U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich hosted a roundtable discussion with educators in Rio Rancho on Wednesday to address issues facing public education, particularly in light of federal funding cuts.
The meeting, held at Rio TECH, the location of Rio Rancho Public Schools’ Career Technical Education program, focused on the impact of President Donald Trump’s policies on teachers and students.
“We aim to listen directly to those on the front lines—teachers—about the pressures they face, and how the chaos in Washington affects their everyday lives,” Heinrich explained. “This, in turn, affects students, who are the future of our state and country. It’s a disservice to them when public education is so chaotic and frustrating.”
Heinrich, who began his day in Albuquerque by introducing gun violence prevention legislation, spent nearly an hour discussing challenges with local educators. Topics included cuts to teacher professional development, insufficient funding for special education, and the impact of Title I and Title II funding.
Billie Helean, president of the Rio Rancho School Employees Union, emphasized the critical role federal funding plays in supporting essential student programs.
“I am extremely concerned about the cuts to teacher professional development,” Helean said. “This is one of my chief concerns.”
Katharine Michel, a history teacher at Cleveland High School, shared her students’ frustrations with the rising costs of education.
“They’re asking, ‘What’s the point of going to school?’” Michel said.
Heinrich, a product of public education, expressed concern about the current administration’s stance on public education. He aims to take these firsthand accounts back to Washington, D.C., to inform ongoing debates. The senator also criticized the Trump administration’s “illegal” cancellations of education funds, which he said have caused chaos in the system.
“The education system in New Mexico is under threat, with federal funding cuts jeopardizing students’ opportunities,” Heinrich said.
Helean shared troubling statistics about Rio Rancho schools: Out of 16,807 students, 1,678 live below the poverty line, and 135 are homeless. These students are directly affected by approximately $14.8 million in funding cuts.
Heinrich emphasized the importance of supporting public education and respecting public educators.
“Every elected official in Washington should fight for public education and send a message of respect to public educators,” he said. “We would not have a functioning democracy without public education.”
Federal funds typically make up about 16% of school district budgets, supporting essential programs like school lunches and special education services. Heinrich criticized the Trump administration’s “illegal funding clawbacks” and vowed to continue working with state attorneys general to challenge these cuts through legal channels.
“We’ll hold the administration accountable, and the courts are an important part of that,” Heinrich said. “This is a president who does not respect the rule of law.”
The roundtable participants stressed the importance of ongoing civic engagement, urging educators and community members to continue supporting their representatives and advocating for education funding.
Helean, who has joined other educators in protesting education cuts, called for active participation in the democratic process.
“We need to support our congressmen and senators, make sure they know they have our backing,” she said. “We cannot let up.”
The educators’ message was clear: The fight for public education is ongoing, and it requires continued commitment from all involved.
“This White House wants people to give up,” Heinrich concluded. “One of the most important things we can do is not do that.”
