Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2025
CONTACT
Julia Sclafani
Public Relations Specialist
Email: julia.sclafani@ececd.nm.gov
Mobile: (505) 699–5937
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council appointed three new members during its second meeting of 2025 on March 26 in Albuquerque.
The new members are Kari Armijo, secretary of the Health Care Authority; Bridget Dixson, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce; and Natalie Guillen, a parent representative. Additionally, Councilmember Lula Brown was named vice chair, succeeding Rob Black, who stepped down to become secretary of the Economic Development Department.
During the meeting, Early Childhood Education and Care Department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky provided updates on the agency’s executive budget and legislative session outcomes.
“I am excited for the work of the advisory council in the year ahead,” said Sec. Groginsky. “We have critical work ahead—expand access, improve the quality of services and enhance outcomes for young children and their families. Strengthening the early childhood workforce to ensure they receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.”
“Though it’s only the second meeting of the year, the council is already making significant progress. The council and public received updates on two key initiatives: the FOCUS Redesign and the wage scale and career lattice,” said Brown. “The advisory council’s work dedicated to quality improvements aims to support not only the children and families of New Mexico but also the hardworking early childhood professionals that serve them.”
Additional topics of the meeting included:
- Implementation of a new statewide community assessment.
- Release of the 2025 Family Engagement and Satisfaction Survey.
The advisory council’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 28 in Hobbs.
Find more information about the council, it’s activity and publications, including the latest annual report, on the Council webpage: Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
The Advisory Council is composed of state and local education leaders, early childhood professionals, service providers, Tribal representatives, parent representatives, and other individuals representing communities impacted by early care and education policies. The Council engages with a wide range of stakeholders to guide and build upon the state’s ongoing work to create a comprehensive, affordable, and high-quality prenatal-to-5 system that meets the needs of New Mexico’s children and families. The Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council fulfills a federal requirement for states to establish a state advisory early childhood council.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org. On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.