Staff Spotlight Blog Series
Atieno Ouma
X3 Work-Based Learning Coordinator
Since she started out at Future Focused Education as an X3 Coach, Atieno has worked closely with the X3 Interns. It makes sense then that her favorite thing about working with FFE is witnessing the growth of their interns. She recently transitioned from her X3 Coach role to an X3 Work-based Learning Coordinator, where she maintains relationships with employers and schools to ensure youth continue to have meaningful internships where they can be uplifted to their full potential.
Originally from Kenya, New Mexico has become one of Atieno’s favorite places to be. She is inspired by the history and resilience of New Mexico and is grateful for the beautiful outdoor spaces. Plus, green chile cheeseburgers are a love of hers.
When she is not working, she loves being outdoors biking, skiing, and backpacking. She says that connecting with Mama Earth allows her to be the best version of herself.
“Seeing interns gain skills in group and standard internships is priceless.”
Atieno at EdUprising 2024
Atieno is looking forward to continuing working with FFE so she can intentionally work with different communities and organizations, and keep learning from all of the amazing individuals around her.
Derek Kuit
Assistant Director of Operations
Derek was motivated to work with Future Focused because of our mission and focus on education reform in the state of New Mexico. While Derek was in his graduate program and doing his assistantship with UNM, he learned about education’s impact on child development.
Derek says, “I saw that the education system did not appropriately reflect the best ways that people's brains learned, retained, and used information." This, he adds, is a failing of the system, but it has too often been blamed on our teachers and students.
When he learned what Future Focused was trying to accomplish with education reform, he knew he had to be involved.
"The work that we are doing will make generational impacts. We are trying to change an antiquated system that has been perpetuated for too long," says Derek.
"Too many people believe that we should just continue to do things the way they have always been done and expect people to meet the needs of the system instead of the other way around. We are changing that narrative."
Something that Derek is particularly excited about in his work is increasing students' financial literacy.
"We are working on building a financial literacy component for our interns," he explains. "We're trying to get young people access to info about bank accounts, taxes, debt, and loans."
Derek loves red and green chile and New Mexico sunsets. Outside of work, Derek enjoys playing trivia with his 83-year-old father every Wednesday at a local brewery.
"It is always amazing to see what my dad knows and remembers," says Derek. "It's just a great way for him and I to spend time together."
Grace Granillo
Assistant Director of Organizational Learning and Research
Grace is encouraged by how Future Focused Education centers young people not solely as the reason for change-making, but also as change agents themselves.
Grace is proud of how the evaluation of Future Focused's initiatives and investments gives the organization a better opportunity to be more engaged, intentional, and adaptive to the needs of New Mexican communities and youth.
In upcoming projects, Grace is excited about the redesigning of the evaluation framework to suit the scaled initiatives and creative funding mechanisms. She wants to focus on learning, the process of innovation, and the most important outcomes for communities. Grace is also looking forward to designing X3 Alumni Engagement. She says, “We want to see what alumni of our internship program are needing and learn from them what reciprocity after their internship could look like!”
When asked how she’d describe youth in New Mexico, Grace said: “Ready! Adelante!”
Grace at EdUprising 2023
“Leaning into youth as the solution instead of the problem is what really made me want to join the team.”
LISA HARMON-MARTÍNEZ
Learning By Doing Director
Lisa began her journey with Future Focused Education after being inspired by the reimagining of the education assessment system that FFE is focused on. As a previous high school teacher, Lisa has seen the direct undue effects of standardized tests in the classroom. She says, “It was devastating to my students that their score reports focused on what they couldn't do, instead of demonstrating all of the amazing skills, ways of thinking, and knowledge they did have.” While Lisa misses being in the classroom, she is motivated to continue working toward a different way of assessing and celebrating students.
Lisa is most proud of the results of working all around with legislators, young people, partners, and educators around the state supporting the years-long efforts to change high school graduation requirements. Watching educators and school leaders begin to leverage the new graduation requirements and transform their approach to teaching, learning, and assessment in a way that celebrates and honors all students' culture, language, and identity continues to motivate Lisa.
In upcoming projects, Lisa is excited to plan the EQ2 Educator Summit. She says, “There are so many powerful educators in this state who care deeply for their students and are integrating innovative practices to recognize the wide range of what students know and can do and we have the privilege of bringing them all together to share and inspire one another!”
Lisa along with Maria Rogahn and Meg will be piloting the first Registered Youth Apprenticeship in the state and starting the hiring process this summer. She feels hopeful about working with schools and districts to prove the usefulness of apprenticeship as an addition to the work-based learning ecosystem.
“Our young people are so earnest and are so hungry for new experiences. I've seen students do the impossible in their communities and make lasting change, especially when adults in the school and community work alongside them and trust them to lead!”
Lisa presenting on capstones at the New Mexico Public Charter School Conference.
JAIME HERNANDEZ
Assistant Director of Workforce Learning
Jaime has learned the importance of giving every young person the opportunity to gain employability skills to shape their career by working at Future Focused Education. He was encouraged to apply by a former board member and has found working for FFE to be highly rewarding. One of his favorite things to do is attend the X3 NeXt orientations, he says, “It’s an amazing experience to witness what is possible for our state in one room.”
When you ask Jaime what he is most proud of he says it’s the student’s he’s worked with. One of the highlights of his job is that he is able to assist in guiding students into a career setting that actively helps them on their career path. He has worked in Des Moines, NM, as a programs developer and found that sharing his expertise and assisting in fleshing out the ongoing work was fruitful.
Jaime is grateful to FFE and is looking forward to throwing an event to thank the FFE employers and show them how inspired the staff is by their dedication and commitment to making a difference by welcoming youth and investing in New Mexico.
When Jaime is not working, you can catch him at a New Mexico Runners match playing professional soccer. He loves New Mexican food and is grateful for all of the good people in New Mexico who want to create a long lasting impact for the local community.
Jaime visits Las Montañas Charter High School with Future Focused Education.
Jaime presenting at the 2023 X3 Internship Orientation.
Alayna bowman
Assistant Director Of Project, Data, And Technology Systems
Before joining Future Focused Education, Alayna worked with youth in the International District in Albuquerque, Los Lunas, and Belen. Her passion is bringing intentional joy to her work with young people. She is motivated by creating youth-and community-based equity systems and Future Focused Education has been the perfect place for this. FFE recently added the role of Assistant Director of Project, Data, and Technology Systems, and with Alayna’s strong skills in technology, system development, and implementation she was an ideal fit.
Alayna is most proud of the co-designing and implementation of the X3 ABQ programming and coach support. The X3 Internship allows for paid internships for youth who might otherwise not get those experiences or have the support of mentors and coaches along the way. This type of real-world learning is crucial for students in order to prepare them for their futures. Alayna says “I look forward to continuing to center youth voice and experience in the technology and systems created at Future Focused Education.”
She loves living in New Mexico due to the endless beauty and outdoor spaces that she and her children can go on adventures in.
DR. PATRICIA JIMÉNEZ-LATHAM
Senior Advisor for Communication and Outreach
Patricia is inspired by the dedication of the Future Focused Education team. In her previous role as a project manager for Transform Education NM, she collaborated with FFE and saw the commitment that the FFE staff had to work beside young people as a solution to truly transforming education in New Mexico. She wanted to be part of an organization that directly commits to ensuring young people are valued and given opportunities to live out their dreams and aspirations. She has found her home at FFE.
Patricia is most proud of the FFE staff that she works with. She says, “They are all very bright and caring servant leaders who believe in our young people and will do whatever it takes to provide meaningful opportunities and support.” She loves her role as a Senior Advisor and plans to sunset her 39 year long career in education at FFE. When she is not working, Patricia makes sure to research and learn everything she can to make sure she is staying on her “A” game in the ever expanding field of education.
The FFE Senior Advisor says she feels blessed to live in New Mexico. “There is no other place like it,” she says, “We live and love the cultural and linguistic diversity of our People. From the landscape to the diverse beauty of our People there is no place I would rather be.”
Patricia with ED Kim Lanoy-Sandoval at EdUp2024.