Texico Education: A Light Beyond the Walls

CORRALES, N.M. – At Sandia View Academy, families from the surrounding community, many with no previous connection to the Adventist Church, are not only enrolling their children at the school, but also stepping into volunteer roles. Without waiting to be asked, they’re jumping in, offering their time, skills and even financial support to help the school thrive. 

For them, the quality of education and the heart behind it are worth investing in. For the school, it’s a reminder that the mission of Adventist education is alive and reaching further than ever before.

These parents may not share all of our beliefs, but they feel the love, the peace and the purpose that defines the school. They trust the faculty and staff to walk with their children by living out the values of compassion, integrity and faith. 

Joy is seen on the faces of students who struggled in larger schools but now feel seen and supported. New friendships and after-school conversations lead to times when students ask honest questions about faith and identity. Parents show appreciation for staff for teaching kindness and patience.

Yes, the demographics of our school are shifting. And yes, we still hold tightly to our Adventist identity. But we believe that being rooted in Christ means reaching outward, not turning inward. Sandia View Academy is embracing its call to be a light, a school that shines into its neighborhood and welcomes the world in.

If you’ve wondered if Adventist education still matters, we invite you to come see for yourself. Step into our classrooms. Talk to our teachers. Listen to the parents who, though they may not sit in our pews, are championing our mission. What you’ll see is more than academics. You’ll see a school that reflects God’s love.

This school year, we celebrate every family that’s joined us. We’re deeply grateful to those who’ve rolled up their sleeves to help, made room in their budgets to give, and chosen to trust us with their children. You are part of this story. You are part of this light.

As Ellen G. White reminds us, “The true object of education is to restore the image of God in the soul.” That restoration doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in community, with open doors and open hearts.

At Sandia View Academy, our doors are open and the light is still shining.

By Sandra Patterson

Superintendent of Education