COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

What is the Community of Practice?

Future Focused Education facilitates Communities of Practice (CoP) in partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED). The work of the CoPs supports the EQ2 Initiative.

Together we are defining and piloting a new project-based capstone curriculum that culminates with senior exhibitions to demonstrate learning, as an alternative to traditional testing.

WHY WE NEED THIS NOW

The CoP is an outgrowth of PED’s Student Success Task Force which made several high-level recommendations that require a new emphasis on teaching and learning, including:
  • Ensure assessment practices are culturally responsive
  • Involve New Mexico educators in the process
  • Pursue other innovative practices that measure student learning (e.g. performance-based assessments)

In order to get to a place of culturally and linguistically sustainable teaching practices, our work needs to be rooted in building on the assets students bring with them. If this new system is to be accessible to all kids, we need to grow our multiple student pathways to demonstrate their college and career readiness. A new graduation pathway built on innovative assessments that culminate in senior exhibitions is one step toward a more equitable and balanced assessment system in New Mexico.

As we re-imagine assessment in New Mexico, educators should lead the way. Empowering educators to co-create change while providing support and building their capacity are cornerstones of any high-quality initiative in our schools. The CoP will engage educators in learning from one another, reflecting on their own practice, and connecting with local and national expertise as we work together to define and pilot a new project-based graduation pathway for the state.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

community members and educators, and

should be rooted in local communities. We

be based on NMPED’s decisions alone, but

“Any effort at lasting change should not

needed to seek knowledge from local

build from the ground up.”

Dr. Gwen Warniment

New Mexico Public Education Department

Deputy Secretary for Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Educator writing on presentation paper

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

Dr. Gwen Warniment,

New Mexico Public Education Department

Deputy Secretary for Teaching, Learning and Assessment

“Any effort at lasting change should not

community members and educators,

and build from the ground up.”

needed to seek knowledge from local

should be rooted in local communities. We

be based on NMPED’s decisions alone, but

How it works

CoP members will define a problem of practice that is specific to their school or district in implementing capstone assessments and will receive support and data to successfully implement capstone assessments. 

    LEAs join at one of three participation tiers:
    Tier 3 (Open throughout the year)
    Assessment Literacy Pathway

    Flexible Participation

    • No required team
    • Optional attendance at CoP sessions
    • No assigned work between meetings
    • Goal: Grow your assessment literacy
    • Not expected to pilot a senior exhibition program at this time

    How to join

    Applications for membership are open. Please click the button below to fill out the preliminary form.

    For questions, contact [email protected].

    Application Form

    MEET THE TEAM

    Lisa Martinez

    Lisa Martinez

    Director of Learning by Doing

    Lisa has been a New Mexican educator for the last 13 years, is interested in holistic assessments for emerging bilinguals. She designs the Community of Practice for educators across state.
    Email Lisa
    Image

    Maria Rogahn

    Assistant Director of Learning by Doing

    Maria organizes technical assistance for schools and districts, manages module development for graduate profiles and capstone design and implementation, organizes in-person and online events, and arranges site visits.
    Email Maria
    Image

    Patricia Jiménez-Latham, Ed. D.

    Assistant Director of Capstone Communications and Outreach

    Patricia supports New Mexico school districts to develop graduate profiles and capstones by co-facilitating Communities of Practice and engaging in community outreach to offer new opportunities to grow programs across the state.
    Email Patricia

    Community of Practice Members

    *asterisk denotes active member

    Ace Leadership High School*

    Amy Biehl High School*

    Aztec Public Schools*

    Belen High School

    Bloomfield School District

    Central Consolidated District*

    Chama Schools

    Cuba ISD*

    Deming Public Schools*

    Dora Schools

    Farmington Municipal Schools*

    Gadsden Independent School District*

    Grants High School*

    Goddard High School*

    Health Leadership High School*

    Infinity High School

    LADE Charter

    Las Cruces Public Schools*

    Los Lunas Public Schools*

    McCurdy Charter School*

    NACA Inspired Schools

    Rio Rancho Public Schools*

    Roswell Public Schools*

    Santa Fe Public Schools*

    Siembra Leadership*

    South Valley Academy*

    Tech Leadership High School*

    MASTERS Program, Early College Charter High School*

    Vista Grande High School*

    Zuni Public Schools*

    Resources

    Check back for additional resources as we learn together.