Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.Photo: Steven St John/Bloomberg/Getty
Grisham has even volunteered to serve as a substitute teacher herself, according toCNN. Her press secretary, Nora Sackett, confirmed to the outlet that Grisham had completed the registration to become licensed for the role.
The governor, who has no prior teaching experience, told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield onNewsroomSaturday that the call for additional help comes at a last resort.
“There aren’t any other options,” she said, noting that she expects to be placed with an elementary school this week.
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“This work will not require the lieutenant governor to act as governor,” Sackett told CNN.
Over 70 child care centers were also forced to partially or fully close since 2022 due to staffing shortages, the governor’s office added.
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Lujan Grisham is now one of 100 people who signed up for the “Supporting Teachers and Families” initiative, per CNN. The group is evenly split between National Guard members and state employees.
“The whole goal is certainly not to interrupt the qualified experienced work that is required in our public schools,” Lujan Grisham told the outlet. The politician added that the hopes for her newfound initiative are to “keep schools open and to support educators, parents, and students through the worst of omicron.”
As of Friday afternoon, New Mexico’s health departmentreported6,198 new COVID-19 cases and a seven-day positivity rate of 29 percent.
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source: people.com
