ESCUELA - Key Persons
Allison Chavez works at Kaiser Permanente and helps with Alumni Relations for Escuela del Sol. A board member since 2017, Allison serves on the board because "Escuela has always been part of my life and I love it." She attended Escuela from Toddler through 5th grade, and feels like the teachers and the school have become her extended family. She is also proud of the vital service Escuela provides to the local community by expanding its outreach programs and welcoming home those who wish to share their creativity and ingenuity with the Escuela community. Allison's vision for Escuela is aligned with the mission of the school - to inspire passion and lifelong learning in students who will become citizens of the world.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board
- Founder of Wings for LIFE International
Ann Edenfield Sweet is the founder of Wings For LIFE International, a program for family members of inmates. She is also an internationally recognized motivational speaker and author. She has served on the board of Escuela del Sol since 1983. Her four boys are Escuela alumni, and Ann was Escuela's first Director of Development. Ann serves on the board because she believes in the Montessori methods of teaching; believes in the vision of the school to be a fun, interactive place of learning for people of all ages; and recognizes the dedication and calling of the staff and faculty at Escuela. Ann is proud of her years on the board and will continue to help Escuela maintain its reputation of quality education and programming as a leading Montessori School in the United States.
Elena Crowley-Ornelas graduated with a master of science in geology from Texas Tech University last weekend (August 2018) and I am working with the U.S. Geological Survey Texas Water Science Center. My thesis is about quantifying the impact geology has on the movement of groundwater to surface water and vice versa. In October, I will be transferring to the USGS Lower Mississippi Gulf Region Water Science Center in Nashville, TN to work as a hydrologist in the water quality division. Right now I am part of a team that is working on a project to assess stream-flow alteration by humans in an effort to understand how human activities impact rivers and streams and how those impacts can be remediated. The ultimate goal is to restore a more natural system to improve the quality of the water that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The water quality of surface water flowing into the Gulf of Mexico is important for the fishing economy of coastal regions. I was a student intern with the USGS for my two years in graduate school and I am very excited to continue working with them as a full employee.
I love to drive by and see all of the additions to Escuela and I love following Harwood on Instagram! It makes me happy to know I was a part of such a great community.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Director
- Administration Support
Job Titles:
- Information Technology Manager
Emilie has helped nonprofits in the arts, culture, and education fields achieve transformative milestones for more than 25 years. She's managed capital campaigns ranging from $5-100+ million most of her career, including major gifts for the Modern Wing expansion at the Art Institute of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre's expansion, and multiple endowment campaigns. A fourth-generation New Mexican, Emilie moved back home to Albuquerque with her husband and son in 2016 to reunite with family and rediscover sunshine. Her consulting work helps clients locally and nationally. She Chairs the City of Albuquerque's Arts Board and is a trustee of FUSION Theatre Company.
Forrest Goodluck attends Stanford University. He is an actor, director, screenwriter and Sundance Fellow. In his big screen debut, he appeared opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Revenant". Forrest appears also in "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" and in the important film "Indian Horse" a story that brings to light the infamous boarding school experiences of so many Indigenous peoples. In an article in The Guardian, Forrest is called "…the Native American actor ripping up the rulebook". We like to believe his education at Escuela had something to do with that!
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Elementary, Junior El East
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Elementary, Junior El West
Jeanne Louderbough Callan (class of 1983) was one of the first to graduate from Escuela Del Sol's elementary program. Jeanne went on to earn a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona where she focused on understanding the molecular biology behind breast cancer metastasis. Following her graduate studies, Jeanne worked with a start-up biotechnology company focused on developing bioengineered synthetic materials to promote tissue regeneration. Eventually Jeanne went on to become a medical writer. In 2017, together with her husband Dr. Matt Callan, she founded a medical communications company, Headwaters Communications. They are devoted to helping life science companies translate complex scientific concepts into language that is accessible and meaningful. Jeanne lives in Lafayette, CO, with her husband and their two children, Maya and Maren, who inspire her and make her laugh every single day.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Toddler South
Job Titles:
- Journalist from Albuquerque
Kalen Goodluck is a photographer and journalist from Albuquerque, now based in New York City. He is currently interning as a journalist in NBC's Investigative Unit. Goodluck attends the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism in pursuit of a M.A. Journalism. He received a degree in a B.A. in Human Rights at Bard College. Kalen comes from the Diné (Navajo), Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian tribes and is a tribal member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- NPG Partner and Escuela Alumna Parent
Linh C. Nguyen is a nationally recognized leader in organizational strategy, talent development, and change management with over 30 years of experience in management consulting and organizational leadership across the mission-driven sector. Linh is currently the Vice President for Equity, Culture, and Talent for Lumina Foundation. He has served as Chief Operating Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) in Battle Creek, Michigan. His contributions to the foundation included introducing the networked organizational model to drive continuous collaboration, improvement, and empowerment in partnership with communities; rebuilding the foundation's learning and evaluation function to align with community-driven outcomes; and strengthening its talent and human resources capacity to build a culture firmly grounded in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Linh helped to shape and operationalize WKKF's external programs such as the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation initiative as well as internal programs to enhance intercultural competency, using the Intercultural Development Inventory among other tools.
Linh holds a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Yale University in New Haven, CT. He lives with his college sweetheart and their teenage daughter in Albuquerque, NM. In his spare time, Linh is also an avid artist, musician, and cook.
Maria is a Principal at Geer, Wissel, Level & Harwell P.A.
Job Titles:
- Harwood Cafe - School Chef
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Primary, Green Room
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Primary, Blue Room
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Toddler North
Job Titles:
- Level Director - Elementary Senior El Lead Guide
Job Titles:
- Assistant Guide - Elementary, Senior El
Paige has been in the early childhood field since 1991. She was previously a New Mexico PreK Consultant, a preschool teacher, a theater teacher, an art teacher, a movement teacher, a Montessori mentoree, along with other positions in the education field. She holds an Master's degree in Education from Bank Street College in New York City and a Bachelor's degree from The Colorado College.
She upholds the significance of Loose Parts (recycled, open-ended materials safe for children) for their ability to nurture the creative, independent, and problem-solving spirit of all children and adults through an approach that emphasizes learning by doing. Wemagination offers a rich learning environment tailored to support early childhood educators and other community members who work with young children. Paige believes children should have a lifelong opportunity to grow through joyful learning experiences that are relevant to their lives.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Services Coordinator