Breezy Gutierrez has served as the senior manager of the College and Career Readiness Bureau at the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) for the past three years. She brings more than 20 years of experience as an educator and leader in New Mexico, including 13 years as a teacher of math, science, health, library media, and physical education, as well as a CTSO advisor and athletic coach. She later served as an assistant principal for two years before joining NMPED, where she now leads statewide initiatives that strengthen career pathways, expand access, and improve college and career readiness outcomes for all students.
Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in biology and human performance and sport with minors in math, chemistry, health, and coaching, along with a secondary teaching license from New Mexico Highlands University. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction/secondary education and a post-degree certification in educational leadership from Eastern New Mexico University. Breezy also earned an associate’s degree and licensure in library science from Dona Ana Community College and New Mexico State University and completed the Stanford University Hollyhock Fellowship in mathematics.
Breezy has a long-standing commitment to access and success for all learners, especially rural access. One of her most impactful community projects was her leadership in building and establishing a full-service library in her rural hometown of Anton Chico which earned her the Governor’s New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award in 2010. Recognizing the lack of local learning resources for students and families, she partnered with government officials, community members, and regional organizations to secure materials, design library infrastructure, and create a sustainable system for circulation and programming. Her efforts resulted in a vibrant community learning hub that continues to support literacy, family engagement, and student success in a historically underserved area.
Driven by a passion for expanding opportunity and ensuring that every learner has access to high-quality pathways, Breezy remains deeply engaged in her local communities through extensive volunteer service and advocacy for student-centered, accessible educational systems.
