MdS Governing Board

Mr. PAUL BIDERMAN - CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Paul Biderman is Director of the Institute of Public Law and a research faculty member at the University of New Mexico School of Law.  He previously served as founding director of IPL's Rozier E. Sanchez Judicial Education Center.  He was admitted to the New Mexico state bar in 1971 after graduating New York University Law School in 1970.  Paul has previously served as New Mexico's Secretary of Energy and Minerals, has staffed and led the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, has worked in legal services programs for the Navajo Nation and Northern New Mexico, and for seven years conducted private law practices in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.  His son, Seth Biderman, is a teacher at Monte del Sol who co-directs the mentorship program and coaches boys' soccer.

Sr. CARLOS O. RUIZ- VICE CHAIR

Carlos was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico and graduated from the University of Veracruz with a BSC in Civil Engineering, followed by a Rural Civil Engineering degree from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.  He immigrated to the USA in 1977 and has lived in Santa Fe ever since. He is a civil engineer with NM Dept. of Transportation as the NMDOT value engineering coordinator.   Carlos has also been a professional translator for over 25 years with both local and international clients. His son, Ariel, graduated with Monte del Sol's Class of 2006 and his younger son Emilio is a Junior here this year.

Mr. KEN JOSEPH - TREASURER

Ms. TERRY WILLIAMS KEFFER - SECRETARY

Terry is the mother of two Monte del Sol students. She is the owner of Westwind Travel, Chair of Santa Fe's annual community event, Fourth of July Pancakes on the Plaza, and past Chair of United Way of Santa Fe County.

Ms. REGINA CHACON (bio to come)

Mr. ROBERT EISENSTEIN

Educated at Oberlin College, Yale University (Phd inn Physics) and teh Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel, Bob sent many years on the physics faculties of Carengie Mellon University and the University of Illinois.  He spent more than a decade at the national Science Foundation as head of the Physics Division and later as the Foundation's assistant director for mathematical and physical science.  From 2003 to 2004 is was President of Santa Fe Institute and a volunteer mentor at Monte del Sol.  In 2005 he co-founded Santa Fe Alliance for Science which seeks to link local scientists and engineers to K to 12 students.  Bob serves on our faculty as our Physics teacher. 

Mr. TONY GERLICZ (ex-officio)

Tony is the Founder and Head Learner of Monte del Sol.  He was the Head of Upper School at the Graland School in Denver, Co, Founder and Executive Director of the Oregon Governors' School for Citizen Leadership, Principal of the International School, Nido de Aguilas, Santiago, Chile and was a classroom teacher for ten years in public, private and international schools. Tony and his family lived in Latin America for many years. He emigrated to the US as a boy and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Tony has taught mathematics while leading Monte del Sol and at some point in his past he gave two years of service while a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Portland, Oregon.  He is not a voting member of the Board.

Ms. RITA MOYA  (Faculty Representative)

Rita was born and raised in El Paso and joined our faculty in 2006.   She received her BA in psychology from the University of Texas and her teacher's certification from Northern New Mexico College where she received a MANA del Norte scholarship.  Rita has worked with abused children as a case manager and adoption advocate.  She was the first director of Chimayo Boys & Girls club and coordinated a Cerro Grande fire mitigation project employing San Ildefonso youth that won accolades from both FEMA and the DOE.  At Monte, Rita teaches New Mexico and US History as well as Radio Arts.  In her own time she can be found horseback riding in the wilderness or drumming.

Ms. GAIL RACHOR

Gail came to Santa Fe three years ago from Michigan where she was a long-time teacher, educational consultant and university professor of teacher education.  She has a Masters and Bachelors degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctorate in Education from Wayne State University.  Gail was active in many professional organizations in Michigan and served on a charter school board there as well as with many other community agencies.  Gail has been on the board of Esperanza Shelter and is active in fundraising for them as well as serving on the board for Monte del Sol.

Mr. LARRY RAYBURN

Larry is the parent of a Monte del Sol graduate who came to us as a 7th grader in our founding year. Larry is the construction manager for Denman Construction Company in Santa Fe.  He is also a psychotherapist in private practice.  Larry was  instrumental in advising us on all things related to the construction of our original building.

Ms PATRICIA SIGALA 

Patricia, a Denver native, moved to Santa Fe in 2000 and is a parent of a recent MdS graduate and a current sophomore.  She works at the Museum of International Folk Art as an Outreach Educator and holds an undergraduate degree in Community Service Administration and an MA in Education from the University of Colorado, Denver.  Patricia also devotes time to sharing traditional Mexika/Aztec dance with the community.

Mr. MATTHEW SMITH

Matthew has lived in New Mexico for 21 years and works as a nurse at the New Mexico School for the Deaf where he administers health services.  He has been a Monte del Sol parent since our founding year--his son, Dylan, graduated with the Class of 2006 and his daughter, Juliet, is in 8th Grade this year.  Matthew and his family live in an active/passive solar and wind-powered home which they built themselves.  Located south of Santa Fe, they have twenty chickens, two dogs and three cats.  Matthew has also been a Monte del Sol mentor in the area of mountain biking.  

Mr. ARCH SPROUL  

Arch is the father of two Monte del Sol students and owns a construction company in Santa Fe where he has been a well-respected builder for many years.  In addition, Arch and his wife, Lisa, owned and operated a Plaza area landmark, The Virginian Trading Company for over twenty years inspired in part by Arch's work in Hong Kong as president of a trading company there following his university study in oriental languages and business administration.

Mr. ZACH TAYLOR (Faculty Representative)

Zach is in his third year at Monte del Sol working with gifted students at the high school level as well as teaching Peace Studies through a Model UN elective. Zach received his BA from Ft. Lewis College and has dual endorsement in English and Social Studies.  Prior to joining MdS faculty, Zach taught Middle School at Ortiz MS and travelled extensively in Europe and South America and spent six months sailing around the Caribbean.

Ms. DOROTHY WINKLER

Dorothy was raised in El Paso.  As an Army brat she also lived in Germany and Taiwan with her family. Dorothy and her son, Toby, an 8th grader at Monte del Sol, moved to Santa Fe three years ago from Southern California. Dorothy has been the editor of The Dragon's Den school newsletter since 2006 and is president of the PTA.  She is also the event chair for Fall Fiesta, our annual fundraiser for our arts programs.  Her community activities include recording books at the NM Library for The Blind and volunteering at Pancakes on The Plaza on July 4.  Dorothy and Toby enjoy reading, cooking and traveling together.

Mr. SPEED FRANKLIN  Student Representative

Speed is a Senior this year at Monte del Sol.  Speed will be going to Buenos Aires in January to volunteer in an infectious disease hospital.  He will return to graduate with the Class of 2008.  He hopes to be accepted at Yale next year.  He enjoys singing with the All State Choir, origami, math and swimming. 

Ms. EMMA ELLIOT SMITH  Student Representative

Ms. ELIZABETH VASQUEZ  Student Representative

Ms. ALYSSA KNOBELOCH  Student Representative

Alyssa was voted onto the Board in her Junior year, instead she won a scholarship to United World College in Singapore.  Congratulations, Alyssa !