Kit Carson was among the first to get bitten. Vigil got the news at a principals' meeting at the local high school. As pained as she was at the turn of events, Vigil was not alone. Also, Albuquerque Public Schools and Denver Public Schools have important similarities in terms of enrollment and demographics. It's in Albuquerque's South Valley, an area of trailer parks, gang fights, stray dogs, dilapidated cars, roosters in the front yard.
Some students come to school on tractors.
Almost all live in poverty, and many enter school knowing only Spanish. Vigil had led the school for seven years and thought she was doing well. Now the state government was telling the world otherwise. Vigil says she and her staff quickly recovered from the emotional blow. Left to their own devices, some teachers can teach.