Mandi Torrez, Education Reform Director for Think New Mexico, has said that New Mexico's academic setbacks can be reversed through evidence-based reforms and sustained effort. This statement was made during an episode of the New Mexico Sun's "Suncast" podcast on YouTube.
"I don't think it's ever too big to solve," said Torrez. "I'm passionate about education...my daughters are currently going through our public education system. I see the shortfalls and I see things that I want to be better. it is a long climb up...but we're headed in the right direction."
New Mexico's 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results highlight the challenges described by Torrez. The state recorded the nation's lowest average scores across key subjects and grades, including 4th-grade reading (201), 8th-grade reading (245), and 4th-grade math (224). These results placed New Mexico 52nd when compared with all states, Washington D.C., and Department of Defense schools. These outcomes illustrate the "mountain" of reform discussed in the podcast episode.
The state has invested in paid teacher residencies to enhance preparation and retention, an approach emphasized by Torrez. According to the Public Education Department, a residency is a rigorous, mentored apprenticeship paired with coursework, providing residents with a stipend of no less than $35,000 per year. This program is based on the HB 13 Teacher Residency Act and aims to introduce more well-prepared, licensed educators into classrooms statewide.
Regarding class size, evidence suggests that smaller classes can be beneficial; however, effects depend on scale and instructional change. The Education Endowment Foundation finds that reducing class size generally yields a small positive impact—about one month of progress—with most studies examining reductions of approximately ten pupils. Modest reductions (e.g., from 30 to 25 students) are unlikely to be cost-effective unless teachers adapt their practices to take advantage of the smaller setting.
Torrez leads Think New Mexico’s education reform efforts with a decade of classroom experience in Bernalillo Public Schools and a statewide perspective as New Mexico’s 2020 Teacher of the Year. Her background includes roles in journalism and service as Teacher Liaison at the Public Education Department from 2020 to 2022. Think New Mexico describes her as advancing practical, student-focused policy solutions grounded in classroom realities.
