MAS Celebrates its 10th Anniversary with Key Milestones
- Our school started with 100 students and ten staff members and has grown serving 2,200 students with 270 staff members.
- We have received various national-level recognitions over the years including being named one of U.S. World & News Best Schools of 2022, a School to Emulate by the Center for Educational Reform, Scholastic Education’s Student of the Year and our founder, JoAnn Mitchel, was named a Woman of Influence by Success Magazine just recently.
- MAS has received approvals to expand over the years including expanding to elementary education in 2015 and becoming the first New Mexico charter school to be replicated in 2017.
- Our students’ achievements stand out among schools in New Mexico with one of the highest graduation rates in the state and math and reading test scores outperforming state averages.
- Our financial strength has also grown. MAS was the first charter school in New Mexico to be funded by the Charger School Growth Fund (having been funded twice), and we received funding from the Equitable Facilities Fund. We also closed on a $30 million bond to build our new Old Coors campus, scheduled for completion in 2023.
Featured MAS Student | Angelo Espiritu
Moving to a new school can be daunting for many students. Incoming senior Angelo Espiritu started at MAS in 6th grade after receiving a letter from MAS. He wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for him, as he had to get accustomed to a new school environment where uniforms were required. He is now very proud of his journey at MAS.
Angelo is an exemplary student at MAS, taking his academic journey very seriously. From middle school, Angelo says he developed an infinity for English class, especially enjoying nonfiction reading on issues like Civics, leading to his strong interest in becoming a lawyer, which is Angelo’s ultimate educational goal.
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Featured MAS Staff Member | Mara Gottlieb 
About one-third of today’s teachers in the United States are “second career” teachers. Second-career teachers bring experience, perspective, and a strong passion for making a difference in others’ lives. Mara Gottlieb, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) specialist and the special education coordinator for elementary school students at the MAS Old Coors location, is one of these highly dedicated, passionate second-career teachers.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico, Mara kicked off her career by working as a trainer at Disney World. She then spent years excelling in the field of gemology, pursuing a gemologist appraiser certification to serve as a graduate gemologist and account manager in the jewelry industry for well-known area jewelers such as Shelton Jewelers and Máti. She also served as a technical consultant for jewelers and taught jewelry making to adults, even on virtual platforms.
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Physical Education Plays an Important Part in the Education of MAS Students
Extensive research shows that physical activity for children is critical to their physical, mental, and emotional development. It improves children’s physical fitness and overall bone and muscle health and helps them develop motor skills, teaches self-discipline, improves cognitive performance, reduces behavioral challenges, and influences leadership and cooperation skills.
Unfortunately, there has been a trend for some years in which schools have eliminated physical education classes and recess and sharply curtailed lunch hours, all impacting kids’ ability to spend time being physically active.
MAS knows that physical activity is essential for children, and the school takes a variety of approaches to physical education to help its students succeed, including:
- Scheduling 80 minutes of physical education each day for grades K through 6.
- Using physical education instructional coaches, just as the school does for academic subjects. Each morning, the MAS physical education instructional coach works with MAS Assistant Principal Kristy Reale on professional development, including building and reviewing lesson plans. Physical education coaches are held accountable similarly to academic subject teachers.
- Using physical education periods also educates kids on health issues in subjects such as nutrition and the food pyramid.
- Integrating other types of learning with physical education lessons, including music and art projects.
- Exposing students to a variety of different sports and activities, ranging from basketball, volleyball, and kickball in the park to navigating obstacle courses and learning to dance.
- Building upon the school’s socioemotional curriculum, Choose Love, into physical education, focusing on conflict resolution, deep breathing, individual reflection, and using appropriate vocabulary.
- Showing a positive, inclusive approach for kids, regardless of their differences, avoiding gender stereotypes and divisions.
- Becoming flexible when classes had to move online by incorporating activities such as yoga, dance games, calisthenics, and fun physical activities like cup stacking to keep kids active.
We still have openings for new students!
Do you know of a family looking for a new school where their children can succeed?
MAS may just be that school. We serve all students, including students with disabilities, English learners, gifted students, regardless of their current of past academic performance. If seats are unavailable, students will be placed on a waiting list in the order they are received.
Visit our on-line application on our website
You can also contact us by phone at 505-242-3118 or by email at [email protected].
Check out some of our new students at https://www.facebook.com/MASCharterSchool.