ALCS Faculty & Staff
Hannah Wecks
Director
hwecks@aldocs.org
Hannah has been a teacher and librarian for over 20 years. She has served the Grant County community through positions in union leadership, Silver Public Library Board, the steering committee for the Southwest Festival of the Written Word, the Governor's Task Force on teacher Evaluation, and is currently serving on the Legislative Education Study Committee's Funding Formula Working Group. She is also a current student at Western New Mexico University where she is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership. Hannah’s passions include the backcountry, books, supporting local artists, birding, travel, and movies. She has one daughter who is a graduate of ALCS and another who is a current student.
She holds a BA in English from Colorado State University and attended Metropolitan State College of Denver for her teaching certification.
Director
hwecks@aldocs.org
Hannah has been a teacher and librarian for over 20 years. She has served the Grant County community through positions in union leadership, Silver Public Library Board, the steering committee for the Southwest Festival of the Written Word, the Governor's Task Force on teacher Evaluation, and is currently serving on the Legislative Education Study Committee's Funding Formula Working Group. She is also a current student at Western New Mexico University where she is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership. Hannah’s passions include the backcountry, books, supporting local artists, birding, travel, and movies. She has one daughter who is a graduate of ALCS and another who is a current student.
She holds a BA in English from Colorado State University and attended Metropolitan State College of Denver for her teaching certification.
Melissa Frost
BUSINESS MANAGER
mfrost@aldocs.org
Melissa was raised in Vanadium, a beautiful New Mexico mining townsite that housed 28 underground mining families. While living in the mining district, Melissa had the opportunity to enjoy long summers adventuring the great outdoors with her brother and childhood friends. Melissa graduated from Cobre High School and continued her education by attending Western New Mexico University. She received an Associates of Science degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Master of Business Administration degree. Melissa recently retired after 29.8 years with the Sixth Judicial District and Magistrate Courts. She was initially hired as a deputy court clerk, where she learned judicial clerical duties. Within time, her responsibilities expanded to jury management, supervising, accounting and financial management, and court administration. Melissa held the position of Court Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for 17 years. Some of her hobbies are camping with her husband, plant-based cooking, crafts, reading, and spending time with her daughter.
BUSINESS MANAGER
mfrost@aldocs.org
Melissa was raised in Vanadium, a beautiful New Mexico mining townsite that housed 28 underground mining families. While living in the mining district, Melissa had the opportunity to enjoy long summers adventuring the great outdoors with her brother and childhood friends. Melissa graduated from Cobre High School and continued her education by attending Western New Mexico University. She received an Associates of Science degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Master of Business Administration degree. Melissa recently retired after 29.8 years with the Sixth Judicial District and Magistrate Courts. She was initially hired as a deputy court clerk, where she learned judicial clerical duties. Within time, her responsibilities expanded to jury management, supervising, accounting and financial management, and court administration. Melissa held the position of Court Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for 17 years. Some of her hobbies are camping with her husband, plant-based cooking, crafts, reading, and spending time with her daughter.
Catalina Claussen
INTERNSHIP/YCC COORDINATOR
cclaussen@aldocs.org
Catalina is a founding English teacher at ALCS whose passion for food, wilderness, language, and learning drew her to Gila, NM to work on what was once the Seeds of Change farm, to Silver City to work in private and public schools, and eventually to co-creating our school. In 2004, she joined forces with local educators to develop and implement humanities and experiential education curricula. Catalina’s love of wilderness grew from spending childhood winters skiing, snowshoeing, skating and sledding in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; to her adolescence spent swimming, fishing, and snorkeling on the beaches and in the freshwater springs of northern Florida; to falling in love with old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest in her college years. Catalina earned her BA in American Studies at Reed College in 1993, her MA in Education from Prescott College in 1999, a second MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (English, Writing, and Bilingual Education) from Western New Mexico University in 2012. Catalina has taught in a number of venues including ESL at Harvard University, Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, and with USAVIP online for 6 to 12 year-olds in Beijing, China. She is a published young adult author, poet, and short story writer. And in her free-time you will find her traveling, speaking French, camping, hiking, swimming, practicing yoga, gardening, cooking, and anything else that gets her outside.
INTERNSHIP/YCC COORDINATOR
cclaussen@aldocs.org
Catalina is a founding English teacher at ALCS whose passion for food, wilderness, language, and learning drew her to Gila, NM to work on what was once the Seeds of Change farm, to Silver City to work in private and public schools, and eventually to co-creating our school. In 2004, she joined forces with local educators to develop and implement humanities and experiential education curricula. Catalina’s love of wilderness grew from spending childhood winters skiing, snowshoeing, skating and sledding in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; to her adolescence spent swimming, fishing, and snorkeling on the beaches and in the freshwater springs of northern Florida; to falling in love with old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest in her college years. Catalina earned her BA in American Studies at Reed College in 1993, her MA in Education from Prescott College in 1999, a second MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (English, Writing, and Bilingual Education) from Western New Mexico University in 2012. Catalina has taught in a number of venues including ESL at Harvard University, Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, and with USAVIP online for 6 to 12 year-olds in Beijing, China. She is a published young adult author, poet, and short story writer. And in her free-time you will find her traveling, speaking French, camping, hiking, swimming, practicing yoga, gardening, cooking, and anything else that gets her outside.
Cheryl Head
COUNSELOR
chead@aldocs.org
Cheryl Head was born in Silver City, but grew up in Loveland, Colorado in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. Early life was spent outdoors as much as possible, water and snow skiing, biking, and playing sports. Cheryl attended Colorado State University for 2 years, then completed her B.S. in Secondary Education at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. Cheryl’s career in education began as a math teacher and she taught students in grades 7-12 and also worked as an adjunct math professor at WNMU for many years. After completing a Master’s degree in Counseling in 2008, Cheryl worked in the clinical field before coming to work at Aldo Leopold in 2010.
Since coming to Aldo, Cheryl has had the privilege to work closely with students, supporting both academic and personal concerns. She loves her job and the daily variety that it brings.
Cheryl has been married to Tom for 23 years and is the proud mother of two awesome young adults, Emma and T.J.. She continues to enjoy time outdoors and loves to travel, read and spend time with friends and family.
COUNSELOR
chead@aldocs.org
Cheryl Head was born in Silver City, but grew up in Loveland, Colorado in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. Early life was spent outdoors as much as possible, water and snow skiing, biking, and playing sports. Cheryl attended Colorado State University for 2 years, then completed her B.S. in Secondary Education at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. Cheryl’s career in education began as a math teacher and she taught students in grades 7-12 and also worked as an adjunct math professor at WNMU for many years. After completing a Master’s degree in Counseling in 2008, Cheryl worked in the clinical field before coming to work at Aldo Leopold in 2010.
Since coming to Aldo, Cheryl has had the privilege to work closely with students, supporting both academic and personal concerns. She loves her job and the daily variety that it brings.
Cheryl has been married to Tom for 23 years and is the proud mother of two awesome young adults, Emma and T.J.. She continues to enjoy time outdoors and loves to travel, read and spend time with friends and family.
Fiona Bailey
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
TITLE 1 READING SPECIALIST
SAT CO-CHAIR
fbailey@aldocs.org
When she was in kindergarten, Miss Bailey decided she wanted to be a teacher. In 8th grade she discovered her second love—biology. Though she majored in Elementary Education, Miss Bailey minored in biology and has a teaching endorsement in math, social studies and language arts. Yes, she is a nerd. Miss Bailey’s first teaching job was her dream job—kindergarten! After four years of loving and learning with over 150 amazing five year olds, the academic nerd in Miss Bailey came back and she started a PhD in biomedical science and human genetics. A year in the lab made her realize, she wasn’t as big a nerd as she thought—she missed teaching and kids a lot. That is when she decided to get her master’s degree in outdoor education or as she calls it—a degree in playing in the woods.
Her master’s degree led to a job teaching 4th grade in Wilmette, Illinois where she continued to teach outdoor education and ecology, taking 120 4th graders for a three-day outdoor experience each year—each year that it is except the year Margaret was born. After nine years in 4th grade Miss Bailey moved back to kindergarten. Then when Margaret was ready to begin kindergarten, her sister convinced them to move to Silver City! Miss Bailey worked at G.W. Stout teaching first grade. That is when she and Ms. Aversa began the dream of an elementary charter school! While taking a year off teaching to work on the charter school dream, Miss Bailey did her parent volunteer hours at Aldo teaching using a specialized reading program. The successes with those students led to her job here. She loves the bringing together of all her academic passions that happens at Aldo.
M.A. Outdoor Education, Northern Illinois University
B.S. Elementary Education, minor in biology, Sterling College
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
TITLE 1 READING SPECIALIST
SAT CO-CHAIR
fbailey@aldocs.org
When she was in kindergarten, Miss Bailey decided she wanted to be a teacher. In 8th grade she discovered her second love—biology. Though she majored in Elementary Education, Miss Bailey minored in biology and has a teaching endorsement in math, social studies and language arts. Yes, she is a nerd. Miss Bailey’s first teaching job was her dream job—kindergarten! After four years of loving and learning with over 150 amazing five year olds, the academic nerd in Miss Bailey came back and she started a PhD in biomedical science and human genetics. A year in the lab made her realize, she wasn’t as big a nerd as she thought—she missed teaching and kids a lot. That is when she decided to get her master’s degree in outdoor education or as she calls it—a degree in playing in the woods.
Her master’s degree led to a job teaching 4th grade in Wilmette, Illinois where she continued to teach outdoor education and ecology, taking 120 4th graders for a three-day outdoor experience each year—each year that it is except the year Margaret was born. After nine years in 4th grade Miss Bailey moved back to kindergarten. Then when Margaret was ready to begin kindergarten, her sister convinced them to move to Silver City! Miss Bailey worked at G.W. Stout teaching first grade. That is when she and Ms. Aversa began the dream of an elementary charter school! While taking a year off teaching to work on the charter school dream, Miss Bailey did her parent volunteer hours at Aldo teaching using a specialized reading program. The successes with those students led to her job here. She loves the bringing together of all her academic passions that happens at Aldo.
M.A. Outdoor Education, Northern Illinois University
B.S. Elementary Education, minor in biology, Sterling College
Garrett Ferguson
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH & SCIENCE
gferguson@aldocs.org
I am a Silver City native, having lived here for the majority of my life. I am looking to share my love of knowledge and curiosity for the unknown in our observable universe and beyond to any and all willing minds. Peace and blessings to you all!
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH & SCIENCE
gferguson@aldocs.org
I am a Silver City native, having lived here for the majority of my life. I am looking to share my love of knowledge and curiosity for the unknown in our observable universe and beyond to any and all willing minds. Peace and blessings to you all!
Serena Murillo
High School English
smurillo@aldocs.org
Serena is a fourth generation New Mexican. Because of her deep roots here, she wanted to try to make a positive impact on her community, and that is how she ended up in the teaching field. She graduated from Western New Mexico University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in History, and returned to WNMU to complete her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2011. She has taught in different districts, at different grade levels, and started with Aldo in 2021.
Serena enjoys spending time with her dogs, gardening and going on adventures in our Gila National Forest.
High School English
smurillo@aldocs.org
Serena is a fourth generation New Mexican. Because of her deep roots here, she wanted to try to make a positive impact on her community, and that is how she ended up in the teaching field. She graduated from Western New Mexico University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in History, and returned to WNMU to complete her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2011. She has taught in different districts, at different grade levels, and started with Aldo in 2021.
Serena enjoys spending time with her dogs, gardening and going on adventures in our Gila National Forest.
Alison Phillips
VISUAL ARTS
aphillips@aldocs.org
Alison Phillips joined the New Mexico community from southern Arizona. She earned her degree in Visual Art Education from Northern Arizona University, certified K-12. She originally pursued an ecology degree, however, when she spent most of her field time drawing the trees and insects instead of collecting data, she realized there might be a better path for her. Also, apparently when pursuing a science degree, you can't take a bunch of art classes. Alison ultimately blended her love for the natural world with visual art. Many of her own art pieces focus on the local flora and fauna.
Alison created a 'back-up' plan to student teach in Silver City. Then she found herself moving from Flagstaff to Silver City to student teach at Silver High. After her student teaching, she was hired to teach visual art at Jose Barrios Elementary. She instantly fell in love with her students and the Silver City community. After four years at JB, Alison took the art educator position at the brand new Aldo Leopold Middle School. Soon after that, she started the art program in the high school.
While teaching art, Alison became a student again; this time at Western New Mexico University where she earned her masters in visual art and special education from Western New Mexico University. She spent many wonderful hours in the clay studio and gained more knowledge to share with her students.
Alison cannot imagine not being a visual art teacher. She loves to support her students to succeed artistically and to share their creations with the community. Twice a year she organizes an art show of Aldo student art work at a local coffee shop.
In her spare time she likes to be with her amazing husband, son, four dogs, two fish, thirteen chickens and one guinea pig. And also to be outside as much as possible, traveling, camping, backpacking, hiking, and creeping on animals.
VISUAL ARTS
aphillips@aldocs.org
Alison Phillips joined the New Mexico community from southern Arizona. She earned her degree in Visual Art Education from Northern Arizona University, certified K-12. She originally pursued an ecology degree, however, when she spent most of her field time drawing the trees and insects instead of collecting data, she realized there might be a better path for her. Also, apparently when pursuing a science degree, you can't take a bunch of art classes. Alison ultimately blended her love for the natural world with visual art. Many of her own art pieces focus on the local flora and fauna.
Alison created a 'back-up' plan to student teach in Silver City. Then she found herself moving from Flagstaff to Silver City to student teach at Silver High. After her student teaching, she was hired to teach visual art at Jose Barrios Elementary. She instantly fell in love with her students and the Silver City community. After four years at JB, Alison took the art educator position at the brand new Aldo Leopold Middle School. Soon after that, she started the art program in the high school.
While teaching art, Alison became a student again; this time at Western New Mexico University where she earned her masters in visual art and special education from Western New Mexico University. She spent many wonderful hours in the clay studio and gained more knowledge to share with her students.
Alison cannot imagine not being a visual art teacher. She loves to support her students to succeed artistically and to share their creations with the community. Twice a year she organizes an art show of Aldo student art work at a local coffee shop.
In her spare time she likes to be with her amazing husband, son, four dogs, two fish, thirteen chickens and one guinea pig. And also to be outside as much as possible, traveling, camping, backpacking, hiking, and creeping on animals.
Jennifer Lepisko
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES
MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS
jlepisko@aldocs.org
Jennifer Lepisko was raised in Vermont, but when she was 19 she decided to be like the Pilgrims she would later teach about and head west to seek a different life. Between then and now she has lived in Seattle and made attempts to be a Vermonter again, but it is only southern New Mexico that has held her. After living on the other side of the Gila River for five years her older daughter said, “No more homeschooling!” they moved to town, enrolled her daughter at Aldo, and Jennifer returned to college where she found inspired English professors who showed her the beauty and value of language. After earning her degree in English, she was hired at ALCS as an Educational Assistant in the middle school, where Mark, Scott, and Laura taught her how to teach. Since then she has become the co-coordinator of the middle school weekly experiential education outings, journalism teacher, writer of the Weekly Update and an 8th grade language arts and social studies teacher. Middle schoolers are entertaining beyond belief and Jennifer feels so lucky to spend her days with these people on the cusp of themselves. Teaching in a middle school has made Jennifer a better parent to the two best young women she knows. When not studying for the classes she teaches or the classes she takes, Jennifer likes to hike, play tennis, hunt for bargains at the thrift stores, and make meals for her family.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES
MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS
jlepisko@aldocs.org
Jennifer Lepisko was raised in Vermont, but when she was 19 she decided to be like the Pilgrims she would later teach about and head west to seek a different life. Between then and now she has lived in Seattle and made attempts to be a Vermonter again, but it is only southern New Mexico that has held her. After living on the other side of the Gila River for five years her older daughter said, “No more homeschooling!” they moved to town, enrolled her daughter at Aldo, and Jennifer returned to college where she found inspired English professors who showed her the beauty and value of language. After earning her degree in English, she was hired at ALCS as an Educational Assistant in the middle school, where Mark, Scott, and Laura taught her how to teach. Since then she has become the co-coordinator of the middle school weekly experiential education outings, journalism teacher, writer of the Weekly Update and an 8th grade language arts and social studies teacher. Middle schoolers are entertaining beyond belief and Jennifer feels so lucky to spend her days with these people on the cusp of themselves. Teaching in a middle school has made Jennifer a better parent to the two best young women she knows. When not studying for the classes she teaches or the classes she takes, Jennifer likes to hike, play tennis, hunt for bargains at the thrift stores, and make meals for her family.
Maia Chaney
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE & MATH
MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENTIAL
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
mchaney@aldocs.org
https://sites.google.com/aldostudents.org/maiachaney/home
Growing up in Silver City, N.M., Maia discovered her love for nature and animals while exploring the Gila National Forest on horseback. After receiving her B.S. in Zoology from Western New Mexico University in 2002, she decided to pursue a career where she could share her passion for science and make a positive impact on the community where she was born and raised. In 2004, she received her M.A.T. with an emphasis in secondary science education. Maia began her teaching career in 2007, working in both public and private schools in the area. She joined ALCS in 2016 as a middle school math and science teacher. Maia still enjoys horseback riding, along with going on adventures with her family, hiking, gardening, photography and spending time in nature – especially at the ocean.
Nate Shay
HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL ED
nshay@aldocs.org
I grew up in Silver City, but have also visited foreign countries including Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, France, Switzerland and Italy as well as other parts of the US. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and bicycling, which help me maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. For the past four years I have been the head coach of the ALCS mountain bike team. Student-athletes compete in five Arizona Interscholastic Cycling League (AICL) events in the Fall season. This has been a successful program which continues to grow and expand.
I have been in several leadership/instructor roles in both military and civilian situations. I’m good at problem solving and dealing with people and situations as they come. I’m also technically, linguistically and mechanically skilled. I currently teach Special Education at the AlCS High School. I enjoy teaching kids which I have done for the last fourteen years, most recently as a Special Ed teacher at ALCS Middle School. I love the Aldo school’s ability to offer experiential education opportunities to students that conventional public schools cannot. This is the most beautiful place for those opportunities to foster and grow our students into tomorrow’s leaders.
HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL ED
nshay@aldocs.org
I grew up in Silver City, but have also visited foreign countries including Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, France, Switzerland and Italy as well as other parts of the US. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and bicycling, which help me maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. For the past four years I have been the head coach of the ALCS mountain bike team. Student-athletes compete in five Arizona Interscholastic Cycling League (AICL) events in the Fall season. This has been a successful program which continues to grow and expand.
I have been in several leadership/instructor roles in both military and civilian situations. I’m good at problem solving and dealing with people and situations as they come. I’m also technically, linguistically and mechanically skilled. I currently teach Special Education at the AlCS High School. I enjoy teaching kids which I have done for the last fourteen years, most recently as a Special Ed teacher at ALCS Middle School. I love the Aldo school’s ability to offer experiential education opportunities to students that conventional public schools cannot. This is the most beautiful place for those opportunities to foster and grow our students into tomorrow’s leaders.
Pete Rankin
HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY
COMMUNITY ORIENTATION COORDINATOR
BACKPACKING TRIP COORDINATOR
prankin@aldocs.org
Pete has lived in the Southwest since 1987. Graduating from high school in Farmington New Mexico on the Colorado Plateau, a bio-region where he was blessed with many days bow-hunting, riding horses and playing soccer. He then lived in Durango Colorado and attended Fort Lewis College from 1993 until 1997, earning a BA in Political Science. After that, he attended law school at the University of New Mexico before deciding that his career passion was in the realm of working with young people instead of in a courtroom.
From 2000 until 2009, Pete served as head boys soccer coach and educator at Farmington High School, while escaping 6 hours south to the Gila wilderness as often as possible to bow hunt, camp and hike. In late 2009 -- on a sabbatical from teaching -- he relocated to the Gila watershed and, shortly thereafter, stumbled across this remarkable school named after Aldo Leopold, one of the founding fathers for protecting wilderness in the United States. Thereby, as luck would have it, he is actualizing his dream of living & working, in the outdoors, within this beloved, biodiverse region of mountains, deserts & free-flowing waters. Pete's journey at ALCS over the past 6 years represents a blending of the age-old love for wild pathways with a love for facilitating an experiential process of life-long, inquiry-based learning within himself and others.
HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY
COMMUNITY ORIENTATION COORDINATOR
BACKPACKING TRIP COORDINATOR
prankin@aldocs.org
Pete has lived in the Southwest since 1987. Graduating from high school in Farmington New Mexico on the Colorado Plateau, a bio-region where he was blessed with many days bow-hunting, riding horses and playing soccer. He then lived in Durango Colorado and attended Fort Lewis College from 1993 until 1997, earning a BA in Political Science. After that, he attended law school at the University of New Mexico before deciding that his career passion was in the realm of working with young people instead of in a courtroom.
From 2000 until 2009, Pete served as head boys soccer coach and educator at Farmington High School, while escaping 6 hours south to the Gila wilderness as often as possible to bow hunt, camp and hike. In late 2009 -- on a sabbatical from teaching -- he relocated to the Gila watershed and, shortly thereafter, stumbled across this remarkable school named after Aldo Leopold, one of the founding fathers for protecting wilderness in the United States. Thereby, as luck would have it, he is actualizing his dream of living & working, in the outdoors, within this beloved, biodiverse region of mountains, deserts & free-flowing waters. Pete's journey at ALCS over the past 6 years represents a blending of the age-old love for wild pathways with a love for facilitating an experiential process of life-long, inquiry-based learning within himself and others.
