Adobe Stock Image
Andrew Faber
Nestled quietly in Albuquerque’s North Valley, an unassuming charter school has positioned itself as a national leader in public education. The Albuquerque Sign Language Academy (ASLA) opened its doors in 2010 to provide a different educational option for deaf children in juxtaposition to existing systems that ultimately promoted the continued segregation of deaf students from their hearing peers. Upon its creation, little did the founders realize that they had the beginnings of a school that is now recognized as one of the most innovative and reformative schools in the nation.
The ASLA stands as the only state-certified American Sign Language (ASL)—English Dual Language program in the nation, serving deaf/hard of hearing and special needs students in one beautifully inclusive learning environment. Their acclaim comes from the fact that they have succeeded in creating a place where deaf and hearing students attend school together, and ALL students learn ASL and are pushed to their full potential. Boldly stated, the school’s goal is to unite the deaf and hearing worlds through the connective tissue of a common language in order to expand the world of opportunity for all.
However, the story of this dynamic little school is not only an Albuquerque tale. The heart of this program is arguably a direct reflection of the spirit of Northern New Mexico through the school’s executive director and cofounder, Raphael Martinez. In leading the ASLA, Martinez attributes much of the school’s success to his own connection to the unique values of the state and his insistence that New Mexico needs to own its greatness as a national exemplar. Family, culture, and the connection to the land serve as the guiding light for the school’s journey, and he is unapologetic in claiming that these tenets are what has brought the ASLA to national prominence.
Martinez’s parents, both having grown up in Northern New Mexico, ensured that the values instilled by family, culture, and the connection to the land were ever-present during his and his sister’s upbringing. Holidays and summers were spent in El Rito, Ojo Caliente, Chamita, and El Guique respectively playing with cousins, absorbing the soul of the North. Consequently, the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy radiates this same spirit.
Andrew Faber
True to its heritage, the ASLA is recognized as the school that emphasizes the power of family and community. They embrace the complexity of life experience and how all backgrounds are necessary in weaving the most beautiful of cultural tapestries. They are invested in the continual development of an accredited outdoor education program that gives ALL students the opportunity to experience the grandeur of New Mexico.
This student-centered program has attracted partners such as Harvard University, Penn State University, the University of Minnesota, University of Arizona, and (of course) the University of New Mexico. The school is proud to have built a program that addresses the needs of its diverse learning community.
“The school’s strength stems from our willingness to be bold in creating a new way of teaching ALL students that they have a place in the world. Our hope is that our students have a sense of their greatness in serving others,” says Martinez.
Like the humble pride of those from the north, The Albuquerque Sign Language Academy does not shy away from its own greatness.
