Rep. Tim Lewis Refuses APS Salary During Session

Rio Rancho – New Mexico State Representative and Albuquerque Public School (APS) teacher, Tim Lewis, announced today that he will voluntarily refuse his APS salary while the New Mexico legislature is in session. APS teachers that serve in the legislature are allowed under APS policy to receive their salary for their time away from the classroom while in session in Santa Fe.

Tim Lewis

“Although current APS policy allows teachers who serve in the state legislature to receive paid leave during the session, moving forward I have decided not to take my salary from APS while I am serving as a citizen legislator so that I can freely serve and avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest,” said Lewis. “While I do not believe that it would be a conflict, I want to maintain the integrity that is expected and needed when it comes to serving as an elected official.”

Representative Lewis is a classroom teacher for APS and has taught at Cibola High School for the past six years. He was elected as a New Mexico State Representative from District 60 which encompasses a large portion of the City of Rio Rancho.

Lewis said that he has notified APS Superintendent Winston Brooks and explained his decision not to receive his salary during the session. Lewis also met with the APS Human Resources Department and has filed the proper paperwork for “unpaid leave” during the upcoming session. Representative Lewis is not a member of a teachers union and he is the only classroom teacher at Albuquerque Public Schools who serves in the New Mexico legislature. While away from his classroom at the legislature, Lewis is still responsible for each class and student including lesson plans, and continued communication with his administrators as well as parents of his students.

Rep. Tim Lewis Refuses APS Salary During Session