Erik Bose is the Executive Director of Albuquerque Charter Academy. He has been working in education since 1993. Mr. Bose started as a high school Soccer Coach as he worked his way through college. He attended UNM and earned his BA in History/Education in 1996 and eventually became licensed as a Special Education teacher. His first teaching job was at Manzano High School from 1996-2000 where he taught Special Education classes and coached the varsity soccer team to a state championship. Mr. Bose then transferred and taught inclusion classes at McKinley Middle School from 2000-2004. While at MMS, he was accepted into the CEAIP program at UNM where he earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership in 2004. That same year, Mr. Bose was hired at SIATech Charter High School and worked his way up through the classroom, to assistant principal, to principal and now the Executive Director of Albuquerque Charter Academy. He currently holds board positions for the NM Association of Secondary School Administrators, Gordon Bernell Charter High School, NM Coalition of Charter Schools and is the President for the NM Coalition of Educational Leaders. Mr. Bose is proud to make education his profession.

For more than 25 years, Doug has provided a wide range of political, strategic, marketing, branding and communications counsel to executives of Fortune 500 companies; foreign and US elected officials/agencies; small businesses, chambers of commerce and educational institutions; along with a broad collection of non-profit and community-focused organizations. With clients ranging from major utilities and energy producers to trade associations, hospitals, ag tech companies, charter schools, and university defense and security research institutes, Turner leads teams that focus on governmental affairs, stakeholder and consumer engagement, public relations, and corporate and institutional messaging, branding and creative campaigns. In addition to his current work, Doug is a nationally-known political and strategic consultant and has worked on ballot initiatives and political campaigns throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Doug was a key political strategist for Governor Gary Johnson’s (R-NM) successful gubernatorial campaigns in 1994 and 1998. He has advised the Democratic Party of Japan on messaging and election strategy, provided press and media guidance during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, and served as a deputy political director for Steve Forbes’ 2000 bid for President. In 2010 Turner provided U.S. strategic communications guidance to the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan immediately following the Fukushima nuclear disaster and helped guide the licensure of URENCO USA’s uranium enrichment facility in the Southwestern U.S. He has served as Chairman of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission, the Albuquerque Development Commission and the New Mexico Business Roundtable. He has also served on the boards of the Foundation for Open Government and the Rio Grande Foundation. His clients include NATO, the American Petroleum Institute, Borana Nature Conservancy, PNM Resources, DuPont, Excel Energy, Chevron, Trademark East Africa, SunCal Companies, BYD and others. Doug is a former Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow and CFR Term Member and has written widely on politics and policy. His articles have appeared in Time Magazine, the Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, the Far Eastern Economic Review, the Carnegie Council’s Policy Innovations and Japan’s Daily Yomiuri. Turner received his B.A. from the American University School of International Studies in Washington, D.C. and his M.A. in International Relations from the Centre Europeen de Recherches Internationales et Strategiques.

Ben Maes has served on the Board of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico since 2016. He provides the board with the perspective of a charter school governing board member, as he has served as the President of the Governing Council of Christine Duncan Heritage Academy since 2014. Mr. Maes’ specialty is finance. He spent over 30 years in consumer and business financial and credit management and has served as the President of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church finance council. Mr. Maes is an active member of the Albuquerque business community, having served on the New Mexico Hispanic Heritage Committee, Hispano Chamber of Commerce and was the past board director of the Albuquerque West Chamber of Commerce.

Wayne Sherwood earned a Bachelor of Science in General Science/Secondary Education at Western New Mexico University in 1994, Master of Science Teaching at NM Tech in 2002 and a Masters Educational Leadership at Western NM University in 2012. Wayne was the Director of Aldo Leopold Charter School 2016-2022. Aldo Leopold Charter School (ALCS) is an outdoor experiential education charter school, located in Silver City at the gateway of the Gila National Forest. The Gila National Forest consists of the first wilderness in the United States and a wilderness area named after the conservationist, naturalist, and teacher, Aldo Leopold. These areas are the learning lab and classrooms for our students in grades 6 – 12. Before this position as Director at ALCS, Wayne taught high school and middle school science. This job allowed Wayne to help students learn and develop mentally and physically using the outdoors as the teaching medium. He has always incorporated hands-on activities to reach a variety of learning styles in his classroom. Wayne has worked as a Science Olympiad coach and and a MESA advisor (Math Engineering Science Achievement, a pre-college program designed to help underrepresented students prepare for college, and he was also a high school track coach. Wayne feels privileged to have been the leader of such a remarkable public-school program. He is thankful for this opportunity to be on the PCSNM board.

Jackie Rodriguez is a native multi-generational New Mexican born and raised in Northern New Mexico. She attended the University of New Mexico and Highlands University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction and her Educational Leadership license. Jackie has been in the educational field for over 25 years serving as a teacher, bilingual teacher, literacy coordinator, instructional coach, bilingual programs coordinator, math interventionist, assistant principal and charter school director. Jackie is the Executive Director & Head of School at Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education in Rio Rancho and has been the school leader for over six years. Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education is the only Kindergarten – 8th grade dual language charter school serving the community of Rio Rancho and surrounding areas. Jackie is married to Michael, another long-time educator and charter school advocate and leader, and has two children, Miquela and Andrew. Jackie is fluent in both English and Spanish. She is a proud advocate of bilingual education, school choice and educational opportunities for all students.

As a 19th generation New Mexican, Jake has deep familial roots in New Mexico’s history, culture and traditions. He is a graduate of St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque and went on to graduate from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces with a Business degree with an emphasis in Risk Management. Following graduation in 2013, Jake accepted a position with Philadelphia Insurance Companies in Denver, Colorado where he witnessed firsthand the success that charter schools had on the community. In 2018, Jake accepted a position with HUB International Insurance which brought him back home to Albuquerque to pursue his career as an insurance professional. Upon moving back, he felt a very strong desire to get involved as an advocate for school choice and is very proud to be a member of the PCSNM Board.

Theresa Archuleta is a native New Mexican married to Dr. Diego Gallegos with 3 children and a grandchild all of whom have had experience with public, private and public charter school education. She has been an educator for the past 29 years and is currently Co-Director of Tierra Adentro Charter School. She also holds the position of chair for the Board of Directors for the National Institute of Flamenco. She was an administrator and teacher with Albuquerque Public Schools for over 23 years. During that time, she was a recipient of the “National Distinguished Principal” award and honored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in Washington, D.C. for her exemplary achievements.

Michele Hunt is currently the Director of the Anansi Charter School located in Taos, New Mexico. Michele began her career in education in 1987 with a background and credentials in early childhood development, K-8 education, and educational leadership. Michele spent the first half of her career teaching kindergarten, first and second grades. She co-developed the Anansi Charter School which opened in 2001 and has served as the director since 2003. Michele has experience in building, creating and funding the physical campus for the Anansi Charter School. She has led the school to become an Ashoka Network Changemaker School and a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School for Closing the Achievement Gap. Michele is a champion and pioneer in New Mexico for bringing emotional intelligence and social emotional curriculum to school culture and curriculum since 2004. As a result, she has been a trainer and presenter to the concept of EQ/SEL in schools for the NM State Charter Conference, International Ashoka Conference, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and for local charter schools throughout the state of New Mexico. She remains a passionate educator and advocate of school choice.

Jade Rivera is a native New Mexican, and proud product of public education. Ms. Rivera began her career in education as a middle school math teacher. Realizing the tremendous impact of state and local policy on transforming education, Ms. Rivera went on to join the state of New Mexico’s Public Education Department as a Policy Administrator. In 2018, Ms. Rivera founded and opened the doors of Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School, located in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Since it’s opening, Ms. Rivera and her team have led Albuquerque Collegiate to earn designations scoring in the top 10% of NM schools in literacy growth and proficiency, as well as student and family satisfaction. Ms. Rivera holds a B.A. from the University of New Mexico and a M.Ed in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2020, Jade was recognized as one of New Mexico’s “Top 40 Under 40” young professionals. Jade enjoys volunteering with various non-profit organizations in Albuquerque, serving on the boards for Teach for America New Mexico, the Hispano Philanthropic Society, the Solare Collegiate Foundation, and most recently, Public Charter Schools of New Mexico.

Yasine is the Co-founder of BabyPage. BabyPage is an online platform and iOS app that helps busy parents track their children’s milestones and create a modern baby book. Prior to founding BabyPage, Yasine served as the Director of Entrepreneurial Programs for the Central New Mexico Community College STEMulus Center. At CNM she started the entrepreneurial accelerator and developed and implemented the curriculum and programming for the accelerated business classes. Prior to that, she ran her own consulting firm and focused on high tech marketing. In addition, she worked as an Associate for Flywheel Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on software and clean tech companies, and handled deal flow and fundraising for the firm. Her early career included working for the State of New Mexico and later on political campaigns. She has her master’s degree from the University of New Mexico and an undergraduate degree from Truman State University. Yasine currently serves as the Vice President of Sidney Gutierrez Charter School Governing Council. She successfully led the expansion effort of Sidney’s middle school to include grades K-5 and secured funding for the elementary facility. Prior to that she served on the Corrales International School (CIS) Governing Council for eight years. During that time, she helped CIS expand their grades by adding grades 6-10. She also helped CIS move into a permanent facility. Yasine also serves on the UNM Alumni Association Board, the board of Southwest Creations Collaborative, the United Way of Chaves County Board, and the ABQid Investment Committee.

Executive Director

Matthew Pahl is the Executive Director of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. He has focused his career with education transformation in New Mexico since 2005, which began as a first-grade teacher and included positions with the state Legislature and as the Policy Director at the Public Education Department. Matt believes education is the fundamental tool to achieving equity in our country, and is interested in how varied academic programs and organizational structures can help improve public educational experiences for all. He received his B.A. in History from St. John’s University in Minnesota and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Deputy Director

Valery Ratliff-Parker is the Deputy Director of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. For 21 years, Valery has directly serviced New Mexico’s students, families, teachers, administrators, and directors, in the field of education. Her dedication to the industry began as a high school mathematics teacher, followed by years of administrative work as a curriculum and instruction director and data coach/analyst. Valery culminated her years of school-level service as a charter school principal, finding her true passion for championing the charter movement in New Mexico. Valery received a B.S. in Secondary Math Education from New Mexico State University, a Master’s in Educational Administration and Leadership from Walden University, and is currently working on a doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership through Walden University. Her dissertation, aligned with her personal passion, is focused on identifying challenges that charter leaders face and finding ways to support and improve their experience as New Mexico educational leaders. She believes that through strong leadership, our state’s charter school communities can thrive and continue to offer unique learning opportunities to New Mexico families.

CSP Grant Manager

Born and raised in New Mexico and a graduate of Albuquerque Public Schools and the University of New Mexico, Chris Narkun has been involved in education and education policy for more than two decades as a teacher, non-profit project manager, and in Policy and Operations at the New Mexico Public Education Department. Chris is committed to ensuring every New Mexican family has access to high-quality educational options, and to building the capacity of schools across the state to empower the children and communities they serve. As PCSNM’s Charter Schools Program Grant Manager, Chris is excited to help school leaders establish dynamic new charter schools – particularly in communities without access to a variety of educational options – and expand and replicate some of the highest performing schools in the state.

Field Director

Angela Lopez is the Field Director for Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. She helps elevate the voices of charter school communities by connecting with school leaders, parents, students and alumni. Prior to PCSNM, Angela was the lead district staff member for Albuquerque School of Excellence, serving the school in a variety of roles with responsibilities in community outreach, human resources, communications, enrollment, marketing, parent liaison and Covid-19 point person. Angela has a background in restaurant management, and graduated from the University of New Mexico focusing on Psychology and Sociology. She is enthusiastic about school choice and the advocacy of charter schools. Angela is the proud mother of two students, one in high school and one in elementary. Angela believes that all children deserve a quality education and believes in the partnership between families and schools.

Operations Coordinator

Lauren provides decades of experience in both the education and administrative sectors. Coming from parents who were both high school music educators in Pennsylvania, Lauren pursued degrees in the same area and has been a private Suzuki Violin/Strings teacher for the last 20 years. She founded the first in-school Suzuki Violin program at the New Mexico International School upon its inception in 2011, a program that continues to thrive today. Lauren’s administrative experience comes from managing performance venues, coordinating and managing live concert production, and doing front office administration for the UNM Music Department.