The coalitionWho We Are
Transform Education New Mexico is a coalition of families, educators, and advocates working to ensure every student has the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.
What we do
Our platform for transformation outlines the vision for rebuilding an equitable public education system and guides our efforts to hold the state accountable, creating lasting change for New Mexico's students.
We act as liaisons between communities and the New Mexico Public Education Department, advance a policy agenda each legislative session, and publish materials that help educators, families, and advocates carry the work into their own classrooms and communities.
Where we come from
In 2018, the consolidated Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit ended with a ruling that the state failed to meet its constitutional obligation to provide a sufficient education for four groups of students: Native students, English language learners, at-risk students, and students with disabilities.
The coalition formed around that ruling: to make sure the state's response is shaped by the communities the court named, not decided without them.
The people behind the coalitionStaff
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Loretta Trujillo
Executive DirectorA teacher, poet, activist, and mother, Loretta brings more than two decades of classroom experience with bilingual, immigrant, first-generation, and Indigenous students.
Her work centers the students and communities named in the Martinez/Yazzie ruling and connects policy advocacy with community power.
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Meryl Chee
Communications DirectorMeryl is an Indigenous communications professional with more than a decade of experience across public-facing city government work, internal communications, and tribal entities.
She uses storytelling to lift up communities whose voices are too often overlooked.
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Michelle Valverde
Equity AnalystMichelle brings more than 30 years of equity advocacy experience, with degrees in Sociology, Social Welfare Management, and Educational Management (Ph.D.).
Her work with TENM focuses on education-system disparities and policy analysis, grounded in deep community leadership and New Mexico roots.
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Bettina Sandoval
Finance & Grant CoordinatorBettina, from Taos Pueblo, holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a master's degree in public policy.
She focuses on education sovereignty, Native youth, grant coordination, and partnerships that expand opportunity for students and families.
Portraits, roles, and bio details are drawn from TENM's current Who We Are page.
How the work is funded
The coalition publishes its funding picture openly. The proposed design keeps that transparency front and center, pairing the published chart with plain-language notes on what supports the work.
