ALCS Governing Council Members

Alexandra Tager, Chairperson
atager@aldocs.org
Alexandra Tager has spent her working life in fields that require rallying folks around a cause, or assembling folks for a good time or an enriching experience. Fundraising, catering, political organizing, event management-- formerly as the Program Manger for The Mimbres Region Arts Council and currently as the Program Coordinator for WNMU Department of Cultural Affairs-- she has been deeply involved in civic life and has been enriched by every moment. As the mother of an Aldo middle schooler, her aim is to take that experience and employ it in service of the students of Aldo. She maintains that moving to Silver City from the East Coast and settling here 16 years ago was one of the best decisions she ever made, and she is so grateful to have a school that shares her values and gives kids the tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
atager@aldocs.org
Alexandra Tager has spent her working life in fields that require rallying folks around a cause, or assembling folks for a good time or an enriching experience. Fundraising, catering, political organizing, event management-- formerly as the Program Manger for The Mimbres Region Arts Council and currently as the Program Coordinator for WNMU Department of Cultural Affairs-- she has been deeply involved in civic life and has been enriched by every moment. As the mother of an Aldo middle schooler, her aim is to take that experience and employ it in service of the students of Aldo. She maintains that moving to Silver City from the East Coast and settling here 16 years ago was one of the best decisions she ever made, and she is so grateful to have a school that shares her values and gives kids the tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Jon Walker, Vice-Chair
jwalker@aldocs.org Jon’s mom dedicated her professional life to education. From her example Jon and his sister learned that the right to education is fundamental and that the public school system is essential to the protection of that right. Years later Jon and his wife have moved to Silver City in part to get involved in the community. He believes that serving ALCS is the best way to make a meaningful difference in the causes he cares about while honoring the duty to education instilled by his mom. For over 35 years Jon has owned and operated an Information Technology company and has worked with hundreds of business owners and professionals throughout North America. Leveraging perspective and experience his goal is to advance institutional sustainability in support of the ALCS mission and vision. |

Alex MacKenzie, Secretary
amackenzie@aldocs.org
Proud Aldo parent of my 8th Grade daughter. We moved here from the East Coast in March 2021. I’m not a stranger to the area, as I graduated from elementary school in Columbus, NM- just south of Deming. Silver City back then was the place we’d go to for family vacations: fishing, camping, chopping down our Christmas trees in the Gila, etc... After living on the East Coast for so long, coming back to Southern New Mexico feels great. I hope I can help with supporting the needs of the parents and good people of Silver City.
amackenzie@aldocs.org
Proud Aldo parent of my 8th Grade daughter. We moved here from the East Coast in March 2021. I’m not a stranger to the area, as I graduated from elementary school in Columbus, NM- just south of Deming. Silver City back then was the place we’d go to for family vacations: fishing, camping, chopping down our Christmas trees in the Gila, etc... After living on the East Coast for so long, coming back to Southern New Mexico feels great. I hope I can help with supporting the needs of the parents and good people of Silver City.

Sebastiano Marino, Member
smarino@aldocs.org
I am the parent of an Aldo Leopold 7th grade student. I am Western New Mexico University’s senior web developer and a self-taught professional.
I have worked as a Digital Art Director at Grey Group agency, a top advertising and marketing organization and as the information architect at Giustino Fortunato, one of Italy’s very first 100 percent online universities. During this experience I had the privilege to guide academic leaders in developing web-friendly and digital-based curriculum and materials.
Being a self-thought marketing/tech professional, I highly value a learning process that looks more like life experience and less like a transaction delivered through books and lessons. That is why nothing today seems to be more important than the choice and the opportunity that A.L.C.S. offers to its students; to be educated as a person, as a whole child, learning from nature and doing… and this very same principle is what I want to serve, support and advance.
smarino@aldocs.org
I am the parent of an Aldo Leopold 7th grade student. I am Western New Mexico University’s senior web developer and a self-taught professional.
I have worked as a Digital Art Director at Grey Group agency, a top advertising and marketing organization and as the information architect at Giustino Fortunato, one of Italy’s very first 100 percent online universities. During this experience I had the privilege to guide academic leaders in developing web-friendly and digital-based curriculum and materials.
Being a self-thought marketing/tech professional, I highly value a learning process that looks more like life experience and less like a transaction delivered through books and lessons. That is why nothing today seems to be more important than the choice and the opportunity that A.L.C.S. offers to its students; to be educated as a person, as a whole child, learning from nature and doing… and this very same principle is what I want to serve, support and advance.

Aimee Parra, Member
aparra@aldocs.org
Aimee Parra is a native New Mexican, born and raised in San Antonio, NM, just a short drive from the Bosque del Apache in Socorro county. Upon graduating from New Mexico State University, Aimee, her husband and two daughters made Las Cruces their home. As a family they enjoy being outdoors, caring for their animals, and attending local and national rodeo events. Aimee currently serves as the Teacher Network Coordinator for Teach Plus New Mexico, a non-profit organization dedicated to informing, engaging, and activating teacher voice on best instructional practices and key policy issues. She works with educators across the state, including aspiring educators, to ensure they have the necessary tools to be successful in their practice and develop leadership skills needed to inspire high quality education for students in their classrooms and beyond. She began her career in education in the Las Cruces Public School District teaching grades kindergarten through third grade. Aimee also serves on the advisory boards for CES LEAP and NM Golden Apple Scholars and on the governing council for Aldo Leopold Charter School in Silver City, NM. She has credited her teaching success to her ability to build strong relationships with her students, their families, and the community. Her belief is that all students have the potential to do great things, our job as educators is to help create and hold up that mirror so that students recognize their own potential! Aimee holds a BA in Dance and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Elementary Education from New Mexico State University as well as a Level-three Instructional Leadership license and an Administrative license.
aparra@aldocs.org
Aimee Parra is a native New Mexican, born and raised in San Antonio, NM, just a short drive from the Bosque del Apache in Socorro county. Upon graduating from New Mexico State University, Aimee, her husband and two daughters made Las Cruces their home. As a family they enjoy being outdoors, caring for their animals, and attending local and national rodeo events. Aimee currently serves as the Teacher Network Coordinator for Teach Plus New Mexico, a non-profit organization dedicated to informing, engaging, and activating teacher voice on best instructional practices and key policy issues. She works with educators across the state, including aspiring educators, to ensure they have the necessary tools to be successful in their practice and develop leadership skills needed to inspire high quality education for students in their classrooms and beyond. She began her career in education in the Las Cruces Public School District teaching grades kindergarten through third grade. Aimee also serves on the advisory boards for CES LEAP and NM Golden Apple Scholars and on the governing council for Aldo Leopold Charter School in Silver City, NM. She has credited her teaching success to her ability to build strong relationships with her students, their families, and the community. Her belief is that all students have the potential to do great things, our job as educators is to help create and hold up that mirror so that students recognize their own potential! Aimee holds a BA in Dance and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Elementary Education from New Mexico State University as well as a Level-three Instructional Leadership license and an Administrative license.
