LAS CRUCES, N.M. —

A teacher dedicated to early childhood education and literacy has been named New Mexico of the year.

The surprise announcement was made by New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla at East Pacachio Elementary School in Las Cruces, where Nancy Orta teaches 1st grade.

"Working with our youngest students takes tremendous talent, kindness, and, or course, patience," Padilla said. "Ms. Orta exemplifies all of those traits in abundance."

Orta had her first elementary school teaching job in 2000, then worked for 10 years giving extra help to struggling readers. She started teaching kindergarten and 1st grade in 2019, using the "science of reading" method and systematic phonics to give them an early educational foundation.

In addition, Orta has been a teachin

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