School To Open In Former Eclipse Aviation Building In New Mexico

Southwest Learning Center Founder, Dr. Scott Glasrud, and Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry announced Tuesday that the City of Albuquerque is partnering with Southwest Learning Centers in a lease agreement as they expand to open their fourth school: Southwest Aeronautics, Mathematics & Science Academy. The School will open in August of 2012 in a building previously owned by Eclipse Aviation, and now owned by the city.

“Between 200 and 300 aviation companies operate in New Mexico, generating about $1.7 billion in business annually," said Mayor Berry (pictured). Approximately 15% of these firms are here in Albuquerque. This includes everything from maintenance and repair firms to avionics manufacturers and charter companies. These businesses need skilled workers. I am proud that Southwest Learning Centers in partnership with the City of Albuquerque is taking a leadership role in creating an education pipeline for students to service this important and growing business cluster.”

“As Economic Development Cabinet Secretary, one of the greatest needs I hear from job creators is availability of highly trained and skilled workers,” said Jon Barela, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “If New Mexico is going to continue to be a prime location for aerospace, engineering and technology jobs, we will need high-performing schools like SAMS Academy to educate our children so they are able to compete with not only kids from around the country but around the globe for these good jobs.”
 
Dr. Scott Glasrud, Founder and Head Administrator of Southwest Learning Centers, said, “The school will have a science, mathematics, engineering and aeronautics focus based on the STEM educational philosophy. The curriculum will offer real-world learning opportunities for students to understand and apply the principles they are mastering in their course-work. The school will have flexible scheduling with courses being offered from 8:00 am through 7:30 pm. The school is expected to serve approximately 220 students.”

“We are thrilled to be expanding the number of facilities that will offer the hybrid online and real world learning model we have developed at Southwest Learning Centers," added Dr. Glasrud. "When our enrollment lottery reached over 4,000 families this year, with 1,000 of those families applying from the West Side we knew we needed to address this clear demand for another school.  We are grateful for the support we’ve received from the aviation industry and the ability our students will have through internships and other partnership opportunities.  Our students at Southwest Learning Centers have achieved the highest test scores on the New Mexico Standards based assessment for the last six years. We have demonstrated that the blended learning model works. We are looking forward to bringing this powerful educational model to the West Side of Albuquerque.” 

FMI: www.samsacademy.com