Joseph Escobedo

2017 NACSA Leader

Joseph Escobedo serves as the Director of Charter Schools for Albuquerque Public Schools, one of the largest urban school districts in the country, serving about one-third of all the students in the state of New Mexico. In this role, he oversees all 25 locally-authorized charter schools and works with a team to move the district towards a portfolio of school of choice options.

Joseph began his career with Albuquerque Public Schools in 2005 as a communications specialist, after working in local television news. He has served a variety of roles within the District, including Director of Government Affairs, Chief Equity and Engagement Officer, and Chief of Staff for six years. His wife Jamie is a high school math teacher. They have two sons, Jaxon, age 5 and Joey, age 10.

Most Recent Posts

NACSA statement on recent decision in Oklahoma about religious charter schools

NACSA is disappointed in the recent decision by a federal judge in Oklahoma, allowing The Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation to continue with plans to open a religious charter...

Public charter schools are not religious schools

In 2025, a divided U.S. Supreme Court preserved an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that blocked the application for what could have become the country’s first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville...

Communities want unique and innovative schools. Are authorizers ready?

By Jay Whalen From their inception, public charter schools promised to provide innovative ways to meet the students’ learning needs. At NACSA, we’re invested in helping authorizers be responsive to those needs, to ensure that...