Education
University of New Mexico
Campaign Phone
5059487162
Occupation
Field Representative, Congressional Office of NM-01
I bring both lived experience and proven public
service. I attended a D-3 charter school, AIMS,
from 6th grade through 12th, so I understand
that system firsthand. At 26, I’m only eight
years removed from it. I’ve seen the
opportunities charter schools can provide, and
where they can fall short.
For nearly five years, I’ve served as a
congressional staffer, worked in nonprofit roles
across my community, and now serve as Chair
of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County. In
each role, my job has been the same: listen to
people, act on what I hear, and report back with
results.
That experience has kept me closely connected
to families, educators, and students across New
Mexico. I understand how decisions made truly
impact our communities.
First, accountability. Charter schools must meet
strong academic, financial, and legal standards,
as well as the expectations of the communities
they serve. Approval is not a blank check, and
renewal should reflect real performance.
Second, equity. As a Hispanic student from a
low income family, I have seen gaps firsthand. I
am grateful for the progress New Mexico has
made, but we must keep going. I will always
push for equitable schools and equitable policy.
As a Commissioner, I won’t be scared to stand
for what’s right and to push for progress.
Third, more community-centered decisions and
engagement. Do you know what the PEC is or
does? We need to do better and speak to
schools, students, and families more publicly
and more often.
A fixed cap alone doesn’t solve any issue. The
real question is impact and spending. We
should not approve new schools that duplicate
services, destabilize districts, or pull critical
funding from existing public schools.
I support a cautious, needs-based approach
that we are only approving charters when there
is a clear gap, strong community support, and a
sustainable plan. If growth begins to harm the
broader public education system, the PEC has a
responsibility to slow or stop expansion.
Charter schools are meant to provide innovative
approaches and meet specific needs not
currently being met. At their best, they offer
specialized programs or new models that
benefit students. Just like how AIMS prepped
me for college and put me ahead in credits,
students can really benefit from these new
models.
Their purpose is not to replace or compete with
public schools. When done poorly, they can
increase inequity and divert resources. Their
role should be limited, intentional, and always
aligned with strengthening, not weakening, the
broader public education system.
For first time applications, the PEC should
require detailed, realistic financial plans,
including enrollment projections, budgets,
community buy-in, and long-term sustainability.
We must be cautious of overly optimistic
projections or unclear funding sources.
Approval is not the end. Ongoing monitoring is
critical and will be my job. If a school shows
signs of financial instability, the PEC must act
early to protect students and public funds.
To help with renewal questions, I will request
two yearly meetings with each D-3 school. One
for faculty and leadership. One for families and
students.
Performance should be evaluated using
multiple measures, not just test scores. Our
students deserve more. We must look at
student growth, graduation rates, attendance,
community feedback, and how well schools
serve all populations.
Just as important is whether schools meet the
goals in their charter and contribute positively
to the broader system. Schools that
consistently underperform, fail to show impact,
or do not serve students equitably should be
required to improve or face non-renewal.
As your next Commissioner, I’m not an
automatic yes or no. I care about public
education, I care about our communities, and I
care about the future of this State. I will work
hard in this role to always promote student, and
community, success. Thanks.
