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Category: Elections Elections
Published: 23 January 2014 23 January 2014

Former US Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch Endorses State Senator Howie Morales for New Mexico Governor

New York Times best-selling author recognizes Morales as a leader in education policy and as a champion to fight for all educators and students alike

Silver City, NM – Today, nationally renowned education leader Diane Ravitch publicly announced her support of New Mexico State Senator Howie Morales’ (SD-28) bid to become New Mexico’s next Governor.  Ravitch has established herself as a national education leader through her work as a teacher, policy analyst, author, federal administrator and historian.  She has served on the National Assessment Governing Board under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.  She has written multiple New York Times best selling books (“The Death and Life of the Great American School System” and “Reign of Error”) that have critically assessed the state of our national education system and have offered real solutions as to how to strengthen our schools.

“I am happy to endorse Howie Morales for Governor of New Mexico,” said Ravitch. "Education is crucial to the future of New Mexico and Howie has the experience to put public schools on the right track. He is a real reformer who will raise the morale of teachers and make New Mexico a shining example of great education for all the children of the state.”

“I am honored to have the support of a person who is so well respected in the education community,” said Morales.  “Diane Ravitch has spent her entire career fighting for the betterment of our schools and advocating for the proper education of our children.  As the father of two young children, I thank her for all she has done to shape policies that will better their quality of education.  I look forward to working with Ms. Ravitch as we bring the fight to transform education policy to New Mexico.”

Senator Morales has been a leader on education policy in New Mexico.  As a state senator, he passed two pieces of landmark legislation in 2013 (SB 587 & SB 588) that would have transformed the states A-F school rating system as well as the measures used to evaluate teachers.  Governor Martinez vetoed both bills.  He holds a PhD in Education from New Mexico State University and has served as a special education teacher in southwest New Mexico.

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Background on Senator Morales:

Morales began his professional career in 1995 as a special education teacher in Silver City.  He received a Ph.D. in Education from New Mexico State University and was recognized as New Mexico LULAC "Teacher of the Year" in 2005.  Morales is active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New Mexico and carries the distinction of being the longest serving Big Brother in the state.

Elected Grant County Clerk in 2005, Morales updated the county’s out-of-date voting machines and modernized the voting process in Grant County.  Morales was appointed to the State Senate after the passing of Senator Ben Altamirano, and has served for six years, holding a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, serving as the Chairman of Legislative Interim Committee on Rural Development, and earning a reputation as a serious legislator with in-depth expertise covering a range of issues from health and education to economic growth.

Morales was the first-ever recipient of the Bruce King Legacy Award and has been honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the New Mexico Activities Association.  Senator Morales sponsored the Memorial commemorating Valentine's Day 2014 as One Billion Rising Day in NM to end violence to women, and was recognized as the 2013 Legislative Champion at the New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition.

For More Information about Diane Ravitch, please view the following links:

http://dianeravitch.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Ravitch