Meet Our Staff
Tara grew up in Albuquerque, graduated from Albuquerque High School, and later from the University of New Mexico before attending graduate school at the University of California Davis. Tara has worked in various roles in education since 2011 and is the current Director for the Center for Educational Opportunity. When not working, Tara enjoys bug hunting and exploring the outdoors with her husband and two sons.
Juan Sánchez grew up in Cuba and migrated to the U.S. when he was 22 years old. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Religious Studies at Florida International University, in Miami. He joined Catholic Charities in January of 2018, where he currently teaches High School Equivalency. He enjoys road trips, movies, and books.
Soy un Catracho Graduado como ingeniero electromecánico en 1994 en la Universidad de Honduras y el 2008 como ingeniero Industrial y finanzas en la universidad tecnológica Centroamericana. En el 2009 decidí impartir clases para adultos hasta la actualidad en la ciudad de Albuquerque En el 2017 inicie como instructor de NMRCA (New México Roofing Association) educando aprendices camino a certificación como (Roofer Journeyman). He tenido el privilegio impartir clases de GED (General Educación Desarrollo), HSE (High School Equivalency) e informática. Sirviendo a inmigrantes de diferentes nacionalidades y ciudadanos americanos, además, imparto clases en inglés y español. Me encanta dar clases de fútbol, bailar y en mis ratos libre disfruto con mi esposa e hijos además, hacer viajes terrestres e internacionales y poder conocer otras culturas.
Lehman Heaviland recently moved here from the Midwest. He has lived and worked in many countries including Ecuador, Colombia, South Korea, and more. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Education with an emphasis in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural studies. He enjoys spending time with his family and the great outdoors. He's excited to teach and meet everyone!
Marisol Ledezma, originally from Mexico, holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from UNEA, Chihuahua. With extensive experience in administration, project management, and database coordination across public and private sectors, she transitioned to the U.S. three years ago. Through Catholic Charities, she advanced her English skills and now serves as a Data Technician and Program Coordinator at the Center for Educational Opportunity. Passionate about lifelong learning, she continues as an ESL student while supporting adult education. Her motto: "Don't give up without trying." She values family, embraces challenges, and inspires others to pursue their dreams.
Marilyn is a Native Floridian who moved to New Mexico in 2005. She is currently a high school equivalency instructor. Her experience includes College Instructor, Private Tutor, High School Teacher, and GED instructor. Education has always been her passion back to holding class for her dolls as a child. "My journey has allowed me to teach others and to help them achieve their goals. Nothing is more rewarding than this." Marilyn enjoys her two sons, two grandsons, traveling, and her dog "Bella". Marilyn wrote and illustrated the children’s book "The Southwest Adventures of Tommy and Maggie."
Julie grew up in Rochester, NY where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies from the State University of New York, College at Brockport, and a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Special Education and Social Studies, from Roberts Wesleyan University. Julie is a life-long learner who shares the importance of this goal with all of her students. She has made it her mission to teach Middle School through Adult learners who struggle with learning challenges to develop the confidence to persevere. Julie’s hobbies include yearly vacations with her adult sons who live in NY, learning to cook like a chef, and activities to keep her brain regulated like Pilates and meditation.
Kennia Lopez is a trailblazer in academia and a proud first-generation college graduate from Kansas City, Missouri. Her journey through higher education has been marked by a deep commitment to literature, language, social justice, and cultural representation. She holds a Master of Arts (MA) in English from Northwest Missouri State University, and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Poetry from Brooklyn College in New York City where she honed her craft under her mentors Ben Lerner, Monica de la Torre, and Julie Agoos. There, she learned to use her dialects of English and Spanish to give voice to migrant and undocumented peoples, as well as feminist perspectives through the lens of bordersong. Brooklyn is where Kennia first began to write her debut book of poetry, The Exodus, a multilingual epic poem told in verse about migration—her family's and that of others as well. This transformative experience not only enriched her artistic and experimental prosody but also laid the foundation for her academic pursuits as a PhD student in Rhetoric and Composition at UNM.
Jessica holds a Bachelor's Degree in Languages from the University of New Mexico. Her interest in languages and education comes from having been a foreign exchange student in Mexico during her childhood, and while doing a couple of semesters at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Jessica is fluent in English and Spanish and can speak a great amount of Japanese. Additionally, she has some grasp of Arabic, German, and Russian while actively learning Korean and Finnish. Jessica's dedication to teaching aligns perfectly with her role in Catholic Charities' education team, where she contributes to the mission of putting faith in action to improve the lives of those in need. Beyond her professional pursuits, Jessica enjoys playing piano, learning violin and guitar, composing and producing music, attending concerts, exploring new destinations, and indulging in her passion for learning languages, reading, and writing.