Tony Monfiletto, Co-Founder, Executive Director and Principal
Tony@aceleadership.org
Tony is a native of Albuquerque New Mexico and has worked in school reform since 1990. He began his career at the Chicago Panel on Public School Policy helping to promote the restructuring of the Chicago Public Schools. After leaving Chicago in 1993, he joined the staff of the Legislative Education Study Committee in Santa Fe where he specialized in public school finance. This big picture work was fundamental in establishing the context for creating high performing small schools in his hometown. Tony was the founder and lead administrator at Amy Biehl High School, a model of innovation in the Albuquerque community that was designated a “mentor” school by the Coalition of Essential Schools.
In January 2009, Tony became the Executive Director of the New Mexico Building and Education Congress in an effort to create the next generation of small schools in New Mexico. These institutions will be dedicated to the premise that “learning by doing,” Positive Youth Development, and the highest level of private industry collaboration, will result in schools that can dramatically improve the graduation rates in our community.
In September of 2011, The Forum for Education and Democracy selected Tony as of the first cohort of the Sizer Fellows, a project commemorating the work of the late Theodore Sizer and his wife, Nancy, themselves both original Conveners of the Forum.
“I look forward to changing the lives of our students. This school has the potential to connect students and teachers to the most exciting learning in the country. I am confident that we will prepare young to become the leading architects, engineers and construction workers in our community.”
Tori Stephens-Shauger, Co-Founder and Director of Curriculum and Assessment
Tori@aceleadership.org
Tori is an Albuquerque native and has been an educator for 13 years. She began teaching at Del Norte High School, moved onto Amy Biehl High School and then left to co-found ACE Leadership High School in 2009. She holds level three regular and special education licenses with endorsements in science and gifted. She is passionate about supporting students to reach their full potential and has brought that passion with her to the various programs and service models she has helped build. Her role at ACE Leadership is to coordinate and facilitate the curriculum and assessment work with students and teachers in both the day program and reengagement program. She also serves students as an advisor and reading teacher for the day program.
Raphael Martinez, Director of Student Support
Martinezr@aceleadership.org
Raised in Albuquerque’s north valley, Rafe graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Language Arts Education and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. Rafe has spent 17 years in public education, including two years teaching at a private school in Torreon, Cohuila, Mexico. He has served in a variety of capacities including classroom teacher, athletics coach, and administrator. Rafe has extensive experience designing student support and accountability systems. He believes that the best, most effective teaching happens when there is strong connection between students and teachers. As the Director of Student Support, Rafe will combine his educational philosophy and strong leadership experience in order to engage and challenge students.
“The most exciting aspect of ACE is the potential to engage students in a way that excites them about the industry and about learning in general.”
Christina Gaviño Gray, Director of Community Engagement
grayc@aceleadership.org
Prior to coming to ACE, Christina served as Director of Marketing and Development Associate for the National Institute of Flamenco and Tierra Adentro Charter School. Prior to that, she served as the New Media – Communications Specialist for the Third District of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. At the University of Texas at Austin, she pursued Latin American Studies with concentrations in Communications and Anthropology. Christina is an avid photographer, designer and creative marketing strategist.
A native of Chicago, Christina now calls Albuquerque home.
David Vigil, Finance Director
vigild@aceleadership.org
“I’m excited to see the enthusiasm and dedication of my colleagues in changing the lives of our students. The diversity of our staff has opened the doors to new and innovative thinking that will ultimately prepare our students for rewarding careers. I hope to support our mission by ensuring that the school is an excellent steward of public money, providing for accurate and timely financial data, and being diligent in our efforts to be a shining example of the charter school movement.”
Daniel Zev Wolfskehl, Humanities – 9th Grade
wolfskehld@aceleadership.org
Daniel attended Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY) and holds a B.F.A., Fine Art and Education from the School of Visual Arts (NYC). A co-founder of FabLabAbq, Daniel has practiced architecture both domestically and abroad (China) which included working for acclaimed postmodernist Robert A.M. Stern. Recently, Daniel’s architectural work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal’s “House of the Day”.
Robert Shauger, Science – 9th Grade
shaugerr@aceleadership.org
Rob Shauger is the 9th grade science teacher at ACE Leadership High School. Rob grew up in Portland, Oregon and attended Portland State University earning an undergraduate degree in biology. He moved to New Mexico in 1999 and started his education career taking classes at the University of New Mexico and earning a teaching license for secondary science and math and a masters degree in education. His first teaching experience was at Lyndon B. Johnson middle school where he taught science until 2007. He then moved to Amy Biehl High School and left to open ACE as one of its first year teachers. He is currently working on his PhD in special education looking at the use of project-based learning framework for knowledge acquisition in students with learning disabilities.
Jack Hodovance, Math – 9th Grade
hodovancej@aceleadership.org
Jack is a high school Math Teacher and licensed school counselor with endorsements in TESOL and Psychology. He has worked in a variety of school settings including Philadelphia Schools, Cuba High School, Freedom High School and Cesar Chavez Charter School. He has also owned and managed small businesses and has been owner/builder/designer of a number of construction projects. Also, with a certificate in “Instrumentation and Control Technology” from TVI, Jack has worked as technical service rep for Burroughs Corp.
Zach Chavez, Science – 10th Grade
chavezz@aceleadership.org
Mr. Chavez is from the small town of Cuba, New Mexico. Growing up in a small town meant that Mr. Chavez was able to benefit from a small school with much individualized attention due to small class sizes. Mr. Chavez looks forward to working in a similar atmosphere at ACE Leadership High School giving the one on one attention that has proven to be critical in the development of young minds. Mr. Chavez attended The University of New Mexico and earned a bachelors degree in education with an emphasis in Science. Mr. Chavez looks forward to teaching science in new and interesting ways.
Hope Kitts, Humanities – 9th Grade
kittsh@aceleadership.org
Hope Kitts: Hope was born and raised in Old Town. She attended Reginald Chavez, Washington and Valley. Working hard throughout high school she earned a full scholarship to The New School, a university in New York City. She acquired her Bachelor degree in Philosophy in 2006. She traveled to India for two months and later received her Master’s degree in Education from Brooklyn College in 2009. After teaching high school for three years in Brooklyn, she hiked a large portion of the Appalachian Trail by herself–walking from Maine to Massachusetts over a period of four months. Hope enjoys singing, dancing and writing. Some of her stories are online at: www.andromedakitts.com. She returned home in 2010 and is so happy to be a part of ACE Leadership High School.
Yolanda Shoemate, Spanish Instructor
shoematey@aceleadership.org
Hi, I’m Yolanda Shoemate and I am the 10th grade Spanish teacher for this school year. I am a native New Mexican—born and raised in the northern part of the state. I came to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico and have been here since. I have been teaching on and off for about 32 years. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education with a minor in Spanish and a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education. I am thrilled to be a part of ACE Leadership and look forward to an exciting and productive school year. İBienvenidos a todos!
Mike Liguori, Construction Coach
liguorim@aceleadership.org
“The opportunity to help the young boys and girls have a career in life. With the ability to go into the work force with the knowledge to be able to work.”
James Shoemate, Math – 10th Grade
shoematej@aceleadership.org
Hi, my name is James Shoemate. I teach 9th grade here at ACE Leadership. This is my second year at ACE and I am very excited to see what this year has to offer. I have a license in Elementary Education and an Interim License in Secondary Education with an endorsement in Mathematics. This is my third of teaching and I graduated from UNM in the winter of 2008. Go Lobos!
Lucy Alfonso, Spanish Instructor
alfonsol@aceleadership.org
I recently moved to Old Town area from Wichita, Kansas where I was teaching Spanish at an independent school. For the past 2 summers I served as an ambassador for the Rotary Inter-country teacher exchange program in Panama, assisting teachers and students by facilitating seminars about second language acquisition.
In my teaching experiences I have always taught in a direct hands-on and interactive approach, involving engaging projects that motivated the students to immerse themselves in second language learning. This is what ACE is all about and I am excited about being a part of this innovative school! I hope to teach the students the importance of who they are and their potential as future thinkers and builders of a better tomorrow.
I enjoy songwriting, playing my guitar, crafting, the outdoors and discovering everything about Albuquerque!
Jonathan Wilks, Social Worker
wilksj@aceleadership.org
I live in Corrales with my wife, Julie Shigekuni, a novelist and professor at UNM, and our three daughters; my parents live just three miles down the road. I spend most of my time with my family, working-out at CrossFit Rio Rancho, or with the students at ACE, all of which makes me a very lucky man.
After 20 years as a social worker, I have come to the conclusion that Kurt Vonnegut (Timequake, 1997) had it right when he proposed the following amendments to the U.S. Constitution:
Article XXVIII: Every newborn shall be sincerely welcomed and cared for until maturity.
Article XXIX: Every adult who needs it shall be given meaningful work to do, at a living wage.
Article XXX: Every person, upon reaching a statutory age of puberty, shall be declared an adult in a solemn public ritual, during which he or she must welcome his or her new responsibilities in the community, and their attendant dignities.
Article XXXI: Every effort shall be made to make every person feel that he or she will be sorely missed when he or she is gone.
Education: BA and MFA, Sarah Lawrence College; MSW, Smith College School for Social Work; PhD (ABD), University of New Mexico. Work: Therapist and clinical supervisor at Youth Shelters and Family Services, Family Institute of Northern New Mexico, and The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator; social worker and Dean of School at Amy Biehl High School; private practice therapist and consultant.
Sara Garcia, Resource Teacher
garcias@aceleadership.org
My name is Sara Garcia and I am a Resource Teacher in the day program. I grew up in Albuquerque but moved away for a while living in Illinois, Massachusetts and even New Zealand. I am glad to be back in New Mexico though. I really love Math and am looking forward to working with students in various Math classes this year.
Steve Sanchez, Social Worker
sanchezs@aceleadership.org
Mr. Sanchez feels honored to practice in the field of Social Work at ACE Leadership High School. He is also enthuse to be part of the vibrant, youthful energy that comes with working with today’s adolescence. He believes the trailblazing foundation at ACE Leadership High School where positive youth development, the initiation of hands on and “learning by doing” approach is unique to the rest of the country’s educational institutions. Mr. Sanchez benefitted from having positive role models at critical moments throughout his life that helped him succeed and feels the responsibility to have the same impact and return the favor to today’s youth.
Gilbert Perez, Evening Science Instructor
perezg@aceleadership.org
Hi, my name is Gilbert Perez and I will be the science instructor for the Reengagement Program. I have twenty six years of teaching experience. I have four years of Special Education experience and twenty two years of experience in Secondary Science. I have two teaching licenses, one in Secondary Science and one in Special Education. I have enjoyed being a teacher for the past twenty six years and expect to continue enjoying myself here at Ace Leadership. I consider myself a person that thinks family is extremely important and I feel that my family is very confident that they count on me for support. I feel that my students become my extended family and they can feel confident that they can count on me for the same level of support. I trust that we will have a very successful year.
Roberta Aragon, Registrar
aragonr@aceleadership.org
“The ability to serve the community where I live. I see students in my neighborhood who this school will serve, and give them the opportunity to succeed at not only a diploma but a career.”