69 % of residents trust teachers and 41% favor public schools in the 2020 Garrity Perception Survey

New Mexico residents have unique perspectives about favorability and trust of public schools and educators. The 2020 Garrity Perception Survey reveals confidence in educators is strong, 69 percent of New Mexico residents trust teachers, ranking second out of fifteen professions. When the focus is on K-12 institutions, 41 percent of New Mexicans have a favorable impression of public schools; ranking fourteenth out of seventeen industries. The scientific survey of 408 residents has a 95 percent level of confidence.

In this episode, Tom Garrity; President and CEO of The Garrity Group Public Relations speaks with Dr. Sue Cleveland, the superintendent and chief executive officer of the Rio Rancho Public Schools.

GPS 2020_ Public Schools.mp4

Tom Garrity [00:00:02] According to the 20 20 year perceptions survey, New Mexico residents have unique perspectives of education, competence and educators and strong. Sixty nine percent of New Mexico residents trust teachers. Forty one percent of the Mexicans have a favorable impression of public schools. This is Tom Garrity with the Garrity good public relations. Joining me today to talk about the 20 20 Garity Perception Survey is one of the most respected educators in the state, at least according to me. It is Dr. Sue Cleveland, the superintendent and chief executive officer of the Rio Rancho Public Schools. Welcome, Doctor Cleveland. It's good to see you. 

Dr. Sue Cleveland [00:00:38] It's good to see you as well. Thank you for having me today. 

Tom Garrity [00:00:42] You bet. So before we jump into the twenty 20 Perceptions survey findings, will you please just provide our viewers and listeners a little bit more insight about your leadership path and the Rio Rancho Public Schools? 

Dr. Sue Cleveland [00:00:56] Well, I am. I'm a native New Mexican. 

Dr. Sue Cleveland [00:01:00] I am a graduate of San Diego High School and went to you and them and then went to New Mexico State University, where my husband was getting an engineering degree. And then we left and went to Houston and were there for a good number of years. I was a teacher and administrator and one of the suburban districts in Houston. And then his work took us to the Carolinas. And I was an administrator and superintendent of a district outside of Charlotte. And I always wanted to come back homeless here. And my parents were here and we had a new baby. And so we made the trip back to New Mexico and this opportunity to work with the Rio Rancho School districts. It's just been a wonderful experience for me. I've just been so grateful to have had this opportunity. So that's kind of the pathway. I worked at all three levels. I worked at elementary, middle and high school. My primary background is, was high school, but. Can I have a pretty general background in education? 

Tom Garrity [00:02:08] Well, and you are the only superintendent that the Rio Rancho Public Schools has ever known. 

Dr. Sue Cleveland [00:02:15] I am the only one. I've been here quite a long time, and as I said, it's been a great experience. 

Tom Garrity [00:02:22] Well, the 2020 Perception Survey addresses trust of teachers and favorability of public schools. Let's talk about this, 69 percent of residents who have a very high level of trust in teachers. Your opinion, in your opinion, why are teachers the second most trusted profession in the state? 

Dr. Sue Cleveland [00:02:41] Well, I think number one was family and relatives. As I recall, and so it's it's wonderful to see teachers at the number two slot. The reason I think that occurs is that most parents make their children their number one priority. It's the most important thing in their lives. And so they pay a lot of attention to education and they want a good education for their children. 

Dr. Sue Cleveland [00: