Pamela Cort will serve as the newest member of the Las Cruces Public School Board of Education, temporarily filling the District 2 seat left vacant by former board member Terrie Dallman.
Cort brings 31 years of total teaching experience to the position.
Prior to her retirement in 2019, she spent over 25 years teaching at Las Cruces High School—earning New Mexico Teacher of the Year in 2013. She says the need to ensure all students feel engaged and culturally accepted is a top reason she feels called to serve on the board.
“Where I think that my expertise would be most beneficial, and where I'm currently passionate, is culturally and linguistically responsive teaching,” Cort said. “I worked on my educational specialist degree and my whole thesis, and everything I wrote was on the importance of bringing in different cultures and languages into the classroom and how to engage all students from their perspective.”
Cort emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive classroom space, specifically one welcoming to English language learners.
“What we're finding is a lot of students are disenfranchised,” Cort said. “They are not wanting to continue their education because they don't believe the public schools are doing what is in their best interest. English language learners, even though we have made great gains in that, that population is still left behind on so many levels…Other students don't converse with them because of the language barrier.”
Five different applicants were interviewed for the position—including NASA Engineer Carissa Brealey who has served on the LCPS Equity Council and former special education teacher Charlene Bencomo, who is now the executive director of a New Mexico nonprofit.
Candidates were individually asked a series of five questions on topics ranging from student engagement initiatives to education priorities. Prior to a ranked choice vote, LCPS Board Member Maria Flores reflected on the quality of applicants.
“You all bring something big to the table. I feel that each and every one of you has something to offer,” Flores said. “Sometimes the school board is the most neglected body of elected officials or the most hated body of officials. It is a grueling situation sometimes, but thank you for being here and for putting yourself out there.”
LCPS School Board President Ray Jaramillo concurred with that message, saying District 2 will be well represented on the board.
“I think District 2 in Las Cruces Public Schools is in a win, win, win, win, win situation. We have five candidates that I would be happy and be excited to work with,” Jaramillo said. “Someone's going to have to come out of this, that's what we have to do.”
Ultimately the ranked vote favored Cort, who says she will strive to make sure the student voice is heard.
“We need to make sure that all students voices are heard and that we bring an understanding of all of the multiculturalism that exists in the schools, and all of the different languages that come with that,” Cort said. “Because with greater understanding comes greater empathy.”
Cort will serve as the District 2 representative until the start of 2022. An election for the seat is scheduled to take place this November.
