Melrose superintendent awarded

MELROSE — Jamie Widner hasn’t had much time to relax over the last month, despite retiring from his job as the Melrose superintendent on June 30. First he had his son’s wedding and then his daughter’s first child was born. Then, something quite unexpected happened.

Widner walked into the New Mexico School Superintendent Association’s (NMSSA) award ceremony on July 25 to discover he’d won the superintendent of the year award. He was also being inducted into the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition for his efforts during his 34-year career in education.

Widner spent 25 years at Melrose, first teaching for three years before becoming a principal for 13 years and the superintendent for his final nine years. Before that he had nine years teaching at schools across New Mexico.

“I was there at the awards banquet because I had nominated Crit Caton (retired Artesia superintendent) for the same award because I thought he was a whole lot more deserving than me,” Widner said. “I never dreamed I was going to get it myself so I asked to be the speaker for Caton. They said sure and when I showed up we both entered together and I found out I’d won.”

Recipients of the superintendent of the year award are nominated by a peer and then voted on by members of the NMSSA before being reviewed by the board and awarded.

To earn induction into the NMCEL Hall of Fame, an educator usually has to be retired and has to have made major contributions to education across the state. Widner retired alongside Caton on June 30 and the two were inducted together during the ceremony.

The two organizations are closely tied together according to Widner, with the NMSAA being an affiliate of the NMCEL.

“This is the most humbling thing that’s happened to me. You’re only one of 89 superintendents and only one person gets it each year,” Widner said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I aspire to this or dream I’d get it. I knew I’d been nominated, but the other four who were nominated I thought were really outstanding.”

Widner commented that he was never an officer in the NMSSA, but never ignored a call to go to another district or to go lobby for legislation because he was always confident in the state of his own district.

“Anytime I needed to be anywhere, I was there. I think people knew they could count on me to do that,” Widner said.

Animas Superintendent Loren Cushman nominated Widner for both awards with the help of many other educators across the state and within Widner’s own district, with Superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot of House Schools making major contributions.

“I and many of the others have a great deal of respect for Jamie and all the work he has done for all the children of New Mexico,” Cushman said. “He’s always tried to do the best for Melrose, but in addition to that we’ve seen him promote legislation that might not be the best for just his home district, but better for all the kids in the state.”

After his nomination, superintendents from around the state voted for Widner after seeing his efforts at the state level over the years, lobbying for educational legislation while also maintaining his own district and lending a helping hand to others.

“He’s been involved in all levels of decision making, pressuring secretaries of education and giving input over the years,” Cushman said. “He’s been a leader and a mentor, being called on by our organization and others who have needed help with their districts, school boards or difficult teacher situations. He’s often gone in and given advice.”

Among the achievements listed in his nomination letter for the NMCEL Hall of Fame, Widner is credited for his efforts organizing the Eastern Plains Athletic Association, helping run a Blue Ribbon School and maintaining an above and beyond level of commitment even during the final days of his career.

Now, with the awards received and hustle and bustle finally dying down, Widner has mostly been looking forward to finally relaxing a bit during his retirement.

“I just thought it was the time for me. The school’s in the best shape it’s ever been in and I felt like I could leave it in really good hands,” Widner said. “But I was still really busy in July. My son got married, my daughter had a baby, my wife had a banking conference. I keep telling people maybe by the first of August I can actually retire.”