A new report released this week by New Mexico State University’s Southwest Outreach Academic Research Evaluation and Policy Center found an 18% decrease in teacher vacancies in the state, along with an increase in the number of students admitted to an educator preparation program.
The report indicates a continuing trend in an overall decrease in educator vacancies in New Mexico. A 2024 study reported a 2% decrease in teacher vacancies. As of Oct. 13, there were 1,115 educator vacancies, with 604 teacher vacancies included in the total.
As in years past, the area with the highest need was special education, which had 216 teacher vacancies, making up 36% of all teacher vacancies. However, compared to the previous year’s study, those vacancies are also on the decline.
Elementary teachers had the second-largest total with 128 vacancies, or 21% of all teacher vacancies.
Overall, early childhood teacher vacancies had the largest increase, going from 23 vacancies last year to 29 this year.
Rick Marlatt, dean of the NMSU College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, said faculty and staff in the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership are ensuring that key investments made by the state are being leveraged to generate success in decreasing teacher vacancies, such as teacher residencies, teacher-pipeline funding, faculty endowments, communities of practice and more.
“Particularly promising is the data from the southwest region, which features our two most prominent school district partners in the Gadsden Independent School District and the Las Cruces Public Schools, where vacancies have steadily decreased from 64 in 2023 to 51 in 2024, and now to 35 in 2025,” Marlatt said. “We are grateful for the tremendous support we receive from the state and are highly encouraged by this year's report.”
According to the report, New Mexico saw an increase in students admitted to an educator preparation program during the 2024-25 academic year. A total of 2,014 students were admitted compared to 1,826 students in the 2023-24 academic year. Also in the 2024-25 academic year, 1,153 students completed an educator preparation program, seven fewer than the previous academic year. The study included four-year and two-year institutions in New Mexico, along with the Leading Educators through Alternative Pathways program.
NMSU has also seen a steady increase in students enrolling in teacher education programs, thanks to the state’s efforts in addressing teacher vacancies.
“Enrollment in NMSU’s teacher education programs has increased by 92% since the 2019-2020 school year, demonstrating the powerful impact of the state’s investments in educator preparation,” said Leanna Lucero, interim director of the School of TPAL. “This remarkable growth reflects a shared commitment among our faculty, district partners and state leaders to strengthen the teacher pipeline, and it also speaks to the passion and purpose of our students. More people than ever are answering the call to teach, bringing energy, compassion and a deep dedication to serving New Mexico’s children and communities. Their enthusiasm fuels the work we do every day to prepare skilled and transformative educators.”
Methods for determining the number of educator vacancies include compiling the number of job openings listed by every school district in New Mexico, as well as data provided by the state’s colleges and universities.
To download the 2025 New Mexico Educator Vacancy Report and view past reports, visit https://alliance.nmsu.edu/soar-center/publications.html. Data collection for this year’s report was done by SOAR researchers Emily Heredia, Odalys Lozado, Ashley Mathis and Doug te Duits, Ed.D.
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PHOTO CAPTION: A group of educators participate in a professional development session hosted by New Mexico State University’s School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership and Las Cruces Public Schools on the science of reading and structured literacy techniques. A new study by NMSU’s Southwest Outreach Academic Research Evaluation and Policy Center found an 18% decrease in educator vacancies statewide. (Courtesy photo)
Image description: A group of people seated at a table working on a project.