New Mexico ECECD Holds First Transition Committee Meeting in Partnership with The Hunt Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Bieber
Director of Communications
Early Childhood Education and Care Department
matt.bieber@state.nm.us
(505) 629-9675

May 28, 2020

New Mexico ECECD Holds First Transition Committee Meeting in Partnership with The Hunt Institute

Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Cabinet Secretaries, Legislators, and Education Leaders Discuss Opportunities to Create a More Aligned, Coherent, and Equitable Early Childhood System in New Mexico

Santa Fe – Today, the Early Childhood Education and Care Department’s Transition Committee hosted the first of four meetings. The three-hour gathering, coordinated by The Hunt Institute and conducted via Zoom, addressed challenges and opportunities facing ECECD as it prepares for its July 1st launch. In particular, the Committee focused on ways to ensure better coordination across the state’s prenatal-to-five programs – and to involve local and tribal communities more fully in the development and implementation of programs and services across the state.

“I am grateful for the constructive spirit of collaboration we witnessed today to move New Mexico forward on an issue of critical importance to our future. With the leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, and so many within State government and in the private sector, we are demonstrating again that New Mexico may lead the way in our nation for better health and education services for our youngest children and their families. This new agency will enable us to do the very best we can for children across our state. It is gratifying for me to see an idea I first proposed in the Senate years ago become reality, and advance,” Lt. Governor Howie Morales said.

ECECD Secretary Groginsky added, “Last year, New Mexico took an extraordinary step forward. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Lujan Grisham, Sen. Michael Padilla, and Rep. Linda Trujillo – along with so many others inside and outside of government – our state created one of the nation’s only Cabinet-level departments dedicated to early childhood, prenatal to age five. Then, earlier this year, the legislature and the Governor created the Early Childhood Trust Fund to reinforce New Mexico’s long-term commitment to its youngest children.”

“Today’s meeting built on that work, gathering nearly three dozen people with diverse perspectives who provided key insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead. The participants, most of whom have spent years supporting our state’s youngest children and their families, offered invaluable guidance – including lessons learned from other states’ efforts to improve their early childhood systems,” Sec. Groginsky continued.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver agreed that the Committee’s first meeting was an important step forward for the state.

“We really couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable group – nor one more committed to the success of New Mexico’s young children,” said Toulouse Oliver. “I’m excited to see the Committee’s recommendations and confident they will serve Secretary Groginsky and the Department well as they prepare for their July 1 launch.”

“Through the creation of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, New Mexico has made a national statement about its commitment to the efficiency and accountability of its early childhood system,” shared Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. “The Hunt Institute is honored to work alongside Secretary Groginsky and the Transition Committee in support of this important work.”

In advance of the Committee’s first meeting, The Hunt Institute issued a brief highlighting children’s early years as a crucial developmental window – and the evidence connecting investments in early childhood with “long-term savings [that] minimize the need for taxpayer funded educational, social service and criminal justice interventions.”

Members of the Transition Committee include:

Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, Co-Chair
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Co-Chair
Ms. Mariana Padilla, Director and Chair, New Mexico Children’s Cabinet
Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department
Assistant Secretary for Native American Early Childhood Education and Care Jovanna Archuleta
Secretary Ryan Stewart, New Mexico Public Education Department
Secretary David R. Scrase, MD, New Mexico Human Services Department
Secretary Brian Blalock, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
Secretary Lynn Trujillo, New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs
Secretary Bill McCamley, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
Secretary Kathy Kunkel, New Mexico Department of Health
Deputy Secretary Carmen Lopez, New Mexico Higher Education Department
President Gabe Aguilar, Mescalero Apache Tribe
Jeremy Oyenque, Director of Youth and Learning for Santa Clara Pueblo
Rep. Deborah Armstrong
Rep. Gail Armstrong
Rep. Christine Trujillo
Rep. G. Andrés Romero
Rep. Alonzo Baldanado
Senator Mimi Stewart
Senator Craig Brandt
Senator Michael Padilla
Dr. Becky Rowley, President, Santa Fe Community College
Dr. Sam Minner, President, New Mexico Highlands University
Mr. Zach Taylor, Director of Santa Fe Programs, Santa Fe Institute for Transformational School Leadership
Mr. Rob Black, President and CEO, New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry
Mr. Steven Gluckstern, Chairman, TeacherCraft and WeAre.Org
Mr. Vince Kadlubek, CEO, Meow Wolf
Mr. Javier Gonzales, Business Development, Government and Public Affairs, Descartes Labs
Ms. BB Otero, President, Otero Strategy Group
Ms. Harriet Dichter, Early Childhood Systems Consultant

Note: the ECECD Transition Committee is distinct from the department’s Advisory Council. The latter body, established in SB 22 last year, will be announced next month and will begin meeting this summer.

###