirmed with convincing nods from Charlyna and Carly who were on hand at the UNM track to cheer on Charnelle.

“When our girls did good, we let them know we were proud of them. But they knew we were going to tell them they can still improve.”

The two older sisters were phenomenal athletes during their respective stints as Lady Panthers as well — earning their fair share of district and state accolades throughout their careers. With their experience and work habits, Charnelle was able to add those useful nuggets of information and inspiration they provided to her respective tool kit.

With all the 2023-24 sports done, the results are in. Charnelle Gonzales is the best athlete in Taos County. Surely, her next challenge will be equally met with her desire to excel.

OF THE YEAR

TAOS COUNTY

ALL STARS

Top Athletes

1. Judah Daffron Taos High School sophomore. Daffron’s greatest achievement came at the 2023 state cross-country meet where he earned the class 4A title with a time of 16:02.32 — leading his team to fourth place in Albuquerque Nov. 11. He also was a vital distance runner for coach Benny Mitchell on the Tigers track team, qualifying for state in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

2. Jacqueline Limas Taos High School junior. Jacqueline Limas performed quite remarkably in the swimming pool this past winter, and on the track this past spring — she consistently improved her times and attained success in sheaves from beginning-to-end of each respective season. In swimming, Limas qualified for state in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. In track, Limas qualified with her teammates in the 4x800-meter relay. Her crowning achievement, though, occurred during a pair of flawless performances inside the UNM Pit on April 6 — clinching a class 4A state title as a member of the Taos Tiger cheer team.

By Arcenio Trujillo

3. ANNABELLE CALDWELL Taos High School senior. A fixture of the Taos Lady Tigers varsity soccer team since her eighth grade year, Caldwell has primarily played forward or mid-fielder for coach Rohm Padilla and coach Casey Tonrey. Her striking abilities produced 18 goals this past season — 18th in class 4A in New Mexico — propelling her team to a 12-6-0 (0.667-win percentage) overall record and an 11th seed in the 2023 state tournament. Caldwell also played on the tennis team and paired with fellow senior teammate Rose-Maria Van Willigen for the district 2-4A individual tournament May 4, where the duo placed fourth in doubles.

4. Analise MacAuley Peñasco High School senior. With size, speed, ball-handling skills and a prodigious vertical spring, MacAuley became one of the top class 2A basketball players in the state in 2023. Outstanding numbers in scoring, rebounding, assists and takeaways throughout the long hoops season augmented the talents of each of her Lady Panthers teammates as they sought and garnered their first-ever state basketball championship March 15. The senior, who also played volleyball and ran with the track squad, was named to the “all state” second team and was invited to play in the March 22 “Red-Green” all-star game in Albuquerque. 3 1 2 4

5. Rochelle Lopez Peñasco High School sophomore. Named to the all-state basketball first team for 2023-24, the speedy guard helped deliver memorable victories for the Peñasco Lady Panthers throughout the season, and specifically, the state tournament run which culminated in Peñasco’s first state championship. The talented sophomore was also a cornerstone for the volleyball, cross country and track teams, qualifying for state in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs, and finishing second and fourth, respectively at the state meet in Albuquerque May 10-11. She also helped her team earn fourth place as anchor in the 4x800-meter relay race.

6. Aliyah Santistevan Questa High School junior. The only five-sport athlete listed here, Santistevan was an outside hitter in volleyball for coach Michelle Spears; a mid-fielder in co-ed soccer for coach Bill McDonald; a power forward in basketball for coach Steve Rael; a utility player in baseball for coach Ricardo Leon; and a multi-event track star for coaches Deluvina Sanchez and Domingo Torres. In track, she qualified for state, and earned first-place medals in the discus with a throw of 91 feet, 5.5 inches; and javelin with a distance of 96 feet, 4 inches at the May 3 district 5-2A track and field meet in Questa. Santistevan finished sixth in class 2A in the javelin throw May 11.

7. Alyse Lovato Questa High School sophomore. Lovato became a state champion in two events at the class 2A meet May 10-11, clinching the title in the high jump and triple jump; second place in the 400-meter dash; and fifth in the long jump, earning her the second most points among female athletes at the meet with 21. Lovato also helped lead her Ladycat basketball team to the March 8 class 2A state tournament as a ninth seed. This budding sportsperson was also a member of the Questa Wildcat co-ed soccer team in fall 2023.

8. Jerome Martinez Taos High School senior. Martinez capped an outstanding wrestling season with a fifth-place finish in the 215-pound division at the New Mexico state wrestling championships in Rio Rancho Feb. 24 to finish 27-6 on the season. The team co-captain and district champ in his respective division pinned four of opponents in six rounds, including a fall over Gilbert Bunny from Shiprock to earn a spot on the podium, and an individual state medal. Martinez was also a versatile mainstay for coach Art Abreu’s football team in 2023.

Top Athletes

9. Noah Washington School senior. In 2023-24, Washington was a standout athlete and effective leader. As a three-sport competitor, he made his impact known running the wide-receiver and cornerback positions for coach Art Abreu in football, point guard for coach Hernando Chavez in basketball, and as a member of several relay teams for coach Benny Mitchell in track.

10. Billy Romero Taos High School freshman. Romero finished first in 2-4A at the district cross country meet at Pojoaque Valley High School Nov. 3, and second at the Nov. 11 class 4A state meet in Albuquerque. His final time of 16 minutes, 6.46 second bolstered his teams’ low-point total to clinch fourth place. The freshman was a member of the Taos High School swim team during the winter sports season; and he qualified for state in the 1,600and 3,200-meter distance events this spring.

11. Aaliyah Padilla Taos High School sophomore. Being a four-sport athlete in a semi-large school like Taos High is no easy feat — especially as an under classman. In 2023-24, Aaliyah Padilla quietly amassed a bevy of varsity triumphs and accolades as a starting mid-fielder for the Lady Tigers soccer team and as the top Taos crosscountry thinclad. As a state tournament participant in soccer, Padilla was named to the 1st team all-district unit. In cross country, Padilla earned all-district honors as a top-10 finisher. She also started many basketball games for coach Eric Mares, and undertook many duties on the track team for coach Benny Mitchel.

12. Brandon Mirabal Taos High School sophomore. Mirabal quietly developed and expanded his impressive sports resume in 2023-24. The four-sport athlete split his fall season playing defensive back for Coach Hafid Valencia in soccer and running for Coach Bruce Gomez in cross country. In winter, Mirabal played basketball for the Tigers and traveled with the varsity team to Artesia to play in the first round of the state basketball tournament. In spring, the sophomore was a contributing member of the of the Taos Tigers 4x800 relay team. His track accomplishments included a season-best finish in the 800-meter run.

14. Jeremiah R. Martinez Peñasco High School sophomore. Fearless and talented, the young harrier from Peñasco — and other half of a potent Martinez brothers duo — has burst onto the running scene with marked enhancement in speed and endurance categories this past fall season. Jeremiah finished in the 11th spot with a time of 17 minutes, 28.15 seconds at the 2023 state crosscountry championships in Albuquerque Nov. 11 — an improvement of 22 places and 1 minute, 30 seconds from the previous year. He also placed fifth at state in the 1,600-meter run, and was the lead runner in the state champion 4x800-meter relay team.

15. Jude Martinez Peñasco High School junior. The older of the two Martinez brothers who suited up for the Peñasco Panthers cross-country team, Jude was a productive runner who regularly led his team by notching top-10 and top-20 finishes, including 10th-place with a time of 17 minutes, 9.53 seconds at the state meet in Albuquerque Nov. 11. In track, the endurance buff finished fourth at state in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10 minutes, 49.79 seconds, and anchored the 4x800-meter relay team that placed first with a time of 9 minutes, 0.43 seconds.

13. Lionel Salazar Taos High School senior. On the gridiron and on the hardcourt, Lionel Salazar was a tough player to cover. As the starting receiver on offense for the Taos Tigers football team, he was a favored target for his quarterback — and younger brother — Evan Salazar. Together, the duo helped their team make it in to the 2023 state playoffs as an 11th seed. Lionel also played basketball in the winter under the tutelage of coach Nando Chavez and earned a secondplace finish in district 2-4A and an invite to the 2024 state tournament as an 11th seed.

HANDS-ON WITH ROCKETS, WILDFIRE & JOURNALISM

Project-based learning takes off in Peñasco

by Liam Easley

As part of its community schools model, the Peñasco Independent School District has built a large list of community partners in the past few years, many of which are focused on getting topics off the chalkboard and into the hands of students through project-based learning.

Project-based learning is a hands-on method of teaching on a variety of topics. The Peñasco Independent School District (PISD) has about 15 different project-based learning programs offered at specific grade levels. Every year, the district sends a handful of teams of students to participate in Envirothon, a projectbased competition where students engage with relevant environmental studies.

Students approach five different categories for Envirothon, including aquatics, wildlife, soil, forestry and one topic that changes every year. Alicia Abeyta, Elijah Garcia and Enrique Gonzales are three juniors who will be part of one of three teams representing PISD at Envirothon 2024.

Abeyta said the program helps them work on public speaking and research skills while studying topics that are relevant to their communities, such as wildfire.

“It’s also a pretty fun way to learn because instead of being in the classroom all day, we can actually go out into the field and get our hands on stuff,” Garcia said. Team members are assigned specific topics and tasks, and each member uses different techniques and methods to achieve their goal. Abeyta is in charge of the aquatic topic, Garcia is in charge of wildlife and Gonzales is

in charge of forestry.

“I’ve always liked science growing up, and then going into biology freshman year with [Mercella] Cordova, her main topic in biology was wildlife biology, so it opened my eyes,” Garcia said. “Now being in Envirothon working on biology every day after school, it makes me want to go to college to be a wildlife biologist.”

At the competition, students do tests one day and oral presentations the next, and they receive a score and accolades based on their performance. This will be the third time Abeyta and Gonzales participate and the second time for Garcia.

“I’ve never been a book-study kind of kid, especially in these last few years, but going into biology freshman year, Ms. Cordova and Envirothon [taught] hands-on learning, and that’s what helped me want to become a better student,” Gonzales said.

PISD also boasts a project-based journalism course for students, led by high school English teacher Stephanie Noll and district art teacher Alessandra Ogren. Students produce content for a bimonthly broadcast called “Tea Time.” Noll said they try to mimic a newsroom by brainstorming story ideas, creating lists of possible interview subjects and lists of questions. Students gather footage and edit with Adobe Premiere Pro.

According to Noll, the students primarily cover district news and community news in an attempt to create agency and pride among students for their community and school. They also put out a

newsletter called the Peñasco Post.

“I really believe in student voice and choice,” Noll said. “I’ve been teaching for 25 years and have always led with that idea that if students are invested in what they’re working on, if they get a say in how they want to present that learning and they have choices for how to present that learning, their investment is going to be much higher than when it’s coming from an instructor who’s just dictating expectations and assignments.”

Noll added that project-based learning gives students a platform on which they can workshop and practice a wide variety of important skills, such as building vocabulary. Noll said the application of knowledge is more important than the assessment of it, and while students are still tested in her classroom, she said they truly learn these skills through practice.

When project-based learning combines with the community school initiative to build community partnerships, districts can find community partners that engage students in new ways.

Twirl, a Taos-based nonprofit that emphasizes the importance of play in a child’s education, offers a rocket engineering and aerodynamics program to Taos County schools and school districts like PISD. According to Amber Vasquez, early childhood program coordinator at Twirl, the rocket study is based in math courses but is more accurately described as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).

“Our big focus [is] math,” Vasquez said. “How do we make math fun

and accessible and something that every child understands, not because they’re learning math, but because they’re having a blast doing it — no pun intended.”

Bringing in the science component, students learn about lift, thrust, gravity and drag; they discuss propulsion and how to make something aerodynamic. Students keep a log book to record their findings and learn about what works and what does not. With that data, students build a second rocket, then a third. Students build one rocket per day in this three-day program that takes place once a year during second- or fifth-grade math classes.

Each day of the rocket study, students measure their findings on bar graphs and receive word problems based on their data to understand it through a mathematical lens.

“These kids just get it,” Vasquez said. “The first day, they have no idea what they’re doing, and by day two, they’ve done it, and they’ve probably done it wrong, but they’re looking at their friends, they’re looking at their designs. Through the ideas of play and just watching each other, they are creating their own learning environment.”

“Project-based learning is super important because it just gives kids a basis for why they’re learning something,” Vasquez said. “And not only the why, but it also gives them the interest and the want to learn more. I think it’s really fun to see them take their learning into their own hands and mold their own experience and their own understanding.”