April 17, 2026

With just five weeks remaining in the school year, I’ve found myself reflecting more deeply on the journey we’ve taken together. One thing I’ve come to truly appreciate is the authentic communication this blog allows. It has become a space not just for sharing updates, but for engaging in meaningful dialogue.

This year, our students have challenged me in ways I did not expect—but deeply respect. They’ve asked for increased communication, more opportunities to participate in shared leadership and decision-making, and what they’ve called “greater transparency.” In my years as a school administrator since 2011, I can honestly say I’ve never encountered this level of direct and thoughtful feedback from students. Much of what I’ve experienced this year has been entirely new.

But challenge isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s essential.

High expectations—when shared—are critical to the health of any organization. And those expectations should absolutely go both ways. If we expect excellence, accountability, and growth from our students, then we as leaders must be willing to meet that same standard.

Facing the Reality

When I stepped into the role of principal/director of NMAMA, it quickly became clear that the school was facing urgent challenges. These were not issues that could be postponed or softened—they required immediate attention to avoid corrective action from our authorizer, the New Mexico Public Education Commission.

Like all charter schools, NMAMA is evaluated through a performance framework that measures compliance across essential operational areas. Rather than summarizing those findings here, I believe transparency matters most when you can review the information directly:

These documents provide a clear picture of where we stood—and why change was necessary.

The Work of Change

So how do you begin to address multiple significant challenges in a short amount of time?

That’s the reality of leadership.

It requires change.
It requires commitment from stakeholders.
It requires discomfort.
And most importantly—it requires all of us.

Plans had to move quickly from ideas to action. Many have asked, “Why all the changes?” The answer is simple: because they were necessary.

Under typical circumstances, school leadership often shields students, staff, and families from external pressures. But this is not a typical school community. NMAMA students and families expect more—and I respect that. In fact, I admire it.

Self-advocacy is a skill we want all of our students to develop, and this community has demonstrated it in powerful ways. In response, I am committed to transparency—sharing both the successes and the challenges—so long as we all hold ourselves to high, shared expectations. That means administration, board members, staff, families, and students working together as part of the solution.

Progress Worth Recognizing

I want to be candid: I am proud of the work we have done together this year.

The New Mexico Public Education Commission has recognized our efforts and expressed confidence in our direction. As one commissioner described, the school had previously been perceived as being in “deep trouble.” That is no longer the narrative.

I encourage you to explore the meeting materials and see this progress firsthand:

November 2025 Meeting

March 2026 Meeting

These records show the impact of our collective effort—your flexibility, your support, and your willingness to embrace change.

Because of that work, we successfully avoided placement on an “intervention ladder,” which is the first step in the charter school revocation (closure) process. That is no small accomplishment.

Looking Ahead

This year has not been easy—but it has been meaningful.

Together, we have navigated through turbulence and are now moving toward clearer skies. That progress belongs to all of us.

I hope this provides clarity on the “why” behind the changes you’ve seen this year. There is still more to come, and I look forward to continuing this conversation with you.

Executive Director Chris Jones