By Miguel S. Maizano | Zuni High School, Senior Honors Project Teacher
The capstone project at Zuni High School is not just an alternative for high school graduation, but a pathway for our students to take their college education seriously.
Essential For Learning, Essential For Life
How Social and Emotional Learning Can Transform Our Schools and Communities
By Amy McConnell Franklin, Ph.D. | Founding Member, SEL4NM
Capstones Are the Cure for Teacher Burnout
By Kristen LaVolpa | Educational Consultant
“The joy I get teaching capstone classes breathes life into my work. I can whole-heartedly say a capstone learning model is the answer to reducing teacher burnout and increasing teacher retention.”
Why We’re Focusing on “Well-being” — in Addition to “Equity”
Tony Monfiletto | Executive Director, Future Focused Education
Last year our organization focused on equity, but in light of the student mental health crisis and our nation’s polarization, we need to widen our field of vision to include well-being. Here’s why.
Capstones Are Not Harder to Grade. Here’s Why.
By Ronnie Reynolds | Senior Capstone Director, Siembra Leadership High School
When students have voice, choice, time, opportunity, and self-reflection in their learning, ‘grading’ capstones can be less work for teachers—and significantly more authentic.
Teachers of New Mexico: the Nation is Watching and Taking Your Lead
By Paul Leather | Director of the Interstate Learning Community for the Center for Innovation in Education
Your hard work putting equity and culturally-relevant curriculum at the center of your work should be a model for the entire nation.
Why Does New Mexico Need a ‘Black Education Act’?
By Dr. Vickie C. Bannerman | Deputy Secretary: Identity, Equity and Transformation, New Mexico Public Education Department
Many educators are asking, “Why focus on Black education when there are so few Black kids in my school?” Inclusive, diverse, accurate education benefits all children, here’s why.
What is the New Mexico Graduation Equity Initiative?
This initiative is fundamentally changing our assessment system in favor of anti-racist, equitable, community-centered capstone projects as an alternative to standardized testing. Learn more here.
We Can’t Talk About Racism Without Social Emotional Skills
By Ali Moore | Director of Student Support, Future Focused Education
When we equip our young people with social and emotional skills, they have the tools to further dismantle the racial inequities of our time.
We Know Capstones Already Work, Why Aren’t We Using Them?
By Mary Parr-Sanchez, President of National Education Association New Mexico, and Rachel Padilla, Grant Writer for the NEA-NM Center for Community Schools
Project-based learning and capstone assessments are nothing new—we’ve been using them across New Mexico for decades. So, why aren’t we using them?