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

Research on School Closure Messaging: What Works

Five years ago, I was the COO at a charter school, and something was becoming increasingly obvious: we consistently did not have enough students enrolling to fill all our seats....

Better Together: Reflections from the DCSC Convening

I attended the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition (DCSC) convening earlier this month, and I’ve been reflecting on what stayed with me most. This year’s theme was “Better Together.” DCSC even...

2026 NACSA Leaders Program Cohort

Meet the newest members of NACSA’s Leaders Program. These leaders are committed to building systems that are transparent, equitable, and grounded in quality. Bridgett Abston Bridgett Abston is the Director...