"Teachers within our district voice their participation in preparatory training for the upcoming school year at APS"
The Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) teachers' union has recently negotiated a contract that prioritizes autonomy and professional rights for teachers. This contract, which has been secured through collective bargaining, aims to ensure that teachers retain decision-making power in their classrooms despite transitions or legislative shifts [1].
Union president Ellen Bernstein emphasized the importance of having solid contract language, stating that it is critical to maintaining these gains over time, ensuring that protections will not disappear with changes in administration or the school board [1].
Currently, APS educators are voting to ratify this agreement, with voting actively promoted among APS teachers as of early August 2025 [3]. The timeline for school board approval has not been explicitly reported, but it typically follows ratification.
In parallel, APS is actively staffing for the 2025 school year, with a hiring spree underway to fill around 275 open positions, indicating district efforts to maintain staffing levels regardless of contract negotiations [2].
The APS back-to-school event, held at the convention center, marked the first time thousands of Albuquerque Public Schools educators were together in one place. Superintendent Gabriella Blakey spoke at the event and predicted the union's negotiated changes to the contract will pass. She also expressed comfort with the proposed changes [4].
APS president Ellen Bernstein, speaking at the event, stated that the teachers' feedback was heard this year. She also highlighted the modifications to how eighth-12th grade teachers do "Next Step Plans", a new policy allowing new teachers minimum two workdays to prepare, and pay increases for some teachers' work outside of classrooms [4].
Thursday has been scheduled as the return date for APS students, excluding kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students. APS students in grades 1-12 will return to classrooms on this day [5]. Voting on the contract began for union members on Friday and closes Aug. 15 [6]. Unfortunately, kindergarten and pre-kindergarten APS students will not return to classrooms on Thursday.
In conclusion, the union contract changes focus on autonomy and professional rights for teachers, secured through collective bargaining [1]. APS educators are presently voting to ratify this agreement [3]. The timeline for school board approval is not stated explicitly but typically follows ratification. APS continues staffing efforts in parallel, ensuring classrooms meet state standards on class size and quality [2].
[1] Albuquerque Journal
[2] Albuquerque Journal
[3] Albuquerque Journal
[4] Albuquerque Journal
[5] Albuquerque Journal
[6] Albuquerque Journal
- The Albuquerque Journal reported that the APS teachers' contract negotiations resulted in an agreement that prioritizes autonomy and professional rights for teachers, aiming to ensure that they retain decision-making power.
- As part of the recent APS contract, eighth-12th grade teachers will experience modifications to their "Next Step Plans", a new policy allowing new teachers minimum two workdays to prepare, and pay increases for some teachers' work outside of classrooms, demonstrating a focus on education-and-self-development.
