About Us - Transform Education NM

Transform Education NM is a coalition of families, educators, students, and advocates working to ensure every New Mexico student has access to an education that sees them, values them, and meets their needs. Our mission is to move our collective future forward by transforming New Mexico’s public education system into an ecosystem of community power and agency—one rooted in the leadership of families and communities and committed to creating inclusive, culturally grounded, meaningful learning opportunities for all students.

We believe every student deserves to be centered and supported in their learning, with schools that honor their backgrounds, abilities, identities, and aspirations. We work toward a future where schools are vibrant community spaces that reflect the richness of New Mexico’s cultures, lands, and peoples, and where every student is seen, understood, celebrated, and equipped to define their own success.

Our Platform for Transformation outlines a long-term vision for educational transformation, while our annual policy agenda identifies the concrete actions needed to advance equity, accountability, and opportunity for New Mexico’s students. Together, these guide our work to build lasting change across the state’s public education system.

This work is driven by the dedication and expertise of our team. Meet the people behind Transform Education NM:

Our Team: Advocates for Education Equity

Loretta Trujillo, Executive Director

Loretta Trujillo is a teacher, poet, activist and mother of four with 20+ years teaching middle and high school students. Her experience working with bilingual and immigrant students, first generation college students, and Indigenous students shapes the foundation of her pedagogy. Trujillo’s ancestral roots in the Chama Valley of northern New Mexico have deeply influenced her identity and connection to the state. As a classroom teacher she received the Fueling Increasingly Relevant Education Award in 2012 and the “Hechando Flores” Award in 2014.

Her commitment to serving the most marginalized students in our education system led her to her current role as Executive Director of Transform Education New Mexico (TENM), a statewide coalition of education advocates working to address the deep inequities in New Mexico’s schools and enact systems change tied to the landmark Martinez/Yazzie v. The State of New Mexico court case. The New Mexico Supreme Court found the state guilty of failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide a sufficient education for four groups of students: Native students, English language learners, at-risk students, and students with disabilities. Trujillo’s work continues to center the voices of students, educators, and the community, operating at the nexus of policy advocacy and community engagement to drive the transformation of our education system.

Meryl Chee, Communications Director

Meryl is an Indigenous communications professional with over a decade of experience, grounded in internal communications and public-facing work in city government and with tribal entities. She believes in the transformative power of storytelling, listening deeply to people’s experiences, and using their stories to amplify marginalized voices, shift narratives, and drive meaningful change. Rooted in her cultural identity and personal experiences, Meryl connects communities, advances equity, and inspires collective understanding.

Based in Albuquerque, Meryl draws inspiration from her spirited daughter, Oktosha, and her dog, Max, as well as the natural beauty of New Mexico. She loves what she does—writing with purpose, sharing stories that uplift communities whose voices are too often overlooked, and using storytelling to advocate for meaningful change.

Michelle Valverde, Equity Analyst

Michelle brings over 30 years of experience as an equity advocate specializing in program management, participatory research and evaluation, and policy analysis. She was born in Deming, New Mexico and graduated from Deming High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, master’s in Social Welfare Management and Planning, and Ph.D. in Educational Management and Development.

Michelle is a founding member of the LAB Learning Action Buffet, a non profit organization in Las Cruces NM focused on youth leadership development through art, communication, and civic engagement. Her current work with TENM revolves around addressing disparities in the education system. In her spare time, she likes to connect with family members, hike, ballroom dance, and share the gift of hand drumming.

Bettina Sandoval, Finance & Grant Coordinator

Bettina, from Taos Pueblo, is deeply rooted in her community and committed to creating meaningful change for Native youth. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico and has experience working across both formal and informal educational settings.

Much of her work has centered on serving as Taos Pueblo’s Education Director, where she focused on improving education outcomes for Pueblo youth and building partnerships that expanded opportunities and support for Native students and families.

These experiences inspired Bettina to pursue a master’s degree in public policy at the University of New Mexico, with a focus on education policy. She is passionate about education sovereignty and advancing transformative change for students and communities across New Mexico.