Today, we proudly kicked off the HRS (High-Reliability Schools) Mini Summit with powerful workshops and meaningful conversations focused on school culture, community building, and best practices to help students thrive.
This week's event marks the fourth year of our summit. In 2022, we welcomed 100 educators, and today, we are thrilled to host more than 350 educators from Rio Rancho, Central Consolidated Schools, and Farmington Municipal Schools.
One of the highlights was a presentation by Keynote Speaker Dr. Mario Acosta, an award-winning educator, author, and national speaker, who touched on the growing impact of smartphones in the classroom. He also shared how high levels of social media use can affect students’ attention spans and memory, sparking important conversations among our educators.
Dr. Acosta, who was honored as the 2022 Principal of the Year in Texas, encouraged school leaders to truly invest in students by offering stability, building their confidence, and meeting them where they are. His message was inspiring and a great reminder of the powerful role educators play in shaping young lives.
For those new to HRS: it's a framework our schools use to ensure we’re always growing and improving, helping teachers, principals, and district leaders make decisions that directly benefit students.
Highlights from Day 2
On Day 2 of the HRS Mini Summit, our educators took part in an inspiring breakout session led by Dr. Tina Boogren on The New Art and Science of Teaching. One of the big questions discussed was: Are great teachers born, or can they be made? The conversation focused on how teaching is a skill that can be learned and improved over time with the right kind of practice, reflection, and support.
A key takeaway? Becoming an expert teacher doesn’t just come with time. It takes deliberate practice and effort, and to reflect on what’s not working. This idea ties directly to our district goal to make sure every student has an effective teacher in every classroom.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came from Mr. Raymond Lopez, a first-year teacher at Mesa View Middle School. He shared his journey into education:
“I spent 26 years in the oil field before running my own small business. I've always had a desire to help kids, but I never knew how to make that happen. For the past year and a half, I worked as a security guard, and as I was preparing to transfer to the high school in that role, an opportunity came up that changed everything. Thanks to my experience in the oil field, I was offered the chance to teach vocational skills and trades. That became my way of working with kids. This year, I’ll be teaching woodshop and virtual welding. With all the advancements in trades, it’s going to be a whole new learning experience for me, too,” said Mr. Lopez.
FMS is reimagining middle school electives. Starting this school year, students will have access to five new elective pathways that connect directly to high school career programs. These changes are all about helping students explore their interests while gaining real-world skills for the future. Read more here.
Highlights from our Final Day
We wrapped up the final day of the HRS Mini Summit with an interesting breakout session led by Mr. Doug Rigby, focused on engaging all types of learners.
Participating teachers explored effective strategies like “chunking,” helping students process new information, and encouraging creative ways to show what they’ve learned. They also dove into methods for helping students deepen their understanding and apply their knowledge. These tools are not just helpful for students; they also give our teachers practical ways to prepare more efficiently before class, saving them valuable time.
Over the past three days, a key message has come through loud and clear: building strong, positive relationships with students and with each other is at the heart of great teaching.
We’re so grateful to all the dedicated educators who took part in the summit. Have a great school year!
A big THANK YOU to the FMS Board of Education for supporting this important work and helping us stay focused on improving outcomes for all students.
And huge SHOUT-OUT to Ms. Nicole Lambson and our Curriculum & Instruction team for putting together this amazing opportunity for educators.
We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at Marzano Resources, whose team of experts is guiding these powerful conversations. Thank you to Dr. Mario Acosta, Dr. Tina Boogren, Dr. Sara Brown, Ms. Zabdi Gonzalez, Ms. Robin Bott, Mr. Erik Francis, Ms. Shelley Gies, Mr. David Franklin, Mr. Dirk DeBour, Mr. Doug Rigby, and Mr. and Mrs. John and Jessica Hannigan for your support.
Save the date! Next year’s summit is scheduled for July 27–29, 2026, and we’re already looking forward to it.