Good day, CharterFolk.
Today’s Contributor Column requires a little context.
Long time readers of CharterFolk will remember a Contributor Column that has had particularly strong impact.
The Missing Charter Leaders: ¿Dónde están los Latinos y las Latinas? has helped catalyze the creation of a new organization — Latino Educators Advancing Leadership — which is committed to growing and supporting the emergence of more Latino leaders in our work. I remain in regular contact with all of the authors of that piece and support their work however I can.
Early in January, one of the authors and a person I consider both a friend and colleague, Malka Borrego, reached out to me about publishing new columns from LEAL at CharterFolk. I said we would be delighted to do that and we set about finding a time to connect in the following weeks. Before we could finalize a date, the fires in Los Angeles happened. Malka and her family are among the many who have lost their homes. A GoFundMe has been set up to support Malka and her family.
I encourage CharterFolk to help if you can.
Through all the challenges that she and her family have faced in recent weeks, Malka remains focused on improving education and supporting the emergence of more diverse leadership for our movement. She has encouraged me to keep moving forward to publish the material as we had been planning.
In keeping with Malka’s wishes, all of us here at CharterFolk find it a special privilege to share today’s Contributor Column from Mercy Herrera, the Founder of Equip Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We provide a bio for Mercy below:
Mercy L. Herrera is a native New Mexican with a fierce commitment to equipping historically-underserved students to find their passion, pursue their dreams, and live out their potential. Over the past decade, she has taught and led in some of the highest-performing charter schools in the nation. Now, she is bringing those experiences back to her home state to design and lead an exceptional school in Albuquerque, Equip Academy of New Mexico. She’s been an educator, teacher trainer, school leader, and educational advocate for staff and students. She is passionate about coaching and supporting teachers to reach their personal and professional goals. Through dynamic and well executed professional development, Mercy empowers teachers with new information and impactful learning experiences. A specialist in team development, Mercy facilitates group engagements that leave colleagues feeling refreshed and energized with renewed vision and purpose. Mercy trains teachers on how to combine a data-driven approach with a focus on social-emotional learning to drive better student outcomes. She works has to support teachers in creating and sustaining environments that are inclusive and holistic. Moreover, drawing on years of experience, Mercy has a particular knack for solving complex problems and building systems and infrastructure to sustain growth and success. She holds a B.A. from UNM and two M.A. degrees, one from Yale University and the other from Pace University in the Science of Teaching.
El Camino: A Shared Healing Journey Empowering Self and Others to Action
Growing up in New Mexico, I was surrounded by the richness of my culture—the food, the people, the traditions that connected generations. But when I left La Tierra del Encanto to pursue my education and career, the warmth of that connection felt distant. At Yale and later in charter teaching/leadership roles across NYC, I often found myself navigating spaces where I was one of the few Latinas in the room. In those environments, I learned resilience, but I also felt the weight of underrepresentation. The push to succeed came with the pull of suppressing parts of who I was— my cultural identity—to fit into spaces that weren’t built with me in mind.
Returning to New Mexico was a homecoming not just geographically but spiritually. It was a reminder of why I do this work: to create spaces where our youth see themselves reflected in their leaders and feel proud of their identities. Founding Equip Academy …
… is my way of giving back—to honor the students and families who share my roots and to build an educational space that celebrates their stories.
El Camino provides the grounding I need to serve with authenticity and purpose.
It’s a space to heal from the wounds of navigating predominantly white institutions and to reconnect with the strength of our shared cultural identity. My work as founder and head of school of Equip Academy of New Mexico which will predominantly serve Hispanic students, embodies this commitment. Through El Camino, I am reminded that my leadership journey isn’t just for me—it’s for the students, families, and communities I serve. It’s a movement of healing and empowerment, and I am proud to walk this path alongside other caminantes, leaning into this work to ensure that every student feels seen, valued, and inspired to dream big.
Why El Camino is Needed for Latino Charter Leaders
The article “The Missing Charter Leaders: ¿Dónde están los Latinos y las Latinas?” highlights an urgent issue in the charter school movement: the glaring underrepresentation of Latino leaders in positions of power, despite Latino students being the largest demographic served by charter schools nationwide. This underrepresentation is not just a reflection of systemic barriers; it is a missed opportunity for communities to see leaders who reflect their cultural heritage, language, and lived experiences.
This is where El Camino becomes a crucial intervention. The leadership journey it offers is not just about skill-building—it is about healing, liberation, commitment, and growth. For Latino charter leaders, the path to leadership is often fraught with unique challenges: navigating systemic inequities, overcoming cultural stereotypes, access to continued leadership development, cultivation of strong networks, and balancing the weight of representing an entire community. El Camino provides a space to address these challenges in a supportive and affirming environment.
Through its ceremonies, community-building, and storytelling, El Camino fosters authentic leadership by encouraging participants to embrace their cultural identity and harness their lived experiences as sources of unapologetic strength. It’s not enough to simply place Latinos in leadership roles; they need spaces like El Camino to grow, thrive, and lead with intention and impact.
Importance of the LEAL Movement for the Latino Community
Leadership organizations like LEAL (Latino Educators Advancing Leadership) …
… are transformative for the broader Latino community. They create a ripple effect: when Latino leaders grow, they inspire their students and communities to see new possibilities for themselves. El Camino cultivates leaders who understand the unique cultural and socio-economic dynamics of the students they serve. This results in more equitable and culturally responsive educational environments
LEAL also addresses the systemic lack of representation of Latino leaders in charter schools and broader sectors, particularly given that Latino students form the largest group served by these institutions. Strategies for increasing leadership diversity include actionable plans, commitments from current leaders, diversification of reform organizations, and more precise demographic terms. It’s not just about filling positions but ensuring that those leaders are empowered to make meaningful change by increasing the pipeline in our communities. The convenings and workshops, like the inaugural El Camino gathering in Denver, are vital spaces where leaders can reflect, share, and recharge.
Reflection on the First El Camino Convening
In Denver, we gathered as caminantes—travelers on a journey of self-discovery and collective empowerment. From the opening ceremony to the closing reflections, the experience was transformative. Through shared meals, storytelling, and intentional conversations, we built a community rooted in trust and shared purpose.
Each session deepened our connection to our authentic selves and to each other. We reflected on the peaks and valleys of our journeys, recognizing that healing is essential for liberation. We explored our leadership visions and voices, guided by seasoned Latino leaders like Nella Garcia Urban, Malka Borrego, and Rick Rodriguez. These mentors didn’t just teach; they modeled what it means to lead with passion and resilience.
The Caminante Ceremony set the tone for the weekend: it was a moment to ground ourselves in our cultural roots and recognize the sacredness of this journey. By the end of the weekend, I left with my copa llena—my cup full—with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to lead with greater impact.
Why It Matters
LEAL and programs like El Camino are not just professional development opportunities; they are lifelines for Latino education leaders. They acknowledge that leadership is not just about strategy but about the heart and soul of who we are. They remind us that as Latino leaders, our stories, our struggles, and our heritage are sources of power—not barriers.
As we build community, we heal. As we heal, we liberate ourselves from the constraints of systemic inequities. As we liberate ourselves, we grow into the kind of leaders our students need. And as we grow, we create a future where Latino leadership is not the exception but the norm.
El Camino is not just a journey—it’s a movement. One that is urgently needed, not just for Latino charter leaders, but for the entire Latino community we serve. Let us commit to supporting and expanding programs like El Camino that empower Latino leaders to heal, rise, and lead with authenticity—because when we invest in leaders who reflect and uplift their communities, we create a stronger, more equitable future for us all.
My relentless commitment to this work as a charter school founder and leader is deeply rooted in my experience with El Camino. This journey has reminded me of the power of leading from a place of authenticity, cultural affirmation, and collective strength. Through El Camino, I’ve reconnected with my “why”—to create spaces where students and families feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. The program has been transformative, equipping me with the tools to heal, grow, and lead with purpose. It’s not just about founding a school; it’s about fostering a movement that uplifts communities and creates lasting change.
A Collective Movement Forward
El Camino is more than a leadership program—it’s a call to action for all of us who believe in the power of representation and culturally responsive education. If you are a Latino leader, educator, or advocate, I urge you to get involved and invest in this movement. Amplify the voices of our Latino leaders, support programs like LEAL, and advocate for spaces where leaders can heal, grow, and lead authentically. Our students deserve to see themselves reflected in their schools and communities. Together, let’s build a future where Latino leadership is not the exception but the norm—a future rooted in empowerment, equity, and shared liberation. Join us on this camino, and let’s create lasting change for generations to come.