Ben Ray Luján Stands with New Mexico’s Educators

Today, our campaign is proud to launch Educators for Ben, a community of leaders who know that Ben Ray Luján is the best choice to represent New Mexico’s students, families, and teachers in the U.S. Senate.

By sharing their experiences in their own words, we want to introduce you to a few of the educators who have joined our campaign as the leaders of Educators for Ben.

Ivonne Orozco

Ivonne Orozco is the 2018 New Mexico teacher of the year and a Spanish teacher in Albuquerque. As a first-generation college student, immigrant, former DACA recipient, queer woman of color, and mom, Ivonne believes that it’s important to recognize that every student has a unique experience.

“It matters to have someone on our side that shares the common goals that teachers work for in our classrooms — from early childhood development to ensuring our students are ready for their future through STEAM programs and workforce development. In these times, when so much uncertainty is around us, it is refreshing to count on the constant leadership of Ben Ray Luján. As a teacher, a mom, an immigrant, and a member of the LGBTQ community, I stand with Ben.”

Susan Miera

Susan Miera has been teaching for 46 years. She currently oversees a student-run writing center at the Santa Fe Indian School, where she mentors students from across New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos. Before joining the teaching staff at SFIS, she worked in a bilingual classroom at a Title I school in Taos and taught English at Pojoaque High School, where Ben Ray was her student.

“Teachers do so much, and our country is just beginning to recognize that. Education can change prejudices, change minds, and change lives — and without an education, no one really has the ability to move forward in life. We need leaders who understand that.

I’ve known Ben Ray since he was my student at Pojoaque High School, and I trust him to be an advocate for New Mexico’s students and teachers. He’s always been eager to surround himself with smart people and listen to different opinions before coming to his conclusions. I think that’s truly the mark of an intelligent person — someone who’s willing to listen.”

Andres Romero

Andres Romero is a state representative in House District 10, chair of the New Mexico House of Representatives Education Committee, and a Social Studies teacher in Albuquerque.

“We know that the coronavirus pandemic has been incredibly difficult for everybody, including our educators, our students, and our families. We as educators have spent countless hours learning the technology available to us so we can continue to provide high-quality instruction for our students, but also continue to provide for the social and emotional well-being of all of our students and our families. I’ve spent a lot of time calling, texting and reaching out to my students and their families to see how they’re doing during this difficult time.

We as educators know that our schools are extensions of our community — and that’s why I support Ben Ray Luján for U.S. Senate. He’s a community-based leader that understands the connection between our schools and our community and he has a proven track record of supporting educators in our classroom so we have the tools necessary to educate our future leaders.”

Trisha Moquino

Trisha Moquino is the Co-Founder and Education Director at Keres Children’s Learning Center, an educational organization that educates Cochiti Pueblo children and works to revitalize the Keres language.

“I’m passionate about revitalizing Keres because it is our connection to our ancestors, our land, and our survival. After boarding schools and colonialism disrupted so much, re-learning our ancestral languages is so important to connect with our people.

I support Ben Ray Luján because he trusts tribes to know what is best for our children. By introducing legislation like the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, he has shown that he understands the importance of revitalizing languages like Keres. I know that he’ll respect tribal sovereignty and be a leader that New Mexico’s Indigenous families can count on.”

Ben Ray’s Record on Education

As a Head Start kid and the son of a public school worker, Ben Ray was raised to understand that education is the gateway to a better future. In Congress, his record on education includes:

• Working to end the digital divide by introducing legislation that would allow school districts to be reimbursed for placing WiFi on school buses.
• Keeping college students on track to graduate by securing $31 million in cash grants to help college students struggling as a result of COVID-19.
• Promoting training for skilled trades by introducing legislation to provide grants for technology based job training and education programs.
• Preserving indigenous languages by leading efforts to pass the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act through the House of Representatives.
• Working to replace No Child Left Behind by supporting the Every Student Succeeds Act.
• Helping families save for college by introducing legislation to strengthen the American Opportunity Tax Cut.

Ben Ray is proud to have earned the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, New Mexico’s two largest teachers unions. In endorsing our campaign, AFT New Mexico president Stephanie Ly said:

“Now, more than ever, we are confident Ben Ray Luján is the right voice for public educators in the United States Senate. He will be an advocate for our students, our families, our communities, and our profession.

Ben Ray Luján is our choice, without hesitation, for the United States Senate. We encourage New Mexico’s public educators to join Educators for Ben and engage the campaign directly as advocates for our students and profession!”

— Stephanie Ly, President,
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico

Join Educators for Ben

Educators for Ben is open to all teachers, administrators, support staff and paraprofessionals who are excited about electing Ben Ray Luján as the next U.S. Senator from New Mexico. Founding members of Educators for Ben include:

• Stephanie Ly, President, American Federation of Teachers New Mexico
• Kathy Chavez, Executive Vice President, American Federation of Teachers New Mexico
• Roberto Lozano, Associate Superintendent of Equity, Innovation, and Social Justice for Las Cruces Public Schools
• Trisha Moquino, Co-Founder and Education Director at Keres Children’s Learning Center
• Ivonne Orozco, 2018 New Mexico of Teacher of the Year and Spanish teacher at Volcano Vista High School
• Susan Miera, Teacher at Santa Fe Indian School
• Rafael Martinez, Instructor at the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College
• Billie Helean, First-grade teacher and president of the Rio Rancho Schools Employee Union
• Sen. Bill Soules, Part-time teacher, state senator, and member of the New Mexico Public Education Department School Reentry Task Force
• Trish Ruiz, Member of the New Mexico Public Education Commission
• Rep. Andres Romero, Social Studies teacher at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School and state representative.
• Rep. Natalie Figueroa, Spanish teacher at Volcano Vista High School and state representative.
• Cynthia Nava, Former Superintendent for the Gadsden Independent School District and former state senator

Want to join Educators for Ben and work together to build a brighter future for New Mexico? Click here.