Teachers and union leaders tell APS board workloads are unsustainable; board hears mixed response
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Summary
During public forum, Albuquerque Teachers Federation representatives and classroom teachers urged the board to address high workloads and burnout revealed in an ATF survey; other commenters criticized student walkouts and urged parental involvement. Speakers asked for more protected collaboration time, clearer policies and attention to special education supports.
At a packed public forum March 4, multiple representatives of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation and classroom teachers told the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education that rising workloads and mandates have made teaching unsustainable for many educators.
Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, told the board the union surveyed members and found that “educator stress has turned into distress in key areas” and urged district leadership to partner with the union to address workload, mandates and disruptive student behavior. "Please realize that many of the employees are not alright," she said, and delivered hard copies of the survey to board members.
Union vice president Sarah Hager spoke for middle school educators, asking the board to prioritize "paid, protected, professional time" for collaborative planning during the duty day. "Middle school is developmentally unique... Teaming only works if there is time built into the schedule," Hager said.
Special education leaders emphasized caseload concerns. Shanice Conley, SETT coordinator for the district’s special‑education residency program, and Desiree Spielman, a special‑education head teacher, described heavy documentation demands, lengthy timelines for additional supports and the risk that new teachers will burn out. Spielman cited the ATF survey graphic showing "48.5 percent of teachers report that they do not feel their workload is manageable." She asked the board to eliminate superfluous mandates and increase adult time for professional work.
Not all public commentators agreed. Janet Harmon defended student walkouts as a constitutional right and urged the board to recognize student voice. Other speakers asked about field‑trip approvals, asked for more family engagement, or proposed outdoor and place‑based learning partnerships.
Board members did not respond directly during the public‑forum block, but staff and board members later referenced public forum themes during the superintendent’s presentation and the budget discussion. The board president closed public forum by thanking speakers and noting the district will work with administration where needs were expressed.
The public‑forum record will be part of ongoing board and administration conversations about workload, teacher retention and program priorities.