Education
BS Electrical Engineering, MS Physcis PhD Physics
Campaign Phone
505-818-8933
Occupation
Physicist
Filing County
Bernalillo
mailingaddress
3313 LA MANCHA DR NW
mailingcity
ALBUQUERQUE
mailingzip
87104-3029
mailingstate
NM
Campaign Endorsements
Damian Lara Bernilillo County Assessor, Maralyn Beck Executive Director New Mexico Child First Network, Mark Boslough world renowned scientist and former Republican NM state house candidate.
First of all I'm a dad to two kids who have attended Charter Schools. I have been an educator. I was a professor for several years. I am a scientist and will rigorously pursue data driven solutions to improve public charter schools. My wife is a former APS high school science teacher and is currently an educator giving presentations to dozens of APS elementary schools each year on water production, use and conservation for the water authority. She is an excellent sounding board and advisor for what it's like to be a public school teacher in New Mexico and what students at various schools are like.
The evaluation of Charter schools must be based on scientifically sound, transparent and equitable methods. The criteria used by the PEC to determine this should be reviewed annually.
Charter schools should focus on eliminating any barriers to attendance for the at risk and disadvantaged. Charter schools must satisfy the requirements of the Martinez/Yazzie court ruling.
Public charter schools are the research and development branch of the public school system. I will emphasize making sure best practices from from public charter schools are transferred to all public schools and work to make sure transfer mechanisms are available.
No, with the caveat that funding for public charter schools should not affect the per student funding of other public schools. I will encourage more public charter schools that focus beyond the basics and into areas of study that kids are passionate about and for which they want to engage. There are currently about 100 charter schools and a maximum of 15 can be added a year. I don't believe there is a danger of the number becoming intractable in the near future.
In addition to being places to explore innovation which I mention elsewhere, charter schools provide the opportunities for students to engage in what they are passionate about. Without that some students will check out and possibly drop out. I get that because I went through that. My high school in rural SC didn't have physics or calculus and it would be fair to say I wasn't engaged. I got into Clemson by the skin of my teeth. I was provisionally accepted with the caveat that I take math classes before the fall semester. Once there I thrived. I would have loved to have gone to a STEM charter high school but they didn't exist. If we want to improve student outcomes and engagement I think they are not a nice to have but a have to have.
All state authorized charter schools are required to have an annual audit. The audit will include the audited financial statements of the school along with any audit findings and recommendations on the charter school's financial operating systems. A review of these financials and reports from the annual audit should provide as a basis for renewal. The PED's Budget Office should be requested to provide key indicators of financial sustainability. These indicators should include what the schools student membership was projected to be and what it actually is since student membership determines actual funding. The PEC should check that the school is meeting state financial reporting deadlines and contractual financial compliance items.
Charter schools should be evaluated against their peers and against similar student populations. If the data exist this is how as a scientist I would do it. I would take the anonymized data for each student in the charter school. I would find anonymized doubles for each student at a variety of different but similar non-charter public schools. Then I would compare outcomes. It is important to I think to eliminate any bias know or unknown from comparing to just one school or a few. If the data is not available I would pursue the best unbiased method that could be done with the data that is available. For aspects of the charter school curricula that may not exist elsewhere the educational performance will necessarily need to be case by case
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.
