Jaqi Cornejo-Baldwin is a leader in innovative education through social justice, equity and liberation practice. Jaqi has committed her career to working with and on behalf of young people in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jaqi is skilled in innovative school design centered around learners. Jaqi has two start-up charter schools under her belt serving primarily students of color.
Jaqi consistently lifts up the beauty of New Mexico while spearheading work to address long standing disparities. Jaqi believes that a place so rich in history, landscape, language, and culture there is no room for dismal outcomes in education, child welfare and poverty because young people are assets and deserve better.
Jaqi’s degrees include an MBA, a master’s in clinical social work and a bachelor’s in psychology. Jaqi is currently working on a doctoral degree in Chican\o Studies. Jaqi holds a clinical social work license in the State of New Mexico with certification to clinically supervise other clinicians. Jaqi is licensed through the Public Education Department as a level III social worker, level II rehabilitation counselor, level III teacher with endorsments in business and psychology at the high school level and a level III-B school administrator. In addition to schools, Jaqi has also worked in Child Protective Services, gang intervention services, banking and the for-profit sector. Jaqi also serves her community as an Adjunct Professor.
As the Executive Director of Siembra, Jaqi applies her strategic planning and visionary skills in the growth of Siembra with regard to programming, staffing, students, facilities and finance. Jaqi believes that engaging young people in entrepreneurship and economic development makes the community an overall better place for all of us. Jaqi loves a challenge and is excited about perfecting Siembra’s unique model of project-based learning, student support and community engagement to create learner-centered programming. Jaqi has been an Adjunct professor the past 12 years in the areas of social work, business and entrepreneurship.
Jaqi is highlighted in national networks as a Deeper Learning Equity Fellow, a Manati Fellow, a Pahara Fellow, a Kellogg Global Fellow, an Aspen Global Fellow, and was named a 2022 Woman of Influence with recognition from the Governor of the State of New Mexico and the NM State Senate.
Jaqi has a call to action for all of us - let’s honor young people as the assets that they are and re-imagine what schools should be.