St. Pius X School is proud to introduce the city of Albuquerque's seventh poet laureate, Mr. Flores—a man of many talents, born and raised in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town is this year's award winner. In addition to being a dedicated educator at St. Pius X, Mr. Flores is a published author, a radio host, and a passionate advocate for the arts. His accomplishments extend far beyond the classroom, making him a cherished member of both the school and the larger Albuquerque community.
Every two years, the City of Albuquerque selects a citizen poet to serve as the city’s poet laureate, and this year, Mr. Flores was awarded this prestigious honor. As poet laureate, he will not only share his work with the city but also develop a community project, and his chosen project is one that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the younger generation. His project involves creating a series of poetry workbooks specifically designed for students. In a recent interview, Mr. Flores shared his vision: “I want to make students feel comfortable expressing their stories.” His goal is to empower young voices by helping them find confidence and freedom in sharing their personal narratives through poetry.
The workbooks, which Mr. Flores is currently developing, will focus on New Mexican poets and feature a hands-on, interactive approach. He described them as "workbook-style, with tear-out pages and writing prompts based on the themes or structures of the poems being read." These workbooks will provide students with not only the tools to appreciate poetry but also the inspiration to create their own.
Mr. Flores is also working on his next major literary project, a book titled Thunderbirds and Sunflowers. This poetry collection, currently under contract with UNM Press, tells the story of his grandparents and how they built their home in Old Town—a tale of hard work, resilience, and deep cultural roots. "It's an incredible story," Mr. Flores shared, "and one that I hope will inspire others to reflect on the strength of their own family legacies."
In addition to his teaching and writing, Mr. Flores will perform at various city events. As poet laureate, he will have the opportunity to perform at major gatherings like the Mayor’s Address, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and Route 66 concerts. He will also be giving lectures at local colleges and universities, sharing his expertise and passion with an even broader audience.
St. Pius X School is incredibly proud to have Mr. Flores as part of its faculty. His achievements and ongoing work as Albuquerque’s poet laureate are a reflection of his dedication not only to the literary arts but also to mentoring students and fostering creativity in the classroom. We are honored to see him achieve such well-deserved recognition and look forward to witnessing the positive influence he will continue to have, both at our school and in the larger community.