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In this issue:
 • Why Do I Support School Choice?
 • Homework Tips for Parents
 • School Choice Loses Two Heroes
 • ENM Adds New Board Member

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Why do I support Educate New Mexico and School Choice?
Easy — I’m a product of school choice! As a child my parents felt it would be best for me to attend a Catholic school. In fact, as my Dad’s job took us around the country my parents made that choice in five different states. Later I attended New Mexico Military Institute where I completed the first two years of college before graduating from New Mexico State University.

There is no question that the decisions my parents made regarding my education have dramatically impacted my life. The education I received has allowed me to work as the City Manager of Hobbs, as an entrepreneur in the oil & gas industry, be appointed by President Clinton as a principal advisor for oil & gas to U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, and currently serve as the president of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association as well as the president of the Board of Regents at New Mexico State University.

As I travel across New Mexico and the United States, I am reminded that many of our leaders were privileged to have similar options growing up — options available to them because their families were financially able. We were far from rich, but my parents were determined that myself, my two brothers and my sister would attend a school of their choice. Low-income parents not only deserve the same luxury…they desperately want it. Remember, the parents of over 7,000 children have applied to ENM for help!

In a country where we are able to choose what doctor to see, what grocery store to shop at, what park to play in, and what church to attend, it frustrates me that many New Mexicans, because of their income, are unable to make one of the most important decisions they will ever make for their children — what school they will attend. This is not a public school v. private school issue. In fact, my own son has been in a Catholic school for the past six years and this year it was our decision to have him attend a public school in our area. You see, it is a school choice issue.

As Educate New Mexico begins our sixth year of providing school choice to New Mexico’s most needy children, we are happy to tell you that, because of your generosity, ENM is providing scholarships to 430 students — a 5% increase from last year. Thank you!

In closing, I believe with all my heart that EVERY child in New Mexico should have access to the educational options afforded me as a child. In the meantime, we at ENM — with your help — will continue to help as many as we can — one child at a time.

Bob Gallagher
Chairman of the Board
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Homework Tips for Parents

1. Set a schedule — Have your children do their homework at the same time, in the same place every day.
2. Provide a Study Center — Their homework area should be organized and free of distractions. Only the tools necessary to do the work should be present.
3. Stay organized — Show your children how to use their agenda properly so that they can stay organized. Show your children how to divide larger tasks into smaller ones.
4. Be supportive — Before your children start, ask them if there is anything that they don’t understand. This lets them know that you are there for support.
5. Be patient — If you start to get frustrated with your child, stop, take a deep breath and start again.
6. Identify areas that need improvement — If you find that you are doing too much teaching this is cause for concern and should be mentioned to the teacher.

(Source: Children First School Choice Trust — Toronto, Ontario — September 2005 Newsletter)
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School Choice Loses Two Heroes
The Staff and Board of Directors of Educate New Mexico express a profound sense of loss for two great friends of children and the educational choices they deserve: Dr. Jim Lorie and John Walton. To their families, we extend our deepest sympathies.

Educate New Mexico board member, Dr. Jim Lorie, died this summer after battling pancreatic cancer. Dr. Lorie was an innovator in the field of business education and was instrumental in creating what became widely known as “The Chicago Approach to Management Education.” Dr. Lorie was a faculty member at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business from 1947 to 1992. He was the associate dean from 1956 to 1961 and founded the Center for Research in Security Prices at the Graduate School of Business in 1960, serving as its director until 1975. In retirement Dr. Lorie split his time between Tesuque, NM and Chicago. He loved to entertain guests and was involved in civic affairs in both communities.

While at the University of Chicago, Dr. Lorie taught with Milton Friedman, who first proposed government funded school choice in 1955. His passion for school choice lead Dr. Lorie to become one of Educate New Mexico’s first supporters. His desire to see ALL children succeed coupled with his thorough understanding of the school choice movement made him invaluable to Educate New Mexico’s efforts. Dr. Lorie’s involvement with ENM impacted hundreds of students across New Mexico. He will be sorely missed.

John Walton, a Vietnam War hero, philanthropist, member of the Wal-Mart Board of Directors, and Chairman and CEO of the Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF), was killed this summer near his Jackson, Wyoming home in a tragic plane accident.

In 1998, Mr. Walton and Ted Forstmann co-founded the Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) which provides tuition assistance for low-income families to send their children to private schools. Educate New Mexico is the recent recipient of a matching grant from CSF. Almost 70,000 children have benefited from scholarships across the United States as part of the foundation’s mission to open the doors of educational opportunity.

Though he is perhaps best-known for his generous scholarships for low-income children, John's enduring legacy is systemic policy change, both in the metamorphosis of public schools into flexible, responsive, consumer-driven institutions, and the emergence of school choice both as an educational life preserver and catalyst for public school reform.

No one has had a greater impact on educational reform in America than John Walton.
(Adapted from Alliance for School Choice)
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New to the Board
Jacquelyn Montoya-Reeve

Educate New Mexico is pleased to announce the addition of Mrs. Jacquelyn Montoya-Reeve to its board of directors. Mrs. Montoya-Reeve is the president of Medical Management, Inc., a dedicated administrative support group for physicians and medical facilities. Medical Management, Inc. is a recognized practice consultant as well as a resource for medical billing, physician recruiting, credentialing and contracting, insurance contracting, medical practice marketing, and human resource management and training.

More importantly, Jacquelyn is a well-known and passionate advocate for the education of children. Mrs. Montoya-Reeve has served on the board of many non-profit organizations that promote excellence in education such as Manzano Day School.

Chairman of the Board for Educate New Mexico, Mr. Bob Gallagher stated: “We are very pleased to announce that Jacquelyn Montoya-Reeve is joining the fight to provide school choice to low-income children. Her passion for children and her involvement in the Albuquerque community is a welcome addition to our leadership team.”

Jacquelyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of New Mexico and is currently pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management.

Welcome Jacquelyn Montoya-Reeve!!!!
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