Connie Jo Baca

"The research is so strong, and we've always had glowing reports on how well prepared our preschool children are for kindergarten," said Connie Jo Baca, Eugene Field preschool teacher.

For 14 of the more than 18 years of preschool at Eugene Field, Baca has prepared 4-year-old children for kindergarten in half-day sessions.About 30 children are enrolled each year.

"Teachers are amazed at how well they perform.It's really incredible.I wish we had preschool everywhere," Baca said."It is becoming the norm around the country."

Preschool teacher Connie Jo Baca has new worries in her usually peppy voice.She's worried about the future of Eugene Field Elementary Preschool - a future tied to today's scheduled announcement of $4 million in state grants for preschools serving 4-year-olds across the state.

When Connie Jo Baca and her preschool colleagues pull up child-sized chairs to talk about their work, they don't stop teaching.

Ninety-two years of experience with their precious 4-year-olds come to the table.

Baca offers tips on the best ways to teach writing and the latest study on how preschools turn out successful students.
...
Some families have tried to get on the lists before their babies are born, Baca said.

"We want to be used to get this going," so more children will benefit, said Baca, the preschool teacher at Eugene Field Elementary for 16 years.

"We want someone in Santa Fe to listen to us," said East San Jose's Garcia.Her program is so popular that "my parents would have a fit," she said, if preschool was not offered.

At the December meeting, Simbaña tossed a salad to go with the pizza and a conversation on what makes a great preschool.

Parent participation, highly qualified staff, a low pupil-teacher ratio (15-to-1 is best), and appropriate curriculum in English and Spanish topped their list of priorities.

"We want teachers to be highly qualified," said Baca.A qualified teacher would assure that students have a rich environment for learning and activities appropriate to their age and developmental levels, she said.

All of Albuquerque Public Schools preschool teachers are certified teachers with at least bachelor's degrees.

Preschool teacher Connie Jo Baca encourages her students at Eugene Field Elementary School to straighten their line so they can be excused for lunch."Four-year-olds' sense of discovery, their enthusiasm, their excitement about learning is so amazing," Baca said.

Connie Jo Baca, Eugene Field's preschool teacher for 16 years, was able to continue in her classroom when the state funding became available.

Otherwise, her program was not going to be offered, due to Albuquerque Public Schools budget restraints.
...
Baca has 18 children in her morning and afternoon sessions, three more per session than previous years.
...
Baca was worried she would have to have 20, which she felt was too many, because the state guidelines set a maximum of 20 per classroom.Vaughn said Baca could handle 18 in her portable classroom.

Preschool teacher Connie Jo Baca has new worries in her usually peppy voice.

She's worried about the future of Eugene Field Elementary Preschool - a future tied to today's scheduled announcement of $4 million in state grants for preschools serving 4-year-olds across the state.

If her school is not on the grants list, the school district won't open a preschool at Eugene Field, district officials said Wednesday.
...
If her school is on the list, Baca says, she faces some changes in the way her preschool has operated for the past 16 years at 700 Edith Blvd. S.E.Both scenarios are worrisome.

"I want to be thankful for the money," she said, "but I'm not going to compromise what I think is best for children."

For starters, she fears 20 children will be crowded into a room she feels should accommodate 15.And she wonders where the money will come from for supplies because the state money "is the bare minimum we need."

"Where are we going to come up with that extra money?"she said Wednesday.
...
"I can understand why she's concerned," Steinhaus said of Baca.