Rachel Kilman, a teacher at New Futures High School, expressed her commitment to helping students become "safe, successful, and self-sufficient." Kilman was recognized as the February 2025 Pepsi/APS Education Foundation Teacher of the Month and shared her insights in a YouTube video on February 13.
"In talking to students, some of the comments that I get from students are Rachel really helps me," said Kilman. "Rachel takes the time to teach me and helps me to understand."
According to the Albuquerque Public Schools website, Pepsi and the APS Education Foundation have collaborated for 14 years to honor exceptional teachers within the district. Each month, one APS school is randomly selected, and a teacher is chosen by the school's principal or staff to receive a $100 check from Pepsi, recognition on APS platforms, and a gift card from Dion's.
In the YouTube video honoring her, Kilman discussed the significance of trust in education: "In math class, I think building relationships can sometimes be a little extra important because there tends to be a lot of math trauma." She said that when students feel supported, "they will do more for you, will be in class more, and be willing to try the harder things if they know they can trust you."
Math trauma refers to a mental shutdown when faced with mathematical tasks due to past negative experiences. Research indicates that math anxiety can limit career opportunities and is prevalent even among some educators. This underscores the need for an educational shift from speed-based drills to deeper conceptual understanding.
New Mexico’s education system faces challenges with equity, as highlighted by the Yazzie/Martinez lawsuit. Recent data shows slight gains in English Language Arts (ELA) but stagnant math scores. The governance reflects local politics; however, there remains a disconnect between students and policy decisions affecting their education.
Kilman has four years of experience as a high school math teacher and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico (UNM), with endorsements in math and science. According to New Futures High School's website, she engages students through manipulatives and open-ended problems to explore concepts before applying them.
