RFK Charter School Board

President:  Mark Walch
mdwalch@aol.com

Mark received his BA from Williams college with a double major in Biology and Psychology.  He then taught for 2 years in a private high school and then received a MA in Counseling from Michigan State.  Mark has been involved in mental health treatment for over 40 years.  He has lived in NM for the last 35 years and been involved in many educational initiatives to improve the education of NM youth.  Mark’s primary intervention when working with clients is experiential and wilderness therapy.  He has built and facilitated several challenge programs ropes courses for APS, and initiated the first Experiential Training program for APS.  Mark has a variety of other professional interests and experiences including a Leader Mentor, professor, teacher/coach, Mental Game Coach, executive director of a not for profit organization, as well as many other community involvements ranging from business and industry and mental health work to alternative medical treatment.  He is excited to be a part of RFK’s mission and to be involved in a more effective educational program.

Vice President:  Lawrence Barela
Barela162@yahoo.com

Mr. Lawrence Barela is a native New Mexican from Albuquerque’s south valley.  Upon graduation from Rio Grande high school he went on to the the University of New Mexico and earned a BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in environmental engineering.  He has worked for the Department of Energy for over “three decades” and currently manages a technical disposal program with an annual budget of $56M across seven states.  In his free time he enjoys walking for one hour a day, fly fishing, and snow skiing.

Secretary:  Tina Garcia-Shams
tina@streetfoodinstitute.org

I am the Executive Director of the Street Food Institute (SFI), an entrepreneurial and workforce training program working with individuals interested in starting their own small food business.  I am also a native New Mexican who believes both personally and professionally that food has an amazing capacity to connect people…people of all cultures, professions and generations.   I have 27 years of experience in private, public and non-profit sectors. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from UNM and an alternative teaching license in Social Studies from Santa Fe Community College. I served as a teacher, advisor and Community Engagement Director at Amy Biehl High School for 12 years and worked for several years in the private sector as a Human Resources Generalist and Manager.  My work with SFI began in 2013 where I was the Community Relations Director developing programs and partnerships that continue through today and have been the cornerstone to SFI’s success.

Treasurer: Sylvia A. McCleary
sylmccle@hotmail.com

Members:

Joseph P. Sanchez
jpsanchez@aarp.com

Dr. Joseph P. Sánchez is State Director for AARP New Mexico. Prior to joining AARP, he led government and public relations for the University of New Mexico College of Nursing and has spent his career as an advocate for k-12 education and nursing. His previous leadership roles included serving as Executive Director of the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence, where he worked with various organizations, including AARP’s Center to Champion Nursing and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to increase the number of health care professionals through collaboration with stakeholders and influencers. He also served as program director at the New Mexico Public Education Department for nearly 13 years. Dr. Sanchez is a Veteran and served as a commander in the Naval Reserves. He brings skills and expertise as a strong team leader, results-oriented, strategic planner, operations management, health policy, workforce development, community organizer, and advocate. Dr. Sánchez is a native of New Mexico with strong ties to both the Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities.  Dr. Sanchez’s academic career includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of New Mexico, Masters and Bachelors of Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University, a Certificate in Naval Integrated Logistics from the Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia and Advanced Change Management Certification. His personal work philosophy comes from J. P. Morgan: “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.”

Trey Hammond
treyhammond@aol.com

Clyde Ortiz
cortiz48@cnm.edu

If you would like to email all the RFKCS Council:
GCmembers@rfkcharter.net

Robert F. Kennedy Charter School Governance Council Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month.  The Governance Council meetings are held at 4:30pm at the Middle School. Parents and other stakeholders are welcome to attend.

We will be holding our Governance Council meeting on Thursday, 10/21/2021 at 4:30pm.  During this time we will be holding the meeting by conference calling.  If you would like to make Public Comments please send your comments to mdwalch@aol.com