Message from the Executive Director

Region 9 • A Community Member • Educating • Supporting • Serving

As we begin fiscal year 2027, I want to take a moment to welcome each of you back and thank you for the dedication, professionalism, and heart you bring to Region 9 every day. Each new year provides an opportunity to reflect on what we have accomplished together and to look ahead at what is possible. Fiscal year 2027 promises to be one of the most exciting and transformational years in Region 9’s history.

This year, we will celebrate the completion of our Region 9 Early Head Start building (formerly Seasons Nursery). While it is an impressive new facility, it represents something far greater than bricks and mortar. It stands as a permanent reminder of why we do what we do. Every classroom, every office, and every space within that building reflects our commitment to serving children, families, and the communities that depend on us. It is the result of countless hours of planning, collaboration, and hard work by employees across Region 9.

That project also serves as an important reminder that Region 9 is not defined by individual departments; it is defined by our mission. Whether you work in educational eervices, early childhood, technology, human resources, fiscal, school-based health, internal supports, or any other program, each role contributes to a common purpose: serving our member school districts and the students, educators, and families they support. Every employee plays an essential part in fulfilling that mission, and every contribution matters.

We are also excited that fiscal year 2027 marks the beginning of another important investment in our future. Through funding provided by the New Mexico Legislative Capital Outlay, we will begin the architectural and engineering design work for the renovation of portions of our main Region 9 office at 2002 Sudderth Drive. This project represents another significant step toward ensuring that our facilities reflect the quality of services we strive to provide every day.

As we look ahead, I also want to recognize the progress we’ve made internally to better support our employees. Over the past year, your executive Team, Bryan Dooley, Dahn Freed, Jeanette Lindsey, and Miriam Mendoza, in conjunction with the Region 9 directors team and the Region 9 leadership team, have worked intentionally to modernize and improve our employment practices.

Together, we have:

Transitioned employee work expectations from contract days to a more equitable hourly framework that will bring flexibility to our work environments.
Adopted a new travel policy developed by a cross-departmental employee workgroup representing all Region 9 programs, creating a fair and consistent approach while being mindful of the financial responsibilities of our member school districts.
Continued indexing salary schedules in several departments to better reflect market conditions and organizational needs, with plans to expand that work across all departments during fiscal year 2027 while considering the unique funding requirements of each program.

These changes reflect our commitment to building an organization that values fairness, transparency, and continuous improvement, not only in the services we provide but also in how we support one another as employees. I am incredibly proud of what Region 9 has accomplished. Our organization continues to grow because of your dedication, your willingness to embrace change, and your commitment to excellence. Every success we’ve experienced has been built by people who care deeply about our mission and about making a difference in the lives of others.

As we begin fiscal year 2027, I ask each of you to bring your best every day. Continue to support one another, embrace new opportunities, look for innovative solutions, and never lose sight of the impact your work has on the districts, schools, children, and families we serve. Together, we will continue building an organization that our member districts are proud to partner with and one that each of us is proud to call our workplace.

Thank you for everything you do for Region 9. I am excited about what we will accomplish together this year.

This year, I expect everyone to bring their “A” game, support one another, and let’s make fiscal year 2027 our best year yet!

Thank you for your commitment and dedication.

Be Region 9 proud.

Respectfully,

Bryan Dooley

Bryan Dooley
Executive Director
Region 9 Education Cooperative