The Center for Educational Opportunity & Career Pathways is composed of dedicated, passionate individuals who have been selected not only for their effective skills in curriculum development and inspired teaching, but also for their love of teaching and education, their strength of character, and their dedication to our core values We know that to have the most talented and effective teachers as part of our team, we must draw from candidates representing diverse educational, cultural, racial, and linguistic backgrounds
Tara Armijo-Prewitt
Director of Center for Educational Opportunity
Taylor Stanton
Program Coordinator
​ and Adult Educator
Carlos Vasquez
High school Equivalency 
​and NMRCA Instructor
Maria Bustamante
ESL and Citizenship Instructor
ABOUT TARA
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.​
ABOUT TAYLOR
Taylor received his BA in Africana Studies from Oberlin College, with a concentration in Caribbean Literature and Education. While attending Oberlin, he was awarded the department's Excellence in Academic Achievement certificate and membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Throughout his career, Taylor has facilitated educational, enrichment, and career readiness programming for returning citizens and justice-involved families; new immigrants and refugees; and critically at-risk youth. In his free time, Taylor enjoys making mixed-media art and pushing a skateboard alongside his heeler puppy. ​ Taylor works in adult education because he loves recognizing and mentoring the critical, original minds of our learners, heeding and learning every step of the way.
ABOUT CARLOS
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 con mi esposa e hijos además, hacer viajes terrestres e internacionales y poder conocer otras culturas.
ABOUT MARIA
María T. Herrera Bustamante is currently an English As A Second Language, Citizenship, and Digital Literacy educator at Catholic Charities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Maria is from Albuquerque's South Valley, the fifth of seven children born to Mexican parents. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of New Mexico in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in Advertising along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish. Her energy and love for the arts has guided her to express herself through music, dance and theatre. Maria currently serves as a Board Member with the Albuquerque Theatre Guild. When she is not teaching you might find her crafting a song, dancing to salsa, planning for a theatre production, or learning to cook Ghanaian cuisine from her partner as well as spending time with family
Lehman Heaviland
HSE Instructor
Rodrigo Gechem
Prog. Coord. II / Data Tech / Student Outreach Coord.
Juan Sanchez
Program coordinator 
and HSE Instructor
Aaron Cowan
ESL, Computer and Citizenship instructor
ABOUT LEHMAN
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. He enjoys spending time with his family and the great outdoors. He's excited to teach and meet everyone!
ABOUT RODRIGO
Rodrigo is originally from Bogotá D.C., Colombia. He has a master’s degree in Management and Business Administration from La Universidad Internacional de la Rioja in Spain as well as a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UNM. As a Data Tech and Student Outreach Coordinator, he serves as a link between the State of New Mexico Data Team, Catholic Charities, and the student population in our Center for Educational Opportunity & Career Pathways. Rodrigo strongly believes in Catholic Charities’ vision of “honoring human dignity” and mission “to put faith in action to improve the lives of those in need” to facilitate our adult community members achieving their personal and professional goals through education. In his spare time, he serves as a Treasurer on the Executive Board of the ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative helping asylum seekers and unhoused individuals (or at risk to become so) to be integrated into healthy communities safely. He loves to spend time traveling and having new adventures with his wife, son, and daughter.
ABOUT JUAN
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.
ABOUT AARON
Aaron is a doctoral student in Learning Sciences, researching augmented and virtual reality teaching methods. He has master’s degrees in Organizational Learning and Public Administration, as well as undergraduate degrees in mathematics, and computer science. He started teaching math and science at West Mesa and Manzano High Schools. He teaches in the School of Adult Basic Education and the Business Information Technology department at Central New Mexico Community College, where he served as a faculty senator and a union representative. In his spare time, he has acted in approximately 50 movies, TV shows, and commercials. He has published several eBooks in the science fiction and humor genres. He enjoys volunteering with the Animal Welfare Department, where he has adopted several cats and dogs and has raised money for animal advocacy groups like the ASPCA. He hopes to be able to enjoy travel again soon and is working hard to improve his knowledge of Spanish, French, and Esperanto. He is also politically active and has served as a precinct chair, primary delegate, and voter registration agent. He teaches computing, HSE, and citizenship classes for Catholic Charities
Julie Wright
HSE Instructor
Dania Ammar
ESL and ACCUPLACER Prep. instructor
 Marilyn Alexander
ESL Instructor
ABOUT JULIE
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.
ABOUT DANIA
Dania Ammar is a PhD student at UNM’s Rhetoric and Writing Program. She is passionate about helping underrepresented ESL students transition to and flourish at higher education, so that the journey of growth may never end. Dania supports students with academic reading and writing skills, passing the ACCUPLACER, and navigating CNM’s as well as UNM’s registration processes and resources. ​(The painting is by "RonTango Jr., Artist")
ABOUT MARILYN
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."
The mission of Catholic Charities is to put faith in action to improve the lives of those in need. We provide services to promote self-sufficiency, strengthen families, fight poverty, and build community. As the local 501(c)(3) affiliate of Catholic Charities USA, we remain dedicated to finding solutions to some of the most pressing social challenges individuals, children and families face regardless of race, religion, color, country of origin, disabilities, gender, age, or sexual orientation.