GMCS Student Voices: Building Skills That Open Doors

Gallup-McKinley County Schools Career Pathways

In recognition of International Economic Development Week. Gallup and McKinley County are bringing together community partners to strengthen the connection between education, workforce, and industry along the Route 66 corridor. Gallup-McKinley County Schools is proud to support this effort and play a vital role in building the region's future workforce. For many students, the idea of choosing a career path can feel overwhelming, especially before they fully understand what is possible. At GMCS, that mindset is shifting. Career pathways are not about locking students into a single direction. Instead they are about helping students build skills that carry forward into any future they choose.

What if preparation was not about choosing early, but about building skills that travel anywhere?

Across GMCS schools, students are discovering that their pathways are not endpoints but starting points. Their experiences are shaping confidence, expanding opportunities. and opening doors.

Finding Confidence Through Creativity

Lillian - Miyamura High School, School of Media

“I'm in Media, but I want to be a social worker. When I was in eighth grade, I was really quiet and shy. I really stuck to my drawings, so when I saw Media was a choice, I chose it without hesitation because it felt comfortable and safe.”

What began as a familiar space quickly grew into something more.

“But when I entered, I was exposed to a lot of things besides drawing. I got into writing. I learned photography. I even made some films. And because of that, it changed me as a person.”

Through hands-on projects and storytelling, Lillian found her voice.

“Working on film projects helped me gain a lot of confidence in myself.” Her experience reflects a powerful truth. When students are given space to explore, they begin to see themselves differently and more confidently.

Learning Responsibility in the Real World

Jazliyah - McKinley Academy, Internship at RMCH For Jazliyah, learning extends beyond the classroom into real-world experience. “I feel like for my internship, I have learned a lot of responsibility. Here at RMCH, I am the CEO assistant helping with documents. I have my own little office where I contribute.”

Read the entire article here.

About the Author

Kyndee is an accomplished educator and administrator with a rich history in the Gallup-McKinley County Schools, Kyndee Keeler holds both an MA in Educational Leadership from Western New Mexico University and a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Reading & Special Education from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Her professional journey has seen her in roles ranging from English Teacher and Dance Coach to College, Administrator to College, Career, and Civic Readiness Coordinator. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a talent for curriculum development, mentoring, leadership, and promoting college and career readiness. Recognized multiple times by the New Mexico Public Education Department for her excellence in teaching, she has a proven track record of driving student success, fostering professional growth among educators, and ensuring optimal learning environments.