University of New Mexico Works to Retain Homegrown Teachers

The school's College of Education and Human Sciences is expanding recruitment and programs to address teacher shortages in rural areas.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The University of New Mexico's College of Education and Human Sciences is stepping up efforts to recruit and retain homegrown teachers, especially in rural parts of the state. The university is working to identify local community members who want to stay and teach, expanding culturally grounded programs, and investing in statewide partnerships to transform the state's educator workforce.

Why it matters

Retaining teachers is a challenge for many rural communities, and the University of New Mexico is aiming to build a homegrown pipeline of educators starting at the high school level. This is especially important as fewer college graduates are earning degrees in education compared to previous generations.

The details

The university's College of Education and Human Sciences has expanded recruitment efforts, culturally grounded programs, and statewide partnerships to address teacher shortages. They are working to reach the state's Indigenous population through high school engagement, residency programs, and more online/distance learning options. Currently, Native teachers and administrators make up less than 2% of all public school teachers in the country.

  • The New Mexico chapter of Educators Rising is holding its annual conference on the Albuquerque campus starting February 24, 2026.

The players

Jay Parkes

The senior associate dean for student success at the University of New Mexico's College of Education and Human Sciences.

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What they’re saying

“We work in local communities to identify the people who love those communities and wish to remain there and wish to contribute to their local communities through education.”

— Jay Parkes, Senior Associate Dean for Student Success (statenews.net)

The takeaway

The University of New Mexico's efforts to build a homegrown pipeline of teachers, especially in rural and Indigenous communities, highlights the importance of retaining local talent and addressing teacher shortages in underserved areas.