Bernalillo Elementary's new principal, assistant agree it 'takes a village' to lead

BERNALILLO — Bernalillo Elementary School's new leadership team is looking forward to the start of the new school year Monday and has plenty of plans in store, from field trips to behavioral incentives for students.

Principal Bernadette Hall-Cuarón and Assistant Principal Monica McNeely outlined their priorities and more ahead of the start of the school year Aug. 11.

"We're excited to prepare," Hall-Cuarón said, noting the preparation involves everything from checking building preparedness to classroom rosters.

Hall-Cuarón brings more than 25 years of teaching experience in Albuquerque and Dallas, Texas, where she was most recently head of a charter school. She returned to New Mexico in the middle of the 2024-25 school year to be closer to her children, who live in Rio Rancho and Corrales, as well as her aging mother, who lives in Albuquerque.

McNeely, who brings close to 30 years of teaching experience, was a teacher and administrator with Albuquerque Public Schools before spending the last three years as assistant principal at Santo Domingo School, a pueblo-based institution within Bernalillo Public Schools.

The school, located at 480 Calle del Norte, has 29 teachers and 28 staff members serving 395 students in fourth through sixth grades, according to Hall-Cuarón and McNeely.

They both plan to hold back-to-school assemblies for each grade level.

"My expectation is for them to be great and to work hard," Hall-Cuarón said, previewing what she plans to tell students when they gather together. "I just spoke with a parent this morning, and I said, 'I promise your child is going to come home tired. They will be tired from working hard."

Hall-Cuarón also wants to make sure every child goes on a field trip. While locations are still being planned, McNeely has some ideas in mind, including the University of New Mexico, the New Mexico History Museum and Pecos National Historical Park — all places students at her former school visited last year.

"One of the goals that we had in Santo Domingo was trying to move to project-based learning," McNeely said.

Hall-Cuarón added that project-based learning can enhance what students learn from their textbooks.

A positive behavioral incentive system implemented by BES teachers could earn students anything from bubble gum to extra recess time if they do their work and treat others with respect, according to Hall-Cuarón.

"Just whatever it takes to motivate them to do their best," Hall-Cuarón said.

She said implementation of the system does not imply BES has had a long-standing issue with behavior.

"They are very sweet, quiet kids — and for that reason, meeting expectations should be rewarded," Hall-Cuarón said.

Hall-Cuarón and McNeely both have different "management lives" but have created a way to keep each other apprised of what's happening "so there are no surprises and lots of collaboration," Hall-Cuarón said.

"We're a good match," she added.

McNeely responded, "I truly believe it takes a village to raise a child," and "in order to do that ... we have to talk."

While the building is not its usual bustling self during the summer months, McNeely is anticipating the day when students will return.

"I believe children are the life of the school — that's what we're here for," McNeely said. "Making sure the building is ready for them to come and have a safe and productive environment is incredibly important."

Hall-Cuarón added not only is a safe learning environment important, but a clean one is, too.