GRANTMAKERS FOR EDUCATION NEW MEXICO STUDY TOUR - Building the Future for Students in College and Career

Oct 15, 2026

A study tour in New Mexico brought together education funders in April 2023 to learn how the Gallup-McKinley school district develops viable college and career pathways for high school students. Participants traveled from Albuquerque to the Four Corners region, observing how geographic remoteness shapes access and focus. The tour included visits to career pathway classrooms and discussions with state legislators, along with reflections from local educators, civic, and business leaders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

What Are College and Career Pathways?

Tour Activities and Learning Exchanges

GRANTMAKERS FOR EDUCATION NEW MEXICO STUDY TOUR Building the Future for Students in College and Career INTRODUCTION In April of 2023, a group of education funders gathered from around the country in Gallup, New Mexico. After meeting up in Albuquerque, the nearest city with a large population, funders ventured by bus to their destination city in the Four Corners area, about two anda half hours away. One standout feature of the drive was the stunning scenery—the red rocks and cliffs contrasting with the golden desert landscape and blue skies overhead. The other feature that soon became apparent was the remoteness of their destination, and what that remoteness implied for the main focus of their visit: a school district that for the past several years has been building viable career pathway programs for high school students. As Mike Hyatt, superintendent of Gallup-McKinley County Schools, said,“Maybe you thought this bus ride to Gallup was long—but for many students in our district, these distances are normal when it comes to getting to school.” Grantmakers for Education (EdFunders) and its Postsecondary Access and Attainment (PSA2) Impact Group organized the trip as a study tour to Gallup. The PSA2 Impact Group is one of several funder learning communities supported by EdFunders devoted to deeper engagement and collaboration within the education field. EdFunders planned the trip to support its mission to catalyze learning and foster connection among members. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, along with other members of the PSA2 Impact Group, sponsored the study tour. ConnectEd, Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and the Thornburg Foundation were integral planning partners. The main purpose of the visit, which took place April 26 to April 28, 2023, was to learn about GallupMcKinley’s career pathways programs, Grantmakers for Education Postsecondary Access and Attainment Impact Group ACT Center for Equity in Learning Ascendium Education Group James Graham Brown Foundation Harold K.L. Castle Foundation Crimsonbridge Foundation Garen Family Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Greater Texas Foundation Lumina Foundation Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation The Teagle Foundation Trellis Foundation On the road from Albuquerque to Gallup. Learning and sharing took place everywhere on the study tour – including on the journey to rural New Mexico. 2 GRANT MAKERS FOR EDUCATION | IGNITE POS SIBI LT Y . which provide opportunities for young people in the district to explore careers like digital media, architecture, health sciences and automotive industry while still in high school. During the visit, tour participants visited high school classrooms dedicated to these career pathways classes, such asa garage-sized space housing a few pick-up trucks and a classroom set up for health sciences training that featured two human-sized dummies that reacted to voice commands. Tour participants also had the opportunity to hear from New Mexico state legislators about the state’s education initiatives and funding priorities. Local educators and civic and business leaders from neighboring communities shared their perspectives with the group. The Four Corners regional vision is to build out a comprehensive strategy that drives economic development in the region. For funders who care deeply about how the strategies they are supporting impact change within communities, nothing can replace in-person opportunities to build relationships with and hear from community-based partners. Career pathways programs, which are offered alongside core academic classes in high school, are a growing trend across the country; their appeal for students, educators, policymakers and funders lies in the ways they both expose students to different career opportunities and accelerate students’ ability to earn college credit or certification while still in high school. Trips like the New

FAQs

When and where did the study tour take place?

The visit occurred April 26 to April 28, 2023, with funders meeting in Gallup, New Mexico, after gathering around the country and coordinating from Albuquerque.

What was the primary focus of the tour?

To learn about Gallup-McKinley’s career pathways programs and how they provide high school students opportunities to explore careers while still in school.

What kinds of experiences did tour participants have during the visit?

Participants visited classrooms supporting career pathway classes and heard from New Mexico state legislators, while local educators and business leaders shared perspectives on regional and educational initiatives.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks