Academics

Educator Profiles

Mike Gorospe

Health and Physical Education
MS Academics
Laguna Pueblo

I have a B.S. in Secondary Education with Teaching majors and credentials in Chemistry and Physical Education. I have also done Master’s work at the University of New Mexico in Athletic Education, Public and Recreational Administration, and post-graduate work at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. I hold Endorsements in general Science, Life Science, Earth Science, in addition to Chemistry. I also hold Administrative and Coaching licenses in New Mexico. I was originally hired by Superintendent Abeyta as the Athletic Director, Coach and teacher at the Albuquerque Indian school where I taught Chemistry and coached Boys and Girls Cross Country, so I’ve been with the Indian School for over 35 years. I currently teach Health and Physical Education, but have also taught Science in the Gifted and Talented program. I am also the Assistant Coach for Track and Cross Country and was inducted into the New Mexico Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011.
As both a teacher and coach, I see myself as engaging, constantly trying to motivate the students. If anything, I lecture to a fault—trying to get students to be on their best behavior, to be trying their best, to be courteous and respectful. Teaching and coaching are extremely rewarding, and working with students to achieve is special. At times there are individuals that come through our program, such as a running athlete who graduated from North Carolina State University. He ran there all four years, was an All-American two years and All-Conference four years in Track and Cross Country. Because I coached him at SFIS, I was so proud of him and went to his college graduation.
To me, of the core values, caring is so important here at SFIS. We instill a caring, family atmosphere. We try to model that for students so that they can carry that on, even when they leave here.
People ask me, “Why do you coach?” It’s because I love to see the students’ progress, as they move from 7th grade into their senior year—the growth and their journey through our school system in academics, personally, and as an athlete. To me, running itself is a pure form of athletics, and in its purest form exemplifies the athletes’ strengths, perseverance, and endurance—their human form. The harder they exert effort makes them a more determined individual in life—whether in academics, as a father, as a mother.
I hope that the students become a success and contributing members to society and to their individual communities, which means being engaged in community as an individual where students participate in their community cultural and traditional activates, and rearing a family that can also contribute.