The Turquoise Trail Charter School Leadership Team
Stephanie Behning, Head Administrator
I am a mother, artist, and educator who has worked in charter and private education for over 20 years. My experience as an artist inspires my life as an educator, and my experience as an educator inspires my life as an artist. My career began as a visual artist focused on sculpture and large-scale installations. My background in the arts led to a position developing creative problem-solving curriculum. In 2006 I became the Head of Early Childhood for an international school in Shenzhen, China. During my time there, I launched many new programs for teachers and implemented community collaborations inspired by the student's interests. When I returned to Santa Fe, I was looking for a school where my creativity and passion for education could support a diverse group of learners and their families. When I discovered TTCS I knew it was the school I had been searching for.
I have a BFA in Sculpture from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, MI. Then after finding love in teaching art and pottery to young children, I completed my MEd in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University. I love learning so now I am pursuing my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from NMSU. In my free time, I spend time with my daughters creating sculptures and paintings. I also love illustrating and writing children's books and reading educational theory.
Mary Ellen Dannenberg, Lead Principal
I began teaching kindergarten and first grade in Phoenix after graduating with my Early Childhood Education degree from Arizona State University and then took a break to raise 4 children as we moved to Santa Fe. I started teaching in Santa Fe 15 years ago as a Kindergarten teacher with Santa Fe Public Schools. I also decided to move into special education to support all students. I moved to the Nye Early Childhood Center to teach 3 to 5-year-old children and then became the Program Specialist to support families’ transitions from early intervention to public school preschool. After nine years at Nye, I moved to the Public Education Department to support public school pre-k programs state-wide. I came to Turquoise Trail Charter School as a kindergarten teacher, then Instructional Coach and now Assistant Elementary Principal and PreK Administrator for our growing program serving 3 and 4-year-old children.
My husband and I have four grown children and two big sloppy dogs.
Evy Lareau, Principal of Curriculum & Academics
Originally from the Chicagoland area, Evy Lareau received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Santa Fe University of Art & Design, formally College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with additional focuses in costume design, art direction, and vocal jazz studies; she also received a Master of Science in Art Therapy from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a focus in Art Exchange: Corresponding Attachment-Related Needs with Children and Youth; and, she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at New Mexico State University in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Gender Equity through Multimodal Practices.
Evy has worked for over 20 years as an administrator, curriculum designer, program developer, art therapist, case manager, and arts teacher in residential treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, specialized/alternative schools, correctional facilities, and public and private schools around the United States and internationally.
From 2012-2017, Evy Lareau developed and taught the visual arts programming for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) and workshops in prisons throughout California. In July 2017, Evy moved to Southern China. She is a founding teacher at BASIS International School Guangzhou (2017-2018) and BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour (2018-2019). In March 2018, she accepted the position of Global Subject Adviser – Visual Arts for BASIS International schools in China. In 2019, she was appointed Subject Adviser (SAD) for BASIS International and BASIS Independent schools, developing the visual arts curriculum for PK-12. In 2021, Evy accepted the position of High School Dean with a focus on arts-based mental health and wellness strategies. After five years in the global market, Evy ventured back to the wide blue sky of Santa Fe in June 2022, where she has devoted herself to helping build the arts integration model at TTCS throughout grades K-8.
Joe Dan Lovato, Principal
Joe Dan M. Lovato is a middle school principal, former science educator, and musician originally from Roy, New Mexico (Class of 2003). He earned a BA in Education from ENMU in 2007, a MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from ENMU in 2014. He possesses a Level III Administration license, a Level III-A K-8 Elementary license, and a Level III-A Pre K-12 Special Education license with endorsements in science and health. Joe Dan finished his 15th year teaching STEAM-H, newspaper/journalism, and leading the restorative justice program at Mark Armijo Academy a charter high school located near the South Valley of Albuquerque; where he lead his team to a 2021 Governor's STEM Challenge Statewide Championship. Previously, he taught middle school science; he also taught the 8th grade Next-Step class, the STEAM-H elective, and incentive electives in cryptozoology, extraterrestrial/paranormal investigations, intro to songwriting, and guitar workshop. Joe Dan is now the middle school principal at Turquoise Trail Charter School located in Santa Fe.
He is a 2018 NMPED Teacher of the Year Finalist and is the 2019 New Mexico Teach Plus Policy Fellow of the Year, where he and his team conducted research and advocated for Social and Emotional Learning. He served as a New Mexico Teach Plus Policy Senior Fellow for 2021 and 2022. He helped with the Phoenix Project (Teach Plus) and was an Along Fellow with CZI (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative). Joe Dan is also a board member for Solare Collegiate Charter School where he serves as the Secretary and is the Academic Excellence Committee Chair. Joe Dan is a singer, song writer, and guitarist who has played with a variety of musicians and shared the stage with many different bands throughout the years. He was a member of the local progressive rock band Blackwater Draw (2006-2015) and has since embarked on a solo career under the moniker “Joe Dan The Man”. He released his debut self-titled EP in 2015 with positive reviews and is currently working on a full-length album with two separate projects. Joe Dan and his wife Brandi (originally from Portales) are raising their very energetic 5 years old daughter, Joe Danna and 1 year old son Lathan. "Being a teacher and musician gives me the platforms necessary to invoke change in the most positive manner possible.”
Leslie Meehan, Special Education Director
lmeehan@ttschool.org (505) 986 4000
Leslie lives just south of Turquoise Trail Charter School with her husband and 4 kids. They enjoy living out in the country together with their animals.
Leslie grew up mostly in the New England area and got her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Vermont with a minor in Spanish. Graduate school took her to Oklahoma where she received her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She spent the next 3 ½ years living in Laredo, TX practicing Speech-Language Pathology in the medical field before moving to Santa Fe in 2008. After 4 more years working in the hospital, she decided to switch to working as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in the schools to better suit her busy family’s needs.
She worked in the public schools as an SLP for students in PreK thru 12th grade for about 7 years and then served as a Program Support Specialist helping to oversee all the related services (physical, occupational, and speech therapies, as well as social work services) for 3 years. After completing a program to obtain her Administrative license, Leslie came on board with Turquoise Trail Charter School as the Director of Special Education in March of 2022. She is looking forward to her first full year of serving the staff, students and families here at TTCS this coming school year!
Zach Chavez, Director of Student Success and External Affairs
zchavez@ttschool.org (505) 699-4526
A native to the state, Zach grew up in Cuba, New Mexico. After graduating from Cuba High School in 2006, Zach attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. In 2011, Zach graduated with a B.S. in Education and a B.A. in Spanish. Zach taught Science at the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Leadership charter high school in Albuquerque, where he advanced as the Dean of Student Support. In 2015, Zach moved to northern New Mexico where he taught first grade at Chama Elementary, and later mid- and high school Science at Escalante High School. In 2017, Zach moved to Santa Fe and worked as the Community Engagement Director for the Public Education Department in 2018. Zach is excited to support the students, families, and educators at Turquoise Trail Charter School and resides in the Santa Fe area with his wife and three, young children who will also attend TTCS.
Kathleen Moore, Director of Student Support and Lead Social Worker
Kathleen Moore, Director of Student Support: This is Kathleen's 3rd year at TTCS and she is very excited to begin a new year with the TTCS pack! Kathleen has been a school social worker for 24 years. She attended Smith College School for Social work and spent her first 22 years working at the high school level in Albuquerque before moving to Santa Fe in 2020. The TTCS Student Support Team is available to help all of our students reach their goals. We look forward to being in touch with you!
Francesca Margaritondo, Executive Manager/HR Director
Francesca has been work at Turquoise Trail Charter School since 2015. She began working part time at Turquoise Trail when her youngest was in Pre K, serving as assistant to the Head Administrator. Francesca started working in customer service during her university years as a Front Office Assistant Manager at the Old Faithful Lodge and then the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National park. Once she married and started having children, she focused mostly on being a stay-at-home mom. Francesca discovered Turquoise Trail through her children when her oldest got in the Pre K. She volunteered at first and eventually joined the PTO, becoming president of the PTO for 3 years.
Francesca is the Secretary for the Turquoise Trail Charter School Foundation. She has a bachelor’s of science from Vanderbilt University. She still enjoys volunteering and singing with the Coyote Chorus and playing volleyball or hiking with her kids. She has a passion of pottery and sells her wares at craft shows. “Turquoise Trail Charter School is a wonderful place because the main focus has and will always be the children.”
Rebecca Jones, School Operations Manager
Rebecca Jones is our behind the scenes manager. She is the reason everybody has all of the tools they need to get the job done. Fighting through and winning a variety of battles every single day, she makes sure the essentials are here for everybody every day. From a pencil on a student’s desk to the roof of the main building, Rebecca makes sure it is supplied and well maintained.
Viviana Ortega, External Affairs and Special Projects Coordinator
Viviana is a staple in the community of TTCS. Having come to school here herself along with her siblings, she has been part of TTCS for a while. Now she is using her people skills to tie the community together and make it strong and supportive of each other. Organizing events of a variety of sorts. From special field trips for students to large festivals for the entire community; Viviana gives it all her magically touch and makes them all truly special.
Roberta Cole, General Offices Manager
Mother of 4, Roberta Cole has been with TTCS for 21 years now. She started with her children attending school here, then started working as a volunteer, substitute, aftercare coordinator and director, teacher’s assistant, assistant secretary, assistant business manager and now is the Community Outreach Coordinator. Having experience in a little bit of everything and knowing most of Santa Fe and the surrounding areas, she might be related to you and probably can help you with whatever you need.