This month, I was fortunate to be invited to attend a meeting with 18 school-district administrators, including teachers, principals, department heads and the superintendent. It was an intense couple of days, focused on improving public education for all students. We had to acknowledge a lot of difficult realities, including the increasing number of students in poverty, test scores that are not keeping pace with goals, and the challenges of recruiting and retaining top-level educators.

But I came away not depressed, but reinvigorated by the dedication, enthusiasm and hard work of this group. I realized that I was very thankful that there are people who care deeply about our children and are willing to make incredible sacrifices to help them. I am also grateful to and humbled by the hundreds of people in this community who support the public schools through Partners in Education. Your donations help us all work toward our goal of excellence in public education.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I asked the other meeting participants what they were thankful for in their jobs this year. Here are a few of their responses:

"I am thankful for the opportunity to serve Santa Fe Public Schools and my community as superintendent of schools. I am thankful for each and every student we serve in SFPS. I am thankful for my staff up and down the ranks of SFPS; and I am convinced there's none better. I am also thankful for the community's support of SFPS."

Bobbie Gutierrez, superintendent

"I am thankful for the redirection of our attention and focus directly on our students. I believe that this is going to make a difference for our students and that we will see improvement in student achievement and their engagement in learning."

Andrea Tasan, director, federal programs

"I am so thankful for the opportunities that Santa Fe School District gives me to become a better professional. I am also grateful for the teachers and students at Capital High School that make it such a warm and inviting environment for learning and support."

L. Kay Sanders, assistant principal, Capital High School

"I'm thankful for strong leadership, caring coworkers and wonderful students."

Robert Helman, counselor, SER/SFPS Career Academy

"I am thankful for the wonderful children and families that make Chaparral such a happy learning environment. I recognize and am thankful for the professional and dedicated staff who give so much of themselves.

"I am thankful for the most organized motherly figure our community has — Kathy, our dedicated secretary. Without her, my job would be impossible.I am thankful that I can smile and have peace in my heart at the end of the day as I look back at all the accomplishments that we have worked on together to make the day in the life of a child a better place to live and learn."

Theresa Ulibarri, principal, Chaparral Elementary


Ruthanne Greeley is executive director of Partners in Education Foundation for the Santa Fe Public Schools, an independent, nonprofit agency. The foundation works to improve the quality of public-school education by linking the community with its schools, providing teachers and their students with the materials, equipment and services. For more information, call 474-0240 or rgreeley@sfpartnersineducation.org or write: Partners in Education Foundation, P.O. Box 23374, Santa Fe, N.M. 87502.