FUTURE FOCUSED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Social Emotional Learning & X3 Internship Support
As the Assistant Director of Social Emotional Learning & Internship Support, Alayna's role is to support the X3 interns and staff as well as our partner mentors and schools. She collaborates with X3 staff and partners to cocreate and implement the curriculum and preparatory experiences for the standard, virtual, and group internships. Alayna further provides training and professional development opportunities for X3 coaches to support their coaching growth in conjunction with the Director of Social Emotional Learning & Well-being.
Before joining Future Focused Education, Alayna worked with youth in the International District in Albuquerque, Los Lunas, and Belen. She grew up in the International District and attended the University of New Mexico. Alayna has a passion for positive youth development. She hopes to create opportunities that prepare youth for their lives post-graduation. She loves spending time with her family, photographing people and places, and eating new foods with her two small children.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social - Emotional Learning and Well - Being
Ali focuses on the advancement of culturally- and linguistically-responsive social emotional learning and support practices. This work enhances the positive development of youth, and the professional growth of adults working with youth, to transform community and workplace settings. Ali is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) from New Mexico with over 15 years of social work experience domestically and internationally.
Her work in New Mexico has included: in-home services to youth and families, building case management services within School Based Health Centers, training youth peer support workers, and opening a peer-support drop-in center for transition-age young people who have experienced disconnection from school, work, family, and/or community. Ali is part of the leadership team with SEL4NM, and a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Ali is most proud of her role as a partner and a mama to five children who keep her humble, honest, and practiced in her own SEL and wellness strategies so that she can show up as her best self for those who need her the most.
Job Titles:
- EVALUATION COORDINATOR and ANALYST
Brisa was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she graduated from the University of New Mexico. Brisa has a Bachelor in Political Science, Spanish, and a Master in Public Policy. She is passionate about policy change that creates opportunities for marginalized communities of color. Brisa's interest in equitable access to education led her to work for Future Focused Education. She comes to Future Focused Education with a background in evaluation and analysis. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, fishing, and going on hikes with her two dogs.
Dan Hill, Future Focused Education's Board President, is an education lawyer who primarily represents charter schools. Previously he was the General Counsel for the New Mexico Public Education Department. As a former teacher and Teach For America corps member he maintains a deep commitment to public education. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Law, and the University of Arizona. He has two children, and in his spare time runs ultramarathons.
Job Titles:
- Director of Organizational Learning and Research
For more than a decade, Deborah has explored how community-based and participatory research and evaluation can inform program, policy, and practice in a variety of settings. She was born and raised in Washington, District of Columbia, and studied social work at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she earned her master's degree in social work (MSW) in 2009 with a specialization in research, community, and policy. Prior to joining the staff of Future Focused Education, Deborah was Director of Data and Research for Mission: Graduate at the United Way of Central New Mexico, where she led the collaborative development of the Central New Mexico Graduate Profile, an exemplar statewide.
At Future Focused, Deborah not only leads the organization's internal evaluation and continuous improvement, but also supports organizational learning and growth through group facilitation and strategic thought partnerships on all initiatives. She has lived in New Mexico for eight years and currently telecommutes from Corvallis, Oregon, but makes regular trips to New Mexico for work engagements and a healthy dose of green chili.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Operations
Derek was born in California and raised in Arizona and New Mexico. A Sandia High School graduate and first-generation college student, Derek went to the University of New Mexico as a non-traditional student and earned a double major bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology and was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. He also holds a master's degree in educational psychology with a minor in educational leadership.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director
- Cooperative Educational Services As Their Senior Trainer
Dr. Kim Lanoy-Sandoval is a proud New Mexican with over 20 years of experience in education. As Deputy Director at Future Focused Education, she co-designs educational systems with local expertise to ensure a more equitable, relevant, and engaging learning experience for youth. Kim is a mom, educator, and member of the Navajo Nation who grew up on the reservation. She is passionate about creating educational landscapes that value and affirm students' identities, experiences, and learning well beyond standardized scores.
Kim began her teaching career as an alternative licensed teacher with a Bachelor's in Psychology from Ft. Lewis College and completed her Master's in Special Education at the University of New Mexico. She loved teaching at Albuquerque Public Schools as a special education teacher supporting youth needing specialized learning, mental health, and emotional support. After nine years in the classroom, Kim became a reading specialist and district trainer, co-creating a practitioner-based model for a special education licensure program for a district serving over 70,000 students that is still being implemented.
In 2016, Kim joined Cooperative Educational Services as their Senior Trainer, where she had the honor of collaborating with districts in every part of the state on professional development, curriculum alignment, student engagement, mentorship models, leadership development, and new teacher induction. The opportunity to train hundreds of educators and co-teach in classrooms across New Mexico solidified her passion for supporting the work of educators in rethinking and redesigning outdated and inequitable school systems. In 2019, Kim became the Co-Founding Director of LEAP, Leading Educators through Alternative Pathways, New Mexico's statewide teacher licensure program, and completed her Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Gonzaga University.
Kim serves as Vice Chair for the New Mexico Indian Education Advisory Committee and is on the New Mexico Professional Practice Standards Board.
Job Titles:
- Consultant for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Dr. Meriah Heredia-Griego is currently the Evaluation, Learning and Impact Consultant for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in New Mexico. During the 2019 Legislative Session, Dr. Heredia-Griego served as the Acting Deputy Director for the New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee. She has been a bill analyst for the New Mexico Council of University Presidents, the University of New Mexico and the New Mexico State Senate.
Dr. Heredia-Griego holds a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Colorado State University, a Masters of Community and Regional Planning and a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and Chicana/o Studies from UNM. During her time at UNM, Dr. Heredia-Griego served as Director and Research Assistant Professor at the UNM Cradle to Career Policy Institute (CCPI), previously the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR), where she partnered with key education agencies and stakeholders to conduct applied research in the areas of education policy and program evaluation. Her work has been critical to making data and research available and useful for decision makers. She has nearly twenty years of experience working with students, families, leaders, and policymakers to address some of the biggest challenges facing children and families in New Mexico.
Job Titles:
- Superintendent, Lake Arthur Municipal Schools, President - CES
Elisa advocates for student equity and inclusion, supports much-needed educational reform for teachers, and lobbies for funding opportunities to improve teaching and learning. Before her superintendence, Elisa was the Director of Leadership and a mentor and coach for principals of schools implementing turnaround initiatives for the Roswell ISD.
Her understanding of standards and research-based strategies and her ability to provide high-quality professional development are proven to increase student engagement and overall student achievement. Elisa also served as an innovative principal of a top-performing elementary school after having taught for several years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Job Titles:
- Public Education Commissioner for the State of New Mexico
Glenna Voigt serves as a Public Education Commissioner for the State of New Mexico. She is a WK Kellogg Foundation Fellow and the retired founding Principal of the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School, the first state-authorized charter school in New Mexico. As an educator, Glenna believes that public education policy should support schools as incubators for students as independent thinkers and creators within their communities and society at large, while providing them the 360 degrees of support they require to grow and flourish within the 21st Century.
Prior to becoming a school administrator, Glenna was a physical education teacher, athletic coach, a photographer in the U.S. Air National Guard, and a teacher in Tokyo, Japan. Glenna serves on three boards and in her free time enjoys playing golf, piano, cycling and reading.
Job Titles:
- Organizational Learning Manager
Grace comes to Future Focused Education with nonprofit administrative experience informed by her education and interest in organizational change and development. She received her Bachelor in Psychology and Communications and completed her Master in Public Administration with a minor in Community & Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico. Her role cuts across Future Focused's initiatives and includes internal evaluations, data management, organizational learning and continuous improvement, the dissemination of learning, and data and evaluation projects for external clients. She endeavors to employ diverse methods, including participatory, collaborative, culturally responsive, and non-Western approaches, in the design of Future Focused project and program evaluations. Grace is passionate about elevating the experience and expertise of young people in New Mexico to improve their educational systems and outcomes.
She is a lifetime resident of Albuquerque and lives in the North Valley with her fiancé, niece, and fur babies. Her happy places include running through the Bosque and being in the community garden with her hands in the dirt.
Itzel Guillen works with the Future Focused X3 internship team to coach and mentor students, build company relationships, and bolster recruitment.
Itzel is a first generation college graduate. She earned her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico with double minors in Chemistry and Human Medicine Human Values. Before joining the Future Focused Education team, she worked as a program assistant for EOC at The University of New Mexico. Her favorite hobbies are spending time outdoors, hiking, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Workforce Learning
Jaime Hernandez is a native New Mexican raised in Belen and Albuquerque's South Valley. The proud son of Mexican immigrants, he is a first generation college graduate, holding a degree in Communications and Public Relations from Eastern New Mexico University. In his role as Assistant Director of Workforce Learning, Jaime collaborates with all X3 initiatives to expand the programmatic reach across the state.
Jaime comes to Future Focused after working as Program Manager of Work-based Learning at the Department of Workforce Solutions and the Public Education Department. Working with both business and education has shown him the importance of giving every young person the opportunity to gain employability skills to shape their career. Jaime's goal is to help close equality gaps, break cycles and barriers, reduce brain drain, and show how talented New Mexicans truly are.
Jaime played college and semi-professional soccer, he is now a youth soccer coach, husband, and father of three.
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner of KW Consulting LLC
Jason Espinoza is co-owner of KW Consulting LLC, which is a full-service form specializing in government affairs and association management. Jason has years of experience in public policy development, government affairs, and association management. He served as President and CEO of New Mexico's statewide chamber of commerce and prior to that served as its Vice President of Government Affairs. In both roles, Jason led the organization's public policy and government relations efforts.
Jason also has successfully led two statewide business associations. Jason has demonstrated an ability to increase revenue and member engagement. Jason received national recognition for membership growth and retention from the Association of State Chamber Professionals.
Job Titles:
- CEO and Cofounder of Ingenuity Software Labs
John Mierzwa is CEO and cofounder of Ingenuity Software Labs, a custom software firm. Ingenuity Software Labs has designed and developed various custom software applications for commercial, nonprofit and government clients in all types of industries around the country. He is the Founder of Deep Dive Coding Bootcamps, a software development bootcamp in Albuquerque, later acquired by Central New Mexico Community College.
John was Director at the CNM STEMulus Center in Downtown Albuquerque since its inception. He helped forge partnerships with businesses, government agencies and foundations to build opportunities for low-income residents, people of color and others to learn to code and obtain high-paying jobs in New Mexico.
John serves on the boards of Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico, Technology Leadership High School, Future Focused Education, Computer Science Alliance, and the New Mexico Technology Council. John holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management.
Job Titles:
- Master of Social Work Practicum Student
Julia has been dedicated to supporting the people of New Mexico for over 10 years in both direct and managerial positions. She arrived in Taos, New Mexico, with a Bachelor of Social Work from the State University of New York at New Paltz and is currently a practicum student with Future Focused, where she is working toward her Master of Social Work Degree through New Mexico State University.
Julia practices from the facilitating attuned interactions model (FAN), using a reflective approach. She remains consistently true to her compassionate and authentic way of being. Her strength is in building trusting and safe relationships by meeting individuals where they are, practicing humility, and honoring their lived experiences.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director for the Center of Southwest Culture
Kateri Zuni is a proud daughter of the Isleta and Zuni Pueblos. She is a BA graduate of the University of New Mexico in multimedia journalism and political science. She earned her MA in Studies of Law with a concentration in Indian Law from the UNM School of Law in 2019.
Kateri is the Associate Director for the Center of Southwest Culture whose mission is to develop healthy Indigenous and Mexicano/Chicano communities through economic development, cultural, and educational programs. She previously worked as a radio producer and youth coordinator for Generation Justice where she was trained in Positive Youth Development practices for youth engagement. She was also awarded the 2018 New Economy Coalition Climate Reporting Fellowship as a result of her work. Kateri serves as Board Chair for Naeva, formerly the Native American Voters Alliance Education Project. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband and son.
Job Titles:
- Professional Learning Director With Panorama Education
Katie Avery is a Professional Learning Director with Panorama Education, where she provides strategic advising to school districts nationwide who are committed to centering student, family, and staff voices in efforts to improve school culture and climate. Katie also engages in local consulting, supporting public education and education-adjacent entities with stakeholder engagement, family resource development, and equity-centered design and programming. Before moving to New Mexico to serve as the Strategic Outreach Director for the Public Education Department in 2019, Katie led educator development at the Flamboyan Foundation.
Katie spent the first fifteen years of her career in Washington D.C. where she served as a bilingual Montessori teacher, charter school co-founder, teacher evaluator and coach, engagement trainer, anti-bias facilitator, and educational director. She holds a BA in Criminal Justice from The George Washington University, attended The Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies for her Primary Teacher training, and currently lives in Albuquerque with her two truly awesome children.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Community Health at Presbyterian Hospital
Leigh Caswell, Vice President of Community Health at Presbyterian Hospital, helped develop Presbyterian's Mobile Farmers' Market and the Food Farmacy, which offers food to patients who have limited access to healthy food, as well as the Presbyterian Community Health Resource Center, which opened in June at the Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital campus.
Caswell has a passion for climbing, mountain rescue, and social justice. While her professional life is all about public health, she is dedicated to helping people thrive and making sure they have access to nutritious food and healthy lifestyles.
Job Titles:
- Learning by Doing Director
Lisa, who joined Future Focused Education as our Learning by Doing Director, has 13 years of experience as a high school educator. During that time, Lisa served in many roles, including as the co-coordinator of the bilingual program and a teacher-leader facilitator. Lisa is passionate about supporting teachers and conducting holistic assessments that demonstrate the extent of students' knowledge and abilities while celebrating their complex linguistic and cultural wealth.
She is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at the University of New Mexico. Her dissertation focuses on the assessments used to award seals of bilingualism and biliteracy around the country and in New Mexico and explores whether they are equitable and intended to value the identity and linguistic range of emerging bilinguals.
Job Titles:
- FFE & CIS Alumni and Internship Director
As the Alumni and Internship Director for X3 NeXt, Lucia is collaborating with Communities In Schools of New Mexico to develop transition supports and work-based learning opportunities for youth in Santa Fe.
Lucia has taught and mentored youth interns in a variety of settings, including New Mexico Highlands University. Prior to moving to New Mexico, Lucia was Manager of ZUMIX's youth and community radio station in East Boston, where she collaborated with schools and community organizations. Lucia is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, has an MFA in film production, and loves to dance.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Learning by Doing, Capstone Project Manager
- Member of the Capstone Initiative Team
Maria brings over 30 years of experience to Future Focused Education, including classroom teaching, program development and management, family/community engagement, community organizing, case management, and academic research.
With a Bachelor's degree in Government from Harvard University and a Master's in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from the College of Santa Fe, she has worked with communities in Albuquerque, Socorro, the D.C. area, Boston, Guadalajara, and Ghana. Guided by a fierce commitment to efforts that center equity and justice, Maria is a proud member of Families United for Education (FUE), a coalition of students, parents, teachers, and community members organized to address institutional racism in Albuquerque Public Schools, and of the Planning Committee for La Cosecha, a national, annual dual language conference hosted by Dual Language Education of New Mexico.
Originally from Minnesota, Maria has called New Mexico her home for 25 years. In her free time, she embraces opportunities to improve her Spanish, explore the outdoors with her husband as well as their two children and five dogs, and uses her decades-long journey with mental illness to help erase the stigma surrounding mental illness and treatments.
Maria is a core member of the Capstone Initiative Team, an effort to support schools and districts in designing capstone projects as a way to reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment in the state.
Job Titles:
- Superintendent, Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools, NMSSA - President - Elect
Martin is currently serving as superintendent of Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools. He also serves on the New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors. Martin has served his entire 24-year career at Santa Rosa Schools.
He is currently in his fourth year as the SRCS superintendent. Martin enjoyed teaching elementary and hopes to one day finish his career teaching at the elementary level because he feels male teachers make a significant impact.
Mayte Lopez is the Educational Program Manager and Course Facilitator in the Home Health Aide Training Program for Encuentro NM, a non-profit adult education center for Latine immigrants in ABQ. Mayte has over five years of experience in community organizing and advocacy, program and curriculum development and implementation, data collection and analysis, in both Spanish and English. She currently teaches the entry level Home Health Aide Training Course two times per year.
During her role at Encuentro, she has lobbied in Washington D.C. with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, participates on the Essential Jobs, Essential Care Steering Committee in New Mexico, and has spoken to the realities and importance of investing in immigrants as domestic workers at the American Society on Aging National Conference with PHI.
Job Titles:
- Director for Workforce Learning
Mike has worked in education since 1996. He has held teaching and school leadership positions domestically and internationally in a variety of settings, including laboratory, charter, public, and private schools.
At Future Focused, Mike leads the X3 Internship team and has created ecosystems in Albuquerque and around the state through which marginalized local youth and young adults are supported via access to pathways to industry exposure, training, and employment. Mike grew up in a rural community. Because his own path was shaped by work-based learning (WBL) experiences in politics, communications, and education policy, Mike believes in the transformative power of mentorship through accessible, supported, and compensated WBL experiences. He fights to offer that same access to others and creates the relationships and systems that contribute to more prosperous communities. Mike has lived and worked internationally in Honduras, Switzerland, and Germany and enjoys travel, languages, and spending time hiking, biking, skiing, and paddling in the Land of Enchantment's beautiful outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Director of College & Career Readiness, Farmington Municipal School District
Milo McMinn is the lead for district CTE curricular programming and student work-based learning internship experiences. Milo has over 16 years of experience working as a high school teacher, coach, principal, and administrator in New Mexico.
Milo is a champion for creating new and innovative learning experiences for students and has worked to develop robust community partnerships to promote local economic development. In 2021, Milo was awarded the ACTE New Mexico Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year for his work as founding Principal of Bond Wilson Technical Center which is an early college high school CTE academy in partnership with Navajo Technical University and local industry partners such as Navajo Transitional Energy Company, Arizona Public Service, and Raytheon.
Mistie has been part of the Future Focused team since 2015. As the director of operations, Mistie manages the systems and processes that the organization uses to ensure that our work is of high quality and our employees are cared for. A background in engineering informs Mistie's approach to solving problems and building systems.
Mistie was born and raised in the South Valley of Albuquerque and studied at New Mexico State University. She interned and then worked at Intel for 13 years before moving to Future Focused Education. Knowing firsthand the power of internships to grow skills and professional networks, she has helped lead X3 and X3 NeXt program development to ensure that interns and employers have meaningful and supported experiences. Mistie's family is her greatest joy, so when not at work, you can often find her attending her children's sporting events or crafting for team functions.
Job Titles:
- Director of Reciprocal Partnerships
Moneka Stevens are collaborating to create the Youth Civic Infrastructure Fund as a way to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations in New Mexico so that they can become vital partners with schools.
Moneka is a community organizer. For the past 20 years, Moneka has worked in community development and curriculum design focused on positive youth development and youth leadership. At Future Focused, she serves as the community engagement director and supports schools in shifting to community-centered and community-driven practices. She served as the former director of the New Mexico Youth Alliance, a statewide youth council committed to community transformation through policy development. She also served as the co-director of Community Learning and Public Service, a university-based organization developed through community partnerships, to engage university students in youth development.
She serves on the boards of Dorn Charter School, Together for Brothers, and Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of New Mexico with a concentration in family studies, health education, and community and regional planning. She earned her master's degree in community and regional planning.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations for the Partnership for Community Action
Nichelle Gilbert serves as Director of Operations for the Partnership for Community Action (PCA). Through advocacy and leadership development, PCA focuses on building a movement around critical community issues such as education, economic equity, wellness, and immigrant rights. In her role, Nichelle oversees day-to-day operations for the organization, implementing a broad strategic plan aligned with the mission and vision while strengthening infrastructure to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Prior to her position at PCA, Nichelle served at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center for over a decade, working to increase and support a diverse health workforce for New Mexico. Nichelle holds a MBA with a concentration in strategic planning and policy from the University of New Mexico.
Nicolette works with X3 NeXt to prepare young adults to step into jobs in key New Mexico industries by combining college coursework, professional mentorship, and wrap-around support for life's challenges.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor for Communications and Outreach
Patricia comes to Future Focused Education with 38 years of experience in K-20 education settings and the non-profit sector. Patricia's years of experience have centered on ensuring equity and access to high quality education experiences for diverse student populations and the educators who welcome them into their classrooms.
Patricia was the former director of the Center for the Education and Study of Diverse Populations at New Mexico Highlands University where she served in various roles for over 18 years. She continues to be part of the New Mexico Highlands School of Education family as an Alternative Certification Teaching Program Field Supervisor. Most recently, Patricia served as project manager for Transform Education New Mexico, a grassroots non-profit organization created by advocates across the state to ensure implementation of the landmark lawsuit, Martinez/Yazzie vs. the State of New Mexico (2018).
Job Titles:
- SENIOR ADVISOR for WORKPLACE LEARNING
Rebecca's career journey has taken her from international nonprofit work and classroom teaching to statewide grant management and policy-making. Growing up on and near the Navajo Nation as a white person, Rebecca learned a lot and was compelled to study systems to navigate change. She holds a BA in International Relations at Pomona College in Claremont, CA and, through a Rotary Scholarship, a MA in International Development from Nelson Mandela Metropole University in South Africa. Upon returning to the U.S., Rebecca taught 6th grade history and English in South Los Angeles as a Teach For America corps member while earning a MA in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University. When she returned to New Mexico, Rebecca worked as a P20 Analyst for the New Mexico Higher Education Department where she co-wrote and managed a federal college access grant (GEAR UP). Rebecca's policy experience also includes several years as a Committee Analyst for the New Mexico State Senate and a Quality Control Reviewer for the Legislative Education Study Committee.
Most recently, Rebecca was Managing Director of Network Strategy with Teach For America New Mexico where she supported the 250+ alumni in the state and developed new programming, such as the New Mexico Teacher Leader Fellowship, available to all early-career educators statewide. Rebecca is committed to opening doors for young people via work-based learning experiences and is excited to be a part of the Future Focused team. She brings skills in relationship building, facilitating connections, strategic thinking, and developing programmatic infrastructure to the position.
Moneka collaborates with schools to expand family partnerships through Sin Fronteras Education Partnership (SFEP). SFEP is a learning series that provides educators, educational leaders, community partners, and school staff with strategies to practice equitable family partnerships in their school communities. The community helped to co-create this learning series to ensure that the training content reflects the needs (and builds on the assets) of New Mexico communities.
Job Titles:
- Master of Social Work Intern & X3 Internship Coach
Sofía is a native New Mexican and proud first-generation Mexican American originally from Old Town Plaza, Albuquerque. A St. Pius alumni, she holds two bachelor's degrees in Spanish and psychology from the University of New Mexico. Her interest in social justice led her to pursue a career in social work, and she is currently pursuing her master's degree at New Mexico State University.
Prior to her work at Future Focused, Sofia served as Director of Transitional Living and Respite Services at Hogares Inc. and is currently employed at the Millich Law Firm, where she assists in litigation pertaining to estate law and elder abuse.
Sofía is a published poet and has taught traditional Mexican ballet folklorico for over 20 years. She is further continuing with the 317-year-old family tradition of making adobes and designing vigas. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé, traveling, and writing bilingual short stories for children.
Job Titles:
- Operations Administrative Assistant
As Operations Administrative Assistant, Thalía assists the Operations team on developing and implementing financial procedures while performing various supportive tasks of the organization.
Tony's family has a long history in New Mexico, and his Chicano heritage informs his vision. Tony has worked in education since 1990. Over the years, he has been a leader in establishing the context for a network of schools in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a broader vision for schools to become catalysts for the creation of healthier and more prosperous communities.
In 2008, Tony began working on ACE Leadership High School, the first in a network of the next generation of career-focused schools that are designed to serve students who are off track with respect to graduation or are no longer attending school. He has a vision to provide "the best education for the students who need it the most" throughout New Mexico.
He is focused on working with the directors at Future Focused to help build their portfolios of work. All his work focuses on the inherent value of young people and their lived experience, which frames his approach to the most complex and seemingly intractable problems we face.
Job Titles:
- Superintendent, Silver Consolidated Schools, NMCEL past President
Will Hawkins has served in the educational field for 24 years. Prior to his current position as Superintendent of Silver City Schools, he was a middle school English teacher in San Angelo, assistant high school principal in Brownfield, a middle school principal in Brady, and a high school principal in Brownfield, all in the Texas school system. He then joined the Hobbs School District as the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction and moved to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.
Job Titles:
- Project and Data Systems Manager
William is proud of his diverse personal and professional background. Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, he moved to the United States for college to study Automotive Technology at Portland Community College. After working for dealerships, commercial fleets, and local government William's desire to work professionally on community-based organizations and nonprofits led him back to school for a career change.
After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Psychology he served as an AmeriCorps Public Ally, working at a nonprofit affordable housing developer. William most recently worked in administration at a local preschool and the University of New Mexico. William is passionate about effectively serving his community and is committed to supporting work that promotes positive social change.