Alumni Award Recipients
Alan Morgan
Bernard S. Rodey Award, 2010
Alan Morgan's successor as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michael Davis, puts it best:
"At the top of the list of Alan's accomplishments is his uncompromising belief in and love for New Mexico's children and for his family. They have been Alan's anchors throughout his career."
In appointing Alan interim State Secretary of Education to oversee the fledgling New Mexico Department of Public Education, Governor Richardson called him "a tireless champion for New Mexico's children."
Over the course of his career, Alan went from teaching sixth, third and first grades to heading a state department charged with overseeing 89 school districts, 36,000 public-school employees and an annual operating budget of 2 billion dollars. His contacts among top -level educators throughout the country were vast – he chaired or served on 15 national boards and panels. Now he is vice president for US Government Relations for Pearson Inc, the largest education products and services company in the world.
But throughout, Alan has kept his eye on the children, making decisions based on their well-being.
This example says it all: While serving as our education chief, Alan decided that New Mexico school administrators and teachers were not to be enforcers of federal immigration law. Children who showed up at school were to be educated. Period.
The current Secretary of Education, Veronica Garcia, says, "Alan has a great sense of humor, is charming, disarming, and sharp as a whip. When he makes a commitment, he'll see it through until the end."
Michael says Alan uses his gifts of being articulate and intelligent to bring people together. "He understands that getting the best result for children comes from bringing out the best in the adults who serve them."
While Alan was State Superintendent, citizens in the Rio Rancho area petitioned the State Board of Education to establish a separate school district. Alan worked diligently to help leaders from APS, the Jemez Valley School District and citizens from Rio Rancho find common ground. Despite scarce capital resources, Michael says, "Alan placed his faith in people to find a way." And it worked.
State Representative Gail Chasey used to tease Alan for carrying his pager – in the pre-cell phone days – with him day and night, professionally and socially. "You never know when some kid is going to get a C," Alan told her.
Well, she writes, he "took all those calls about kids' grades, along with the calls from the Governor, the Senate and house leadership, his children, and his multitude of friends."
All of us in this room are true believers in education, Alan. For all you've done to educate our state's children, the UNM Alumni Association is proud to honor you. And we appreciate the dedication and integrity that your accomplishments signal.
