Taos Day School

ath classes take the summer off, but classroom gardens are a year-round responsibility. Just ask Nikki Cain, educational director for Growing Community Now, a nonprofit organization that helps facilitate school gardens along with gardening and nutritional education in Taos.

“Whatever summer camp or summer school or childcare that’s happening at the school sites — we offer to work with them and bring kids out into the garden,” said Cain, ensuring that little hands and growing minds are engaged with the educational gardens year-round.

Growing Community Now works with Arroyos Del Norte Elementary School, Ranchos Elementary School and Taos Middle School. It also has developed a pathway for students to earn dual credits towards an agricultural degree at UNM–Taos, and has plans to create a high tunnel greenhouse at Taos High School.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020, Growing Community Now produced a harvest festival with Taos Charter School. “We’re looking forward to having harvest festivals in the fall at various schools,” Cain said, excited to get back to normal.

She also wants to hold a salsa competition, using locally grown ingredients “to highlight the special culture and cuisine that we have in New Mexico. “Hopefully get some school board members and some other folks

Maround town to help us judge that,” Cain said. Young students at Enos Garcia Elementary School are growing potatoes, carrots, kale, tomatoes, red beans, corn, garlic and gladiolas in their outdoor garden. The school also has a growing dome, which can allow for winter harvests. “That also expands the teacher’s classroom space,” Cain said. Growing Community Now is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant, and by local nonprofits including The LOR Foundation, Taos Community Foundation and Los Alamos National Laboratories. It also accepts funds from private donors. For more information, visit growingcommunitynow.org

OPPOSITE: Kindergarteners at Enos Garcia Elementary School break open red bean pods and collect the beans inside. ABOVE: Kindergarteners at Enos Garcia

of Growing Community Now. NATHAN BURTON/TAOS NEWS

Taos Municipal Schools District Superintendent Lillian Torrez announced this summer that, after more than eights years leading the district, she is stepping down at the end of August and Assistant Superintendent Valerie

Trujillo will take the reins beginning

September 1.

“I love Taos Municipal Schools. For 44 years, I’ve been working to serve New

Mexico children. And so it’s going to be a significant change for me,” she said.

Torrez told the Taos News she is retiring in order to provide caregiving for her sister, who has Stage IV cancer. “I don’t know if I’ll lose her next week or next year. It’s really unpredictable,” she said.

Torrez was appointed superintendent by the school district in 2014, and spent her first few years searching for and hiring teachers and staff. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in March of 2020, she and her team transitioned the district to remote learning and instituted sweeping Covid-safe policies in line with the state’s public health guidelines.

She also spearheaded more than 50 federal grant applications, which have paid for career technical education, a safety coordinator, literacy development, social emotional learning and art instruction. New grants also support programs to combat emergency homelessness and help pregnant teens.

At a district meeting in June, the school board discussed its plans for replacing Torrez, and voted unanimously to promote Trujillo to serve as interim superintendent for one year. The board plans to begin a formal search, with input from the public, in early 2023.

“Taos Municipal Schools is the envy of the other districts right now, having had some very stable leadership in Dr. Torrez for the past eight years,” said Taos Mayor and school board member Pascual Maestas at the June meeting. “I think this is something that we need to take our time on — not rush into a decision. And I, for one, feel very comfortable with Mrs. Trujillo to help in the meantime.”

In response to the promotion, Trujillo said, “I am, first of all, humbled and honored to be selected by the Taos Municipal Schools board of education to be the interim superintendent of this amazing district. As a result of this selection, I want to assure you that the progress that has been made in the district will not be lost in this coming transition.”

“Superintendent Torrez and our leadership team and I collaborate on a regular basis. We will continue to provide those learning experiences for students at all levels. I’m committed to building upon past practices and to ensure that all current and future students have those opportunities to explore their interests and passions.”

Trujillo has worked in education for 25 years, starting her career as a teacher and coach at Taos Middle School. She went on to serve as an assistant principal in Santa Fe and high school principal and superintendent in Questa.

“And then from there, I had the amazing opportunity to be the REC Executive Director, which is an extension of the state [Public Education] Department, and I was able to serve eight school districts which included Taos Municipal Schools.” Trujillo became Assistant Superintendent for Taos Municipal Schools in July 2021.

“I have witnessed firsthand the love, support and the Tiger pride this community has for our school district. So I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” Trujillo said.

Torrez confided that, although the school board will conduct a search for a permanent superintendent to be in place by the end of the 2022-23 school year, she hopes that it will consider keeping Trujillo in the role going forward.

Looking back on her career, Torrez said the key to achieving student success “is really all about equity.”

“Equity is not equality. Equity is looking at every child to say, how many steps up more do they need to get to where everyone else is. Now, this one’s a special education child. And he needs four steps, because he’s in a wheelchair, he’s got this disability. This other one is Spanish-speaking, and happens to be Native American. It’s just so unique — every child — but if you give them the opportunity, they’ll be able to go to the top with whatever they want to do.”

FILE PHOTO

BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION Taos Day School Taos Day School 200 Rotten Tree Rd 200 Rotten Tree Rd P.O. Box 1850 P.O. Box 1850 Taos, New Mexico 87571-1850Taos, New Mexico 87571-1850

Welcome to 22-23 school year at Taos Day School. We are looking forward to a year that enDear Parents/Guardian’s. Dear Parents/Guardian’s. courages all to return to normalcy. Blended learning opportunities will be available at all grade levels. Utilizing a balance of digital Welcome to 22-23 school year at Taos Day School. We are looking forward to Welcome to 22-23 school year at Taos Day School. We are looking forward to learning and traditional teaching styles to increase student access to new programming with emphasis a year that encourages all to return to normalcy. a year that encourages all to return to normalcy. on project-based learning design. Taos Day School plans to reinitiate school programming that embraces community connectiv- Blended learning opportunities will be available at all grade levels. Utilizing a Blended learning opportunities will be available at all grade levels. Utilizing a ity through Cultural Family Engagement Nights and STEAM Activity Nights. balance of digital learning and traditional teaching styles to increase student access balance of digital learning and traditional teaching styles to increase student access Throughout the pandemic Taos Day School has abided by all Taos Pueblo Emergency Man-to new programming with emphasis on project-based learning design. to new programming with emphasis on project-based learning design. agement Team protocols, as well as CDC guidelines. We will continue to follow this guidance in the 22-23 school year. Taos Day School plans to reinitiate school programming that embraces Taos Day School plans to reinitiate school programming that embraces Taos Day School has created a student generated sound studio where students utilize the community connectivity through Cultural Family Engagement Nights and STEAM community connectivity through Cultural Family Engagement Nights and STEAM trainer of trainer model to produce media literacy projects. Teacher training in the use of production Activity Nights. Activity Nights. equipment and aligning media literacy to the BIE College and Career Readiness Standards will be a focus of teacher training throughout the year Throughout the pandemic Taos Day School has abided by all Taos Pueblo Throughout the pandemic Taos Day School has abided by all Taos Pueblo Information Technology has been at the forefront of education since the start of the pandemic, Emergency Management Team protocols, as well as CDC guidelines. We will Emergency Management Team protocols, as well as CDC guidelines. We will and Taos Day School is in the process of building a new technology infrastructure with the Bureau of continue to follow this guidance in the 22-23 school year. continue to follow this guidance in the 22-23 school year. Indian Education. This project, e-LMS, will incorporates 58 BIE schools and assures the most up to date programs and applications for student blended learning experiences. Taos Day School is one of the first Taos Day School has created a student generated sound studio where students Taos Day School has created a student generated sound studio where students pilot sites. Teacher and community training will be emphasized throughout the school year, as well as utilize the trainer of trainer model to produce media literacy projects. Teacher utilize the trainer of trainer model to produce media literacy projects. Teacher collaboration with other Bureau Schools. training in the use of production equipment and aligning media literacy to the BIE training in the use of production equipment and aligning media literacy to the BIE Through the efforts of our IT Department, a Makers Space has been created to teach all grade College and Career Readiness Standards will be a focus of teacher training College and Career Readiness Standards will be a focus of teacher training levels the Life Cycle of Engineering where students draw out their plans, brainstorm, redesign, and throughout the year throughout the year improve product design or performance of a prototype or project/ This is done through programs that teach coding, robotics, and 3-D printer design. Information Technology has been at the forefront of education since the start Information Technology has been at the forefront of education since the start 21st Century Community Learning Center Before and After School Programming will begin of the pandemic, and Taos Day School is in the process of building a new of the pandemic, and Taos Day School is in the process of building a new in September of 2022. The program compliments our daily Native Language and Culture Program that technology infrastructure with the Bureau of Indian Education. This project, etechnology infrastructure with the Bureau of Indian Education. This project, efocuses on cultural and community values within Taos Pueblo. LMS, will incorporates 58 BIE schools and assures the most up to date programs LMS, will incorporates 58 BIE schools and assures the most up to date programs School will start on August 15th for Teachers and Staff commencing with 3 days of profes-and applications for student blended learning experiences. Taos Day School is one and applications for student blended learning experiences. Taos Day School is one sional development. Students return August 19th. School hours are from 8am-3pm daily.of the first pilot sites. Teacher and community training will be emphasized of the first pilot sites. Teacher and community training will be emphasized We look forward to a school year filled with interactive learning opportunities and community throughout the school year, as well as collaboration with other Bureau Schools. throughout the school year, as well as collaboration with other Bureau Schools. connections that will ultimately build a strong academic and social base for all our students.