Several superintendents told the Legislative Education Study committee that student mental health, suicides and traumatic incidents are top concerns that require more resources for families, counselors and school safety.

Sharon Rowley, superintendent at Portales Schools, described multiple recent deaths in her district, including a student homicide, a suicide and a fatal car crash. “It's been a tough year… What can I do different? How can I help the kiddos to know that life is more important?” she asked lawmakers, urging investment in family engagement and supports for parents.

Why this matters: district leaders said traumatic loss and rising behavioral health needs affect students’ ability to learn and place severe demands on teachers and support staff. Superintendents said they need more counselors, consistent safety funding and state help with parent‑education efforts.

Portales’ superintendent said staff provided emergency response and sustained support for grieving students for days at a time without asking for leave, and called for stronger school‑safety resources and parental education about children’s online activity and devices. “Our staff are good as gold… They didn't miss a day,” she said, asking lawmakers to “please consider safety items.”

Other witnesses said the stress of repeated tragedies and overall student trauma is a statewide issue. One superintendent said districts are redesigning curriculum and teacher training to include trauma‑informed practices; Eastern New Mexico University told the committee it is infusing trauma training into teacher‑preparation coursework and plans a standalone course on trauma.

What’s next: Superintendents urged the committee to fund counselors, invest in school‑safety measures and support family‑facing programs that teach parents to recognize and respond to signs of crisis. Lawmakers acknowledged the concerns and indicated follow‑up with the public education department on mental‑health and safety resource allocation.

Ending: Superintendents said they would welcome legislative support for mental‑health staffing and training so schools can better respond to trauma and prevent further tragedies.