Our Team
Our Staff
REBECCA BELLETTO
X3 DIRECTOR AND WORK-BASED LEARNING ADVISORRebecca’s early experiences as a white person born and raised on the Navajo Nation led to her navigating questions of identity, power, and community, and making a lifelong commitment to education and systems change. Her career has taken her from international development to classroom teaching to policy-making to nonprofit leadership – all centered on co-creating opportunities and a sense of belonging for young people. Rebecca earned a BA in International Relations from Pomona College, a MA in International Development from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa as a Rotary Scholar, and a MA in Elementary Education at Loyola Marymount University. At Future Focused, Rebecca brings strengths in relationship building, strategy, team and leadership development, and program design. She is the mother of a 12 year old son. Together they enjoy tetherball, jumping on the trampoline, and traveling to water.
CURRENT FOCUS
Director of the X3 Internship Program
Rebecca leads a team dedicated to creating meaningful, paid internship opportunities for historically underrepresented youth across New Mexico. Through strong partnerships with schools, employers, and community organizations, she works to ensure that young people gain real-world experience, build professional networks, and explore career pathways that align with their goals.
Innovation Zone Grant Project Lead
Rebecca leads technical assistance and statewide support for 51 public schools participating in New Mexico’s Innovation Zone initiative in partnership with the Los Alamos National Lab Foundation, Ocotillo Strategies, Parents Reaching Out, SEL4NM, and NMSU Center for Community Analysis. In this role, she facilitates collaboration, provides strategic guidance, and coordinates learning opportunities for school teams as they reimagine high school experiences and design student-centered models that reflect local needs and aspirations.
Maȟpíya Black Elk
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATHWAYSMaȟpíya Black Elk is Oglala Lakota and Chicano Mestizo from the Los Duranes community of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A husband and father, his work is guided by family, community, and a deep commitment to land-based healing and learning.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies from the University of New Mexico (2012) and is currently pursuing his master’s degree. With more than 13 years of experience in education, equity, and wellness-centered leadership, Maȟpíya has led initiatives focused on trauma-informed practice, organizational wellness, and supporting schools and communities in building environments rooted in belonging, care, and holism.
Maȟpíya brings extensive experience with Native American Community Academy (NACA) and the NACA Inspired Schools Network, supporting Indigenous communities and Tribal Nations through culturally grounded, community-driven approaches to education and systems change.
In his role at Future Focused Education, Maȟpíya supports the development and strengthening of youth behavioral health pathways, collaborating with educators, community partners, and young people to build responsive, culturally grounded systems of care.
CURRENT FOCUS
Designing and strengthening youth behavioral health pathways.
Building cross-sector collaboration among educators, community partners, and behavioral health leaders to better support youth and families.
Advancing healing-centered, equity-driven practices that promote resilience, dignity, and long-term community well-being.
MIA CALLE
X3 CoachMia is an X3 coach who assists young people and mentors through their journeys together. Before joining Future Focused Education, Mia worked with young people in the International District, focusing on Art Education and emotional wellness, along with helping with the preservation of Quechua in New York.
Mia enjoys doing freelance art curation, traveling to help up-and-coming artists showcase their art in an authentic way.
Thomas Chynoweth
X3 Community & Business Internship ManagerAs the X3 Community & Business Internship Manager, Thomas is excited to combine his experience in education, government and business systems to support the X3 Internship Program. Thomas was born in Albuquerque, NM, and is passionate about supporting the communities he grew up around. He graduated from Boise State University in Idaho with a degree in Secondary Education in History and Health. Thomas then supported the City of Boise as the Front Desk representative at the Mayor’s Office. There, he focused on providing access to residents and city employees in navigating various aspects of city government.
Now in his role with Future Focused Education’s X3 NeXt Internship Program, Thomas is excited to bring his passion and skills in navigating different systems to support interns, schools, and business partners within their paid internships.
Thomas loves being around his friends, fantasy books, beaded embroidery, and the significance of bees to the pre-Greecian Minoans on the island of Crete.
CURRENT FOCUS:
X3 Internship
Thomas coaches and directly supports X3 NeXt interns and school partners before and during their internship placement.
Employer Relations and Recruitments
Thomas works closely with local businesses to recruit, support, and maintain relationships with employer partners in the X3 NeXt internship program. He is focused on bridging current workforce development strategies and opportunities in New Mexico to our young people with the goal of supporting their economic stability in our state. Thomas is eager to learn more about the industries that drive Albuquerque’s economy.
Mia Cota
Youth Apprentice Project Management SpecialistMia Cota is an Albuquerque native and first-generation Mexican American. She is New Mexico’s first ever registered Youth Apprentice. She will receive on-the-job training at Future Focused Education and earn post secondary credit hours at CNM towards a nationally recognized certificate in Project Management as well as a Certificate of Completion from the US Department of Labor. With support from the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), Mia will help pilot the first (and only!) youth apprenticeship in New Mexico. With a background in film, she hopes to help Future Focused Education’s large scale events and projects come to life. Mia has a passion for community involvement and awareness.
CURRENT FOCUS
Mia will provide project management support across initiatives, working to ensure that the voice of youth is centered in each effort.
Mia will also serve as a positive example and advocate for Youth Apprenticeship, helping to inform the procedures and systems that best support young people in this unique type of career pathway.
Keila Domínguez
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LEARNING BY DOING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTKeila began her career in the world of education as a bilingual paraprofessional while completing her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico. She later began her teaching career as an alternative licensed teacher and completed her Masters in Special Education at New Mexico Highlands University. Prior to joining FFE, Keila worked as a District Resource/Professional Development Support for Albuquerque Public Schools for 6 of those 17 years. As a second generation Mexican-American, raised in the International District of Albuquerque by immigrant parents, her undying passion to work shoulder to shoulder with educators & help create more opportunities ‘para mi gente’ brought her to the Future Focused Education team.
CURRENT FOCUS
Graduate profiles and Capstones in New Mexico:
Leaning on Keila’s experience as a Professional Development facilitator, she offers PD directly to schools and districts related to equitable grading practices, Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessments, and Graduate Profile and Capstone Project design and implementation.
Keila works with educators and school and district leaders from throughout the state in the Communities of Practice and through direct partnerships to support schools as they develop community-defined Graduate Profiles and community-connected Capstones.
MISTIE GALLEGOS
Director of Operations and FinanceMistie has been part of the Future Focused team since 2015. As the Director of Operations and Finance, 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.
CURRENT FOCUS
X3 and X3 NeXt operations
Mistie established and now oversees comprehensive onboarding processes, employer contracts, stipend awards, internal communication, and other logistics for the X3 and NeXt programs, balancing an entrepreneurial mindset with quality standards and systems.
Supporting organizational growth and expansion
Mistie dedicates herself to streamlining and documenting processes and practices as Future Focused extends our work to new geographies in and out of New Mexico. Mistie is helping the organization continue to scale our programs while prioritizing support for the unique needs of young people.
Finance management
Mistie manages the organization’s finances and partners with the executive director to support Future Focused’s financial health and growth. This includes grant management and reporting while also building systems to accommodate the organization’s growing portfolio of fee-for-service projects.
GEMA GONZÁLEZ
X3 WORK-BASED LEARNING AND HEALTHCARE INTERNSHIP MANAGERAs the X3 Work-Based Learning and Healthcare Internship Manager, Gema works to create meaningful opportunities for youth to gain employability skills, by providing life skills support and direct social and emotional support. Gema’s goal in working with youth is to help them build their confidence, and remind them of their unique gifts and talents.
Gema grew up in Sunland Park, New Mexico–near border town, El Paso, Texas–and has lived in Albuquerque for 13 years. She is a first-generation, queer, Mexican-Indigenous, master’s graduate, holding a degree in Education Reform from the Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies Department at the University of New Mexico (UNM). At UNM, Gema examined the impacts of Historical and Intergenerational Trauma and advocated for Trauma-Informed Approaches in Schools K-12. Gema comes to Future Focused as an experienced educator and coach, coordinator, facilitator, youth advocate, and mentor. They are deeply passionate about equity, education, mental health, and the arts.
CURRENT FOCUS:
X3 Internships
Gema coaches and provides direct support to X3 interns.
Employer Relations and Recruitment
Gema identifies, recruits, and expands employer partnerships across Albuquerque to find exciting, diverse, and relevant internship opportunities for interns.
Work-based learning
Gema facilitates and strengthens relationships between school partners, interns, and mentors.
Jazmine Grajeda
X3/NeXt CoachJazmine has four years of experience working in educational settings. She is currently dedicated to supporting the next generation through her role with the X3 and NeXt programs, where she coaches both interns and mentors throughout their internship. Her passion lies in empowering young people to achieve their full potential and preparing them for future success. She is committed to fostering growth, confidence, and real-world readiness in each intern.
Jazmine will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in the fall of 2025 from New Mexico Highlands University. This will further enhance her ability to connect with diverse communities and contribute meaningfully to multicultural and multilingual environments.
GRACE GRANILLO
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND RESEARCHGrace 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 systems implementation, 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 husband, niece, and fur babies. Her happy places include running through the Bosque and being in the community garden with her hands in the dirt.
CURRENT FOCUS:
Capstone experiences in New Mexico
Grace co-facilitates a statewide Youth Participatory Action Research internship, which recruits and pays youth to conduct research on graduation profiles and capstone projects through a lens of liberation and community empowerment.
Data Systems and Program Evaluation for Future Focused and others
Grace collaborates with programmatic teams to develop data plans and evaluation parameters to collect data to improve and grow Future Focused and other programs, report to funders and policymakers, and share stories of learning.
Lisa Harmon-Martínez
Director of Learning By DoingLisa, who joined Future Focused Education as our Director of Learning by Doing, 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. In 2020, Lisa received the NCTE award for Leadership Award for People with Disabilities, which is a competitive national award put out by the National Council of Teachers of English.
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.
CURRENT FOCUS
Graduate profiles and capstones in New Mexico
Lisa and the Capstone Initiative Team work directly with the Public Education Department, schools, and districts, by offering support and resources as they develop or refine graduate profiles and capstones as a way to reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment in the state. This initiative is offered as a solution to the inequities pointed out in the Yazzie/Martinez ruling, as well as a means to re-engage students across the state.
To grow the Capstone Initiative, Lisa and the team offer design sessions and professional development and facilitate a number of collaborative learning groups, which include New Mexican students and educators, as well as school and district leaders.
X3 NeXt, post-secondary internships, and career pathways
Lisa and the X3 NeXt team are exploring youth apprenticeship in New Mexico by working with schools, employers, and post-secondary partners to develop meaningful career pathways that can begin as early as the 10th grade and continue after high school graduation.
Derek Kuit
Assistant Director of OperationsDerek 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.
Derek comes from the world of education research and program evaluation. This background will help as he grows his role into project and operations management.
CURRENT FOCUS
Developing and growing the X3 program’s operational processes and procedures
Derek is supporting the growth of the X3 Internship program by developing processes to streamline the operations of X3 initiatives as they expand. Derek also works behind the scenes to ensure X3 interns submit the required paperwork and receive their stipends.
Growing the use and value of the WorkReady Certificate
Derek is helping to build up the value of the WorkReady Certificate among interns and employers. The WorkReady Certificate offers X3 interns the opportunity to show employers the range of skills they have developed throughout their internship experiences and can be included on a resume.
Providing project management for Fee-for-Service projects
Derek supports new Fee-for-Service projects in the role of project manager.
Dr. Kim Lanoy-Sandoval
Executive DirectorDr. Kim Lanoy-Sandoval is a proud New Mexican with over 20 years of experience in education. 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 a member of the Navajo Nation. She is passionate about creating educational landscapes that value and affirm students’ identities, experiences, and learning well beyond standardized scores.
Kim began her career as a school behavioral specialist with a bachelor’s in psychology from Ft. Lewis College. After nine years as a special education teacher and earning a master’s in special education from the University of New Mexico, Kim became a literacy specialist and district trainer for Albuquerque Public Schools, co-creating a practitioner-based model for professional licensure in special education for a district serving over 70,000 students. In 2016, Kim joined Cooperative Educational Services as their senior trainer and later co-founded and directed LEAP, New Mexico’s first statewide independent alternative licensure program for teachers, completing her doctorate’s degree in educational leadership from Gonzaga University.
Dr. Lanoy-Sandoval is a lifelong learner and enjoys collaborating with schools in every part of the state, partnering and co-teaching with hundreds of educators across New Mexico. Kim serves on New Mexico’s Indian Education Advisory Board and the Professional Practices Standards Committee. These opportunities amplify her passion for researching, supporting, and uplifting educators in reimagining outdated, inequitable school systems as centers of authentic learning by prioritizing youth voices, affirming culture, and valuing local wisdom.
CELINA LINDGREN
X3 Northern NM Internship Co-Managercelina@futurefocusededucation.
Celina Lindgren is Pueblo Indigenous from Ohkay Owingeh, NM. She is an educator and youth advocate committed to creating affirming, future-focused pathways for young people, particularly those historically excluded from traditional systems of education and employment. Her work is grounded in relationship-building, trauma-informed practice, and a deep belief in the power of experiential learning to support self-determination, confidence, and belonging. Celina brings a strong equity lens to her work, centering youth voice, neurodiversity, and culturally responsive approaches in every space she facilitates.
Celina’s professional background spans education, community-based programming, and work-based learning leadership. She has extensive experience supporting young people as they develop professional skills, navigate communication differences, and translate lived experiences into strengths.
Outside of work, Celina values creativity, reflection, and connection. She brings warmth, authenticity, and curiosity into both her professional practice and personal life.
CURRENT FOCUS
X3 Northern NM Internship Co-Manager
Celina co-leads the Northern New Mexico X3 Internship Program, overseeing intern support, mentor relationships, and day-to-day program implementation. She works closely with interns to ensure they feel seen, supported, and empowered as they explore career pathways and develop workplace competencies.
In this role, Celina collaborates with schools, employers, and community organizations to coordinate internship placements, facilitate key milestone meetings, and address challenges as they arise. She is particularly focused on creating inclusive, strengths-based internship experiences, supporting neurodivergent learners, and fostering clear, compassionate communication between interns and mentors to ensure successful outcomes for all participants.
MIKE MAY
Director for Workforce LearningMike leads the X3 Internship team in creating paid internships for underserved youth in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Espanola. He also supports schools and districts around New Mexico to create their own work-based learning programs that provide youth access to pathways to industry exposure, training, and employment.
Mike grew up in a rural community, and because his own path was shaped by internship experiences in politics, journalism, and education policy, he knows first-hand how accessing mentorship and industry exposure can be transformative for young people. He’s passionate about creating such opportunities for others.
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. Mike has lived and worked internationally in Honduras, Switzerland, and Germany, and enjoys travel, languages, and spending time in New Mexico’s beautiful outdoors. He also serves on the governing board of the American Heart Association.
CURRENT FOCUS
Expanding the X3 Internship Program
Demand for high quality work-based learning opportunities continues to grow. Through collaborations with local schools, post-secondary institutions, and employers, Mike and the X3 Team are guiding the expansion of FFE’s X3 Paid Internship program to serve more participants. The program has now placed over 1,300 interns and paid out close to $1.5 million to youth, ages 16-24.
WBL Continuum Buildout
Mike is working with representatives from education, workforce development, and youth to create a local WBL landscape that supports earlier work-based learning exposure and a more intentional transition out of high school toward higher-wage career pathways. FFE has become a state leader in developing pathways into Healthcare and Construction Design and is now close to launching the state’s first registered youth apprenticeship pathway.
State-wide Community of Practice
New Mexico’s rural communities are invested in growing and retaining their own young talent. Mike co-facilitates a statewide community of practice in partnership with the NM Public Education Department to support educators and employers from around New Mexico to refine, design, and expand work-based learning opportunities in their communities.
TONY MONFILETTO
Director of Instituto del PuenteTony’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 new vision of high schools in his hometown of Albuquerque and across New Mexico. His broader vision is for schools to become assets that can make our communities healthier, more prosperous, and just.
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.
After founding and leading Future Focused Education for eight years, Tony transitioned to the Director of Instituto del Puente. The Instituto is the outward facing policy arm of Future Focused, helping elevate the work of the organization for greater impact and policy making in the state.
CURRENT FOCUS
1. Collaborating with Future Focused pillar Directors to help them plan their work for scaling and the implications for public policy in New Mexico.
2. Convening young people, educators, and other collaborators across New Mexico in the economic development and social sectors to democratize the policy making process.
3. Elevate the work of Future Focused Education on the state and national landscape to continue growing the impact of the organization and disseminating the successes from New Mexico.
Angelica Pantaleon
X3/NeXt CoachAngelica Pantaleon is an X3/NeXt Coach with a strong passion for supporting and guiding young people. With several years of hands-on experience working with youth, she brings empathy, insight, and a genuine commitment to helping others grow. Angelica holds an associate degree in Human Services and will begin pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University this fall. Outside of work, she enjoys quality time with her family and being a mom to her energetic two-year-old son.
BRISA RODRIGUEZ
EVALUATION MANAGER AND ANALYSTBrisa Rodriguez, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an accomplished professional dedicated to driving positive change through policy initiatives and equitable access to education. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish, as well as a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of New Mexico, Brisa combines her academic background with a passion for creating opportunities for marginalized communities of color. Brisa’s commitment to equitable access to education brought her to Future Focused Education, where she serves as the Evaluation Manager and Analyst. Drawing from her extensive background in evaluation and analysis, she collaborates with internal and external partners, including working alongside team members, to build robust internal evaluation practices for the organization.
CURRENT FOCUS
Program Evaluation
Brisa plays a key role in shaping the internal evaluation framework for Future Focused Education. Her collaborative efforts extend beyond organizational boundaries, as she works with external partners to develop evaluative practices tailored to meet the unique needs of students.
Instituto del Puente
Passionate about policy initiatives, Brisa works diligently to advance work-based learning opportunities for the youth of New Mexico through Instituto del Puente. Her efforts contribute to fostering equal access to education and creating pathways for the future leaders of the state.
Results-Based Accountability
At the heart of Brisa’s evaluation and analysis methods is a commitment to Results-Based Accountability. She employs this alternative approach to measurement, placing students and multicultural communities of New Mexico at the center of outcomes. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of the impact of educational initiatives.
Beyond Work
Outside of her professional pursuits, Brisa finds solace in nature. An avid camper and hiker, she enjoys exploring the scenic landscapes of New Mexico with her two dogs. Her love for fishing adds a touch of tranquility to her life outside the office.
Maria Rogahn
Assistant Director of Learning by Doing, Capstone Project ManagerMaria 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.
Maria is also certified as a Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a Facilitator for Equity with Embracy Equity.
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.
CURRENT FOCUS
Capstones in New Mexico
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.
Local Support for Implementation
Maria provides fiscal management of the Initiative, organizes technical assistance for schools and districts , documents Communities of Practice and Capstone Educator Network meetings, provides support to local contractors, manages module development for graduate profiles and capstone design and implementation, organizes in-person and online events, and arranges site visits.
ALI SILLAS
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLBEINGAli is dedicated to advancing culturally-and linguistically-responsive social emotional learning and support practices, with a strong emphasis on mental health and community wellbeing. 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. She is also a founding board member of SEL4NM, and a certified instructor for: Youth Mental Health First Aid, Teen Mental Health First Aid and the Nurtured Heart Approach.
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 most proud of her role as a partner and a mama to five children who keep her humbled in her own SEL and wellness strategies; centering physical activities, adventures, joy, and family.
CURRENT FOCUS
Capacity Building
Ali collaborates to advance trauma-responsive SEL practices tailored to diverse cultural and environmental contexts, aiming to enhance mental wellness and overall wellbeing. She offers Youth Mental Health First Aid certification training and the Nurtured Heart Approach to schools and organizations, along with providing coaching and consultation. Through these efforts, she fosters the development of supportive communities of care that prioritize mental health and collective wellbeing for all.
Community Care Collective
The Community Care Collective positions young people to strengthen mental health ecosystems in schools and communities by offering professional development to improve mental health literacy and support. The Behavioral Health Career Pathway offers paid internships with training, certifications (e.g. Youth Peer Support Specialists), hands-on experience, mentorship, and peer support. In partnership with New Mexico higher education institutions and behavioral health employers, the program helps young people explore careers, gain essential skills, and prepare for college and the workforce while making a positive community impact.
Thalía Morales
Operations and Finance ManagerThalía serves as the Operations and Finance Manager at Future Focused Education, bringing more than 10 years of experience in the education sector. Her work centers on managing day-to-day operations and strengthening financial and operational systems that support programs serving young people and advance the organization’s mission.
Thalía spent seven years working at a high school, where she valued daily interaction with students and supporting their growth and success. Growing up in Albuquerque’s Southeast Heights shaped her commitment to community-driven work and to ensuring that systems and structures truly serve young people. This perspective continues to guide how she approaches operational and financial management, always with the goal of creating environments where young people can thrive.
CURRENT FOCUS:
Operational and finance management across initiatives
Thalía oversees operational and financial management across Future Focused Education initiatives, supporting effective program implementation, internal coordination, and organizational sustainability.
Budget planning, compliance, and reporting
Thalía supports budgeting processes and ensures compliance requirements are met, including grant and contract monitoring, to support organizational accountability and long-term financial health.
Systems that build organizational capacity
Thalía focuses on co-developing, documenting, and strengthening operational and financial systems that build capacity, support staff, and enable Future Focused Education to effectively serve young people as the organization grows.
Jasmine Shorty
X3 Internship CoachJasmine is a X3/NeXt coach, born and raised in Northern New Mexico. She comes from a performing arts background in theater and dance. Her arts training has taken her across the country working professionally in her field. With her knowledge and experience, she is committed to bringing these teachings back to her community for the next generation.
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap
X3 Northern NM Internship Co-ManagerKaitlin grew up in Santa Fe and brings over two decades of experience in community organizing, transformational education, anti-oppression, and systems-level change to her role as an X3 Internship Manager. Her career has included nonprofit leadership, curriculum design, coaching, and cross-sector partnership building – all centered on social justice and supporting communities, ecosystems, and the lives of working people. After years of national movement-building work for democracy and economic justice through community organizing, she now focuses on helping interns, schools, and employer partners build strong, supportive relationships to help young people feel seen, capable, and supported as they step into real-world learning environments.
Outside of work, she cares for a lively crew of rescued cats, facilitates a local volunteer animal rescue network, and enjoys tending her home and garden in Las Vegas, NM.
CURRENT FOCUS
X3 Internship
Kaitlin coaches and supports X3 interns and mentors before and during their placements. Her work centers on helping young people build confidence, navigate workplace expectations, and connect their internship experiences to their long-term dreams and goals.
School & Community Partnerships
Kaitlin collaborates closely with schools, local employers, and community organizations to design meaningful work-based learning opportunities for young people. She works to strengthen communication, improve systems for support, and ensure interns, mentors, and school teams have what they need to succeed.
MONEKA STEVENS
DIRECTOR OF RECIPROCAL PARTNERSHIPSMoneka 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.
CURRENT FOCUS
Youth Civic Infrastructure
Moneka supports youth organizing in our state through Youth Civic Infrastructure (YCI), which focuses on education transformation and philanthropic innovation. YCI builds collaborations between non-profit organizations and schools to engage youth in their communities to affect social change.
Sin Fronteras Education Partnership
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.
Anti-racism trainings and convenings
These discussions reflect on systematic racism and explore how schools must transform to be accountable to students, families, and communities. Moneka does this by implementing an anti-racist framework that makes students successful because of their communities rather than in spite of them.
Meg Tokunaga-Scanlon
X3 NeXt Program ManagerMeg Tokunaga-Scanlon has been in education for over 13 years with experience as a music, theatre, and dance teacher, Restorative Justice practitioner, Dean of Students, and a school administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado. Her extensive experience spans public, private, residential, charter, and Catholic schools across Colorado, Texas, and Illinois. In New Mexico, Meg was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at Health Leadership High School and is so excited to be on the Future Focused Education team. Her leadership in these capacities has been marked by a strong emphasis on enhancing educational practices and supporting the holistic development of students. Meg is dedicated to championing student voice, fostering collaboration, and building a strong sense of community.
Outside of her professional life, Meg enjoys spending quality time with her family, exploring the outdoors, and indulging in her love for movies and music. Her well-rounded interests and deep commitment to education reflect her holistic approach to nurturing growth and well-being.
CURRENT FOCUS
X3 NeXt, Post secondary Internships, and Career Pathways
Meg manages the programming of X3 NeXt. She provides coaching and direct support for NeXt interns and collaborates with schools and employers to create paid internships for post-secondary young people. Additionally, she works in conjunction with Lisa and Maria on the Capstone Team, to build out apprenticeships and career pathways for 10th grade students and beyond.
Our Board
Katie Avery
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.
Elisa Begueria
Elisa Begueria is superintendent of Lake Arthur Municipal Schools and President of 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.
Nichelle Gilbert
Nichelle is the Vice President of Network Member Success at Purpose Built Communities, where she supports Network Members in designing and implementing strategies that drive holistic neighborhood transformation. With more than 15 years of experience in community development, economic strategy, and advocacy, she has worked across nonprofit and higher education sectors to advance cross-sector initiatives that strengthen communities and improve economic outcomes for families.
Before joining Purpose Built Communities, Nichelle served as the Executive Director of the Partnership for Community Action in New Mexico, a community advocacy organization committed to investing in people as leaders and advancing community-driven solutions for lasting change. In this role, she led the development and management of a social enterprise center—an innovative economic model designed to address local needs and foster economic growth. Her work, in collaboration with partners and community leaders, has shaped statewide policies and initiatives focused on economic opportunity and expanded investment in early childhood education.
Nichelle’s expertise in place-based strategies, collaborative leadership, and policy development fuels her commitment to supporting communities in creating pathways to prosperity. She holds an MBA in Strategic Management and Policy from the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Meriah Heredia-Griego
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.
Dan Hill
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.
Mayte Lopez
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.
Martin Madrid
Superintendent, Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools, NMSSA- President-ElectMartin 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.
John Mierzwa
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.
Glenna Voigt
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.
Kateri Zuni
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.