ALCS Governing Council Information and Members
The ALCS Governing Council acts as the “school board” for the charter school. We are not elected by the community at large but nominated and appointed by a committee that represents students, staff, community and council members. The Governing Council has 5-9 members who meet monthly and also serve on committees that work on policy, curriculum, finances, health and safety of the school. We are all volunteers dedicated to the success of students and the school. We work directly with the Public Education Department and as such must attend annual training events and follow compliance mandates.
Our role is to supervise the Director to ensure academic achievement and financial accountability.
Meetings are generally held the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 pm.
We welcome public to attend and always have an opening on the agenda for public comment at the beginning of each meeting. Agendas and Minutes will be posted on the website for public review.
Governing Council meets on the second Thursday of the month. The link is on the calendar.
Click HERE to watch live streamed meetings.
Click HERE to watch archived meetings.
Click HERE to view Agendas and Minutes for the monthly Governing Council Meetings
Click HERE to view the Governing Council By Laws
Click HERE to view the Open Meetings Act
Our role is to supervise the Director to ensure academic achievement and financial accountability.
Meetings are generally held the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 pm.
We welcome public to attend and always have an opening on the agenda for public comment at the beginning of each meeting. Agendas and Minutes will be posted on the website for public review.
Governing Council meets on the second Thursday of the month. The link is on the calendar.
Click HERE to watch live streamed meetings.
Click HERE to watch archived meetings.
Click HERE to view Agendas and Minutes for the monthly Governing Council Meetings
Click HERE to view the Governing Council By Laws
Click HERE to view the Open Meetings Act
Governing Council Members
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Harry Browne, Chairperson
[email protected] |
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Jim McIntosh, Secretary
[email protected]
“Think Outside the Desk” is our school’s bumper-sticker manifesto. When I first heard about Aldo Leopold Charter from a friend, I was so inspired by the little school’s gumption that I returned to education after a 7-year hiatus as a hospital & home-health nurse. I believed then, and still believe, that the school’s philosophy points toward a new & better path for educating young people. Our little public charter school, whose name honors the conservation visionary Aldo Leopold, is stationed on the campus of Western New Mexico University—but we try to depart campus whenever we can.
As for me, I logged in 32 years of teaching—14 with Aldo Leopold Charter—& despite retiring at the end of the 2023 school year, I remain passionate about education and continue to spread the word about the benefits of global education, having completed a brief tour of duty in Senegal last spring as part of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program. In retirement, I’ve been pursuing many long-postponed projects, but I continue to find time to run (and sometimes build) local trails, camp, cycle, and—bless my longsuffering partner Chris—poke around obscure historic sites in the Southwest. Finally, I admit that I am the unbearably opinionated host of a weekly community-radio music program, Tower of Song, on KURU 89.1 FM.
[email protected]
“Think Outside the Desk” is our school’s bumper-sticker manifesto. When I first heard about Aldo Leopold Charter from a friend, I was so inspired by the little school’s gumption that I returned to education after a 7-year hiatus as a hospital & home-health nurse. I believed then, and still believe, that the school’s philosophy points toward a new & better path for educating young people. Our little public charter school, whose name honors the conservation visionary Aldo Leopold, is stationed on the campus of Western New Mexico University—but we try to depart campus whenever we can.
As for me, I logged in 32 years of teaching—14 with Aldo Leopold Charter—& despite retiring at the end of the 2023 school year, I remain passionate about education and continue to spread the word about the benefits of global education, having completed a brief tour of duty in Senegal last spring as part of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program. In retirement, I’ve been pursuing many long-postponed projects, but I continue to find time to run (and sometimes build) local trails, camp, cycle, and—bless my longsuffering partner Chris—poke around obscure historic sites in the Southwest. Finally, I admit that I am the unbearably opinionated host of a weekly community-radio music program, Tower of Song, on KURU 89.1 FM.
Lauren D'iorio, Member
[email protected]
Lauren D'iorio feels fortunate to have gained well-rounded experiences in the mental health field, education field, and facilitating experiential learning in the wilderness over the course of her career. In her time working with teens that struggle with mental illness, Lauren learned about prioritizing each student’s unique needs, interests, and individuality. She is the School Administrator for another local school, Guadalupe Montessori School. Lauren appreciates Aldo Leopold Charter School’s emphasis on experiential learning, risk taking, and stewardship, as those are strong values in her own life. Without adventure there is no challenge, and without challenge there is no growth! Lauren is excited to support ALCS’ mission to provide challenge, structure, support, experiences in nature, and life skills for its students.
[email protected]
Lauren D'iorio feels fortunate to have gained well-rounded experiences in the mental health field, education field, and facilitating experiential learning in the wilderness over the course of her career. In her time working with teens that struggle with mental illness, Lauren learned about prioritizing each student’s unique needs, interests, and individuality. She is the School Administrator for another local school, Guadalupe Montessori School. Lauren appreciates Aldo Leopold Charter School’s emphasis on experiential learning, risk taking, and stewardship, as those are strong values in her own life. Without adventure there is no challenge, and without challenge there is no growth! Lauren is excited to support ALCS’ mission to provide challenge, structure, support, experiences in nature, and life skills for its students.
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Alexandra Tager, Member
[email protected] 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. |
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Alex MacKenzie, Member [email protected] 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. |
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Sebastiano Marino, Member
[email protected] 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. |
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Quorum Notice
Please note that there will be social occasions during which a quorum of the council may be present outside of a scheduled governing council meeting. Including but not limited to training, community, and school events. No board business will be discussed at these times.
