GUEST COLUMN: Nurturing New Mexico’s Future: The imperative of recruiting and retaining high-qualityteachers

In the vibrant tapestry of New Mexico, where diverse cultures converge against a backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, the future of our state is intricately woven into the education of our children. Yet, as we navigate the complexities of the modern educational landscape, a pressing concern persists – addressing the statewide shortage of teachers. It’s a challenge that demands immediate attention, a call answered by fully funding teacher pipeline programs like Golden Apple Scholars in New Mexico.

The Golden Apple Scholars program is a teacher preparation program that recruits high school seniors through college sophomores in New Mexico who have the determination and drive to be life-changing teachers in New Mexico Pre-K-12th grade schools. We prepare aspiring teachers for immediate and lasting success in their classrooms.

Recent Scholars program data provides a glimpse into both the severity of the teacher shortage crisis as well as likely solutions. Recent data indicate a growing interest among New Mexico high school and college students in becoming teachers in their home state. Last year, the demand from prospective Golden Apple Scholars exceeded available slots by nearly 30%. The number of applicants for our 2024 program has surpassed the maximum available slots by more than 250%. With such a significant interest in the education profession, increased investment from public and private resources will help programs like ours make significant strides in addressing the teacher shortage

Interest in the Golden Apple Scholars program, however, also serves as a stark reminder that New Mexico must embark on a more extensive and collaborative effort to attract, train and retain qualified teachers. The Golden Apple Scholars program is an important stride toward addressing this disparity, but it cannot bear the weight of the entire burden alone.

To remedy this, communities must advocate for increased funding for education in the state budget, with a specific emphasis on a comprehensive teacher recruitment strategy that includes multiple access points for future teachers at various career points — pre-career, alternative licensure, out-of-state and teacher residencies. Recognizing that quality education is a shared responsibility, we need to prioritize education funding as an investment in our collective future.

The Golden Apple Scholars program rightly emphasizes the importance of mentorship and professional development for early-career educators. With more than 35 years of experience informing this approach – we know it works. With graduation and licensure rates that surpass 80% in addition to over 80% of those who begin teaching retained for five or more years, this far exceeds national benchmarks for teacher retention. These are the sort of proven solutions to recruit, prepare and support New Mexico educators who will return to their communities to teach.

The teacher shortage in New Mexico is not an isolated problem but a collective challenge that demands a comprehensive and concerted response. The Golden Apple Scholars of New Mexico program is a beacon of hope, but it cannot carry the load alone. As a community, we must rally behind initiatives that prioritize teacher recruitment, training and retention. In doing so, we secure the foundation upon which our children’s future, and the future of our great state, is built. Let us seize this opportunity to invest in our educators and the prosperity of New Mexico.