Future Focused Education

06/02/2026

Are you interested in leading the development of comprehensive behavioral health models with New Mexico schools across 6 dedicated school districts in the state? We're still looking for Behavioral Health iInitiative coaches! In this role, you will build deep relationships with educators and community providers to streamline student supports, integrate equity-centered practices, and create sustainable behavioral health career pathways.
Check out our website for more information:

Join Our Team Future Focused Education Job Openings Future Focused Education’s mission is to create healthier and more prosperous communities by advancing the best education for the students who need it the most. Do you want to join a team that is making a difference and dedicated to remodeling ed...

05/28/2026

Last week, Dr. Kim Lanoy-Sandoval, our Executive Director, was featured on a Decolonizing Wealth Project Panel and shared about the efforts of our Community Care Collective. It was an honor to be featured alongside these other amazing grantees!

She discussed how Future Focused builds care that's truly of the community: honoring the culture, wisdom, and specific experiences of the young people we serve.

05/21/2026

“We need organizations with deep commitment to young people and communities and we need for them to persist over time," Tony says. "I feel great about leaving knowing that Future Focused is so well positioned to make a difference in New Mexico.”

As most people know by now, Tony Monfiletto is retiring from his role as Director of Instituto del Puente. We wanted to take the opportunity to share more about the man who started Future Focused way back in 2015.

Our founder, Tony Monfiletto is retiring. Learn more about how he got into education and founded Future Focused.

05/20/2026

This summer, we're hosting a "Behavioral Health Summer Bridge" for juniors and seniors interested in mental health and wellness. Students will learn more about careers and college opportunities in behavioral health through hands-on workshops and receive a $300 stipend for completing.
Apply now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyEwXhMhKABQEPiyr_Y4bLeCV0HOJpyVTszTtULtiu9vHFSA/viewform

05/19/2026

“At first, it wasn’t easy to stay calm and handle conflicts, but over time I’ve learned how to communicate more effectively, stay patient, and think quickly when solving problems,” says X3 Intern Kael Huizar (pictured here in the middle) about his time at i9 Sports in Albuquerque. “Those moments really helped me grow, not just as a leader, but as a person. I’ve gained confidence in my speaking skills and learned how to handle situations in a more mature and professional way.”

Our internship experiences are transformational for young people–helping them build lasting interpersonal and workplace skills that they can use for the rest of their career. Find out more about our X3 and X3 NeXt internships on our website: https://futurefocusededucation.org/x3-internships/

05/14/2026

This week we want to give a shoutout to X3 NeXt intern, Valeria Lima. Valeria is an incredibly motivated young person. As a student at CNM, she got an internship with Street Food Institute through our X3 program because she had a passion for baking and had dreams of opening her own bakery.

“The X3 program has had a huge impact on my life,” said Valeria. “Thanks to it, I was able to start my own business, something I had been dreaming about since I graduated from high school. It also helped me discover what I want to do as my career in life.”

Because of the work Valeria was able to accomplish as an intern, she was entrusted with baking pastries for events at Street Food Institute and was brought into their culinary network. Valeria has since been hired by Tio Cookies and is now their Pastry Chef.

Pictured here is Valeria Lima (left), with Emily Birch (middle) and Julian Griego (right) of Street Food Institute.

05/13/2026

Our Executive Director, Dr. Kim Lanoy-Sandoval was honored to join New Mexico legislators and education leaders in Albuquerque last week for two days of substantive bipartisan dialogue for students and classrooms at The Hunt Institute's New Mexico State Legislators Retreat.
Kim was part of the panel, “Preparing Students for an AI-driven Future” with former Intel executive Brian Gonzalez (now with Futurewise Strategies), facilitated by Claus von Zastrow (The Education Commission).
Now more than ever we need: real-world, applied learning like internships and capstones, opportunities for young people to solve problems that matter to them and their communities, and classrooms where thinking, questioning, and discussion are prioritized over compliance.

05/11/2026

Are you interested in leading the development of comprehensive behavioral health models with New Mexico schools across 6 dedicated school districts in the state? In this role, you will build deep relationships with educators and community providers to streamline student supports, integrate equity-centered practices, and create sustainable behavioral health career pathways.

Check out our website for more information:

Join Our Team Future Focused Education Job Openings Future Focused Education’s mission is to create healthier and more prosperous communities by advancing the best education for the students who need it the most. Do you want to join a team that is making a difference and dedicated to remodeling ed...

05/05/2026

At Future Focused Education, we know that teaching is not confined to the four walls of a classroom. This , we celebrate the incredible ecosystem of educators who shape the lives of our young people. Across the state, we have seen the influence and impact of educators who truly believe in our students and the boundless potential of what young people can achieve.

To all the educators co-creating the future with our youth: thank you. Your vision and your partnership make this vital work possible.

05/04/2026

We were proud to celebrate the hard work that our Community Care Collective students put in this weekend! They're making a huge difference in our state's behavioral health landscape already and we were happy to see local news cover the event.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – On Saturday, people from all over the state were recognized for their work in behavioral health and human services. Fifty-five young people from over 15 communities gathe…