SILVER CITY, NM—WNMU is requesting $14,000,000 of capital outlay funding for Phase I of construction of a new building complex to house the New Mexico Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Education, which is dedicated to educating and training New Mexico's early childhood educators.

The new facility will be built on university-owned land off of N. Alabama St., behind the St. Mary's Academy building in Silver City. At 12,500 square feet, it will house five classrooms, a kitchen, administrative offices and a reception area, and it will be powered by rooftop photovoltaic cells in keeping with the university's plan to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Outside on the property will be a toddler playground, a school-age playground, an amphitheater and an outdoor classroom, and nearby is situated the Guadalupe Montessori School.

"The current Child Development Center is facing capacity constraints," said Dr. Cindy Martinez, Dean of the College of Education, "These constraints will continue to increase as teacher/child ratios are decreased at the state level, particular for infants and toddlers in Grant County.  By ensuring that more children have access to quality education, it contributes to giving them a strong foundation for future academic and social success."

The New Mexico Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Education received its legislative distinction in 2022 for having developed a full-service center that has been providing early childhood and family services for decades while educating WNMU students in classroom-proven methods. The center provides the highest quality child care, an active research site, family counseling center, professional development and numerous teacher preparation programs, but it is the systematic integration of early childhood services with the WNMU Family Counseling Center that earned the recent distinction. The new facility will continue and enhance this integrated approach.

The New Mexico Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Education has been a leader in innovative, service provision, training and education in the multi-faceted field of early childhood care and education for many years. As the "New Mexico Center of Excellence" legislative designation implies, Western New Mexico University has been working to not only provide services and support locally but to extend that reach across the state with the goal of improving early childhood in every part of New Mexico.

In addition to housing general classroom and learning space, the new center would offer specialized learning spaces as well, such as maker spaces, a therapeutic classroom, and a dedicated occupational therapy space, according to Martinez. These additions "would contribute to a more effective and engaging learning experience for young students, potentially improving their school readiness in areas such as cognitive, social and physical development," she said.

Like the current Child Development Center and Growing Tree Infant Toddler Program, the new center would serve WNMU students as a laboratory. "The site will be used by pre-service teachers as well as field placements for other early childhood specialized fields such as mental health professionals, pediatrics, nursing, and OT students," said Martinez.

Martinez also sees in the center the potential to enhance the program's community engagement. "With expanded space," she said, "the center could serve as a hub for various community activities by providing space for events such as workshops and gatherings. This strengthens community connections and encourages collaboration and involvement among families, early childhood professionals, and local/regional organizations."

The new facility will enable the center to expand its efforts. "Given the cultural, socioeconomic and regional diversity of our state," Martinez said, "we believe educators need the tools to not only recognize there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, but WNMU is working to provide the tools and support to assure every child and family in New Mexico has the opportunity to succeed."

[Cutline:  The WNMU New Mexico Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Education is hoping to soon begin construction of Phase I of a new building complex. WNMU is requesting $14M from the NM Legislature to fund the project.]