UNM’s College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) is celebrating an extraordinary achievement with its Educational Leadership Program this May. The 2024 spring cohort has set a remarkable milestone, being one of the largest educational leadership groups in the country, boasting 25 different students achieving various accomplishments from UNM’s Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy (TEELP).
Educational Leadership Program Associate Professor Shawn Secatero expressed his pride and admiration for the students, stating, "We are honored and extremely proud of our students as we look forward to celebrating their educational endeavors." The program has seen significant success, with the Native American Leadership in Education (NALE) Program graduating seven students and eight other Native students earning their bachelor’s degrees with administrative licensures.
Secatero highlighted the program's dedication to Native communities, saying, "We are fulfilling the dreams of our Native communities through a ‘grow your own’ model so our teachers and administrators can serve in various educational capacities as they return home to their communities." The POLLEN program, focusing on developing Indigenous school administrators, is also celebrating a milestone with its 60th graduate.
Recognizing the importance of representation, Secatero emphasized, "Native teachers and administrators comprise less than 2% of all public school teachers, so it's important for students to see someone who looks like them achieve their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees." The impact of these diverse graduates extends beyond the classroom, with 13% of TEELP’s students identifying as American Indian, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally responsive educational system.
The graduates and licensure earners will be officially honored at the COEHS convocation on Saturday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in The Pit. The College of Education & Human Sciences at UNM continues to make significant strides in preparing qualified educators and leaders to serve Native-serving school districts, ensuring a brighter future for Indigenous communities.