Escuela Luz del Mundo - Light of the World School : Faculty

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School Board:
Rick Kitchen - President
John Bulten - Vice President
Ron Trevino - Treasurer
Gregory Elder - Secretary

Lily Medrano - Parent Liason
Ramon Medrano - Parent Liason

	Richard Kitchen Position: Director Subject: Math Bio:Rick is the founder and director of Escuela Luz del Mundo and also teaches mathematics at the school. The vision for ELM is based on the findings of a national research study that Rick led and that were published in a book entitled, Mathematics Education at Highly Effective Schools that Serve the Poor: Strategies for Change (2006) published by Routledge/Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. He is an associate professor of mathematics education at the University of New Mexico and co-Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation funded Center for the Mathematics Education of Latinos/as (CEMELA). Rick started teaching in 1982 and has taught in many states and in Sweden and Venezuela. Rick and his wife, Janet, have three children, Olivia (22), Jordan (16), and Sophia (14). Personal quote: "I believe that all students, independent of their socioeconomic status, deserve the opportunity to attend a school where they can fully develop their God-given talents."
	Brenda Avila-Hanna Position: Assistant Director, Teacher Subject: Spanish Bio: Brenda was born and raised in Mexico City. During her sophomore year of Social Communication at Mexico City's UAM, she received a full ride scholarship from UNM, where she is currently working towards her degree in Media Arts with minors in Journalism and Peace Studies. She has taught ESL and Spanish for several years. She was an intern for CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) in Turkana, Kenya, where she worked as a literacy evaluator and Sunday school teacher.
	Jessica Griffith Position: Teacher Subject: Science Bio:
	Chris Parchert Position: Teacher Subject: Mathematics Bio: Chris was raised right here in Albuquerque, NM and attended college at the University of New Mexico. He received a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering in May of 2008, and immediately started working for a defense contractor in Baltimore, MD thereafter. During his short career in engineering, Chris knew that God had a different plan for his life, which prompted him to leave his engineering job and explore teaching. Chris started substitute teaching in Baltimore and knew right away that teaching was his true calling, and moved back to NM to start coursework at the university for secondary education certification. He discovered ELM during a conversation at church with Jessica Griffith, another ELM teacher, and thought it would be great to serve God through tutoring. Chris felt an overwhelming sense of joy in serving the students at ELM, which moved him to express interest in teaching.
	Laura MacMillan Position: Teacher Subject: Language Arts & Social Studies Bio:- Laura grew up in Elmhurst, IL, a subub of Chicago. She graduated from Dordt College in Siux Center, Iowa with a BA in Elementaryh Education in May of 2009, where she specialized in teaching Speech Communication and Theater. Laura was involved in many theater productions at Dordt, as well as co-founded an environmental club on campus, and continues to be an advocate for social and environmental issues in general. This will be Ms. MacMillan's first year teaching, and will take on Language Arts and Social Studies here at ELM. In her free time, Laura likes to bike, cross country ski, read, cook, eat, garden, and listen to music. She hopes to incorporate these things into her teaching when possible.
	Becky Westra Position: Teacher, Tutor Subject: Physical Education Bio: Becky works full-time for East Central Ministries as their Youth Coordinator, so she directs a variety of programs there for kids and teens. She will be involved with ELM as a volunteer tutor – helping out in the classroom for a couple of hours a day. She will also be mentoring the students and incorporating them into the broader youth ministry work she does at East Central.
	Jeremy Nagorski Position: Teacher Subject: Bible Class Bio: Jeremy moved to Albuquerque in 1994 after undergoing a radical conversion at the age of 19. In 2003 he graduated from UNM with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in History. He attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) on a full academic scholarship and in 2005 graduated with a Masters of Theology. He served part-time as the research assistant to William J. Abraham at SMU during the 2005-2006 academic year. In December of 2007 he felt led to return "home" to Albuquerque. Although this is his first opportunity to teach children, he has spent over six years working with adults with mental disabilities, which has reinforced his conviction that God's Kingdom is best extended by our seeking to love "the least of these." It is, therefore, with a deep sense of gratitude and expectancy that he looks forward to the opportunity to leave a lasting imprint of Christ's love in the hearts and minds of his students. (Sorry, he doesn't speak any Spanish... yet!) Personal quote: "God's instruments of change sometimes walk beneath our sight."
	Morgan Attema Position: Tutor Subject: Bio:
	Craig Hanna Position: Tutor Subject: Computer Lab Bio: Craig Hanna has a bachelors degree in Computer Science from Purdue University and is currently working on his Masters in Computer Science at University of New Mexico. He speaks fluent Spanish and will be using it as much as possible in the classroom. Craig's background in teaching includes 2 semesters as lab instructor for freshman level Computer Science for CS majors at Purdue, and 2 years teaching Social Studies and Spanish at ELM.
	Peggy Kohler Position: Tutor Subject: Language Arts Bio: Peggy Kohler, M.A.T., is a Certified Academic Language Therapist, Qualified Instructor and teacher. She has taught for over 30 years, and specializes in individual work with students to enhance their critical thinking , analytical skills, and their desire to be an active learner. She believes that every student deserves the opportunity to become a successful learner and to develop their own personal strengths in the process.
	Lynn Bulten Position: Tutor Subject: Physical Education Bio: My husband John and I team teach physical education. In my youth I loved to play any sport I could, which lead to my decision later to work on a BA degree in Physical Education and Classroom Teaching from Trinity Christian College, located just outside Chicago. After teaching Phys Ed for 10 years in Chicago, I met John, got married, and started a whole new chapter in my life. However, after 13 years we have been given a chance to serve together in this area AND enjoy one of God's best gifts - "play"!

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