Teachers

Jill Abraham

Kindergarten Teacher

16th year at CVCS

Jill grew up  in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado.  She moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1989.  She met her husband, Wayne, and they had their son while living in Albuquerque.  Later they moved to Tucson, AZ for 3 1/2 years, then to Reno, NV for 5 years.  In the fall of 2005 they moved to Belen, NM to be close to both sides of the family.  Jill obtained her Early Childhood Education Degree, with a TESOL endorsement in May of 2009.  She joined CVCS in the 2010/2011 school year.  Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing the children's excitement for learning and being the recipient of many hugs from the students. In her "free" time, Jill enjoys reading mystery crime novels, spending time with family, traveling, and entertaining friends in her home. 

Aleta Gallegos

First Grade Teacher

2nd year at CVCS

Amy Smythe

Third Grade Teacher

2nd year at CVCS

Ms. Smythe was born and raised in Socorro, NM, and graduated as a Warrior!  She left Socorro to attend college at UNM and CNM, and began working for the NM Office of the Medical Investigator.  She worked as a Deputy Medical Investigator for 3 years until leaving to the Office of the District Attorney to investigate fraud of issuing worthless checks and being a victim advocate for violent crimes in Estancia, NM.  She graduated from ENMU with a degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice.  She became a single mom in 2008, moving back to her hometown to raise her 2 children at the time, and spend time with her parents.  She worked for the 7th Judicial District Court prior to going back to school to get her Alternative Licensure in Education, obtaining her K-8 and Special Education Licensure.  She just completed her 13th year of teaching, and has taught all grades K-8 and Special Education in Socorro, San Antonio, and Magdalena Schools.  She has 3 children of her own and 2 bonus daughters. She has lots of fur babies and she enjoys stream fishing and quiet time in the mountains. 

Edie Castañeda

Fourth Grade Teacher

3rd year at CVCS

A mere thirty-seven (37?!?) years ago, amidst the May flowers and festivities celebrating General Zaragoza’s 1862 victory over French forces, Ms. Edie (“Please don’t call me Edith”) Castañeda was born in the same space that now houses the campus of CVCS. She graduated from Socorro High School in 1988  1998. From there she enrolled at Starfleet Academy on a Badminton scholarship, but soon discovered her fear of flying and a serious addiction to oxygen, so she opted for more Earthly endeavors. Thus began her journey toward true enlightenment.

Her path has led her through various positions in recreational management, coordinating before and after school programs, supervising ticket sales, as well as managing athletic promotions and other special events. Her hobbies include ballroom dancing, shadow puppetry, historical re-enactments, and playing the piccolo by the poolside in the pouring rain. She has gathered all of her talents and experiences and molded them into the form of a 4th grade teacher with flavors of Special Education and a slight aroma of PE. 

As she now works on the sacred grounds of her birth and resides in the house directly next door to the house she grew up in, she has literally come full-circle in her life’s meandering expedition. This year will be her 11th year of teaching and her 2nd year here at CVCS. She holds a BA in Human Performance, Sports and Leisure Studies (with an emphasis on the leisure) from the Metropolitan State College of Denver (#goRunners!). She majored in Sport Industry Operations and minored in Business Management. She completed the alternative licensure program at Santa Fe Community College and has a K-8 Level II New Mexico teaching license with a PE endorsement. She is truly grateful for the continued opportunity to give back to the community that she has always considered her home.

Dillon Greene

Fifth Grade Teacher

1st year at CVCS

Breanna Leseberg

Middle school English Language Arts Teacher

4th year at CVCS

Breanna Leseberg was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a focus in ESL from New Mexico Highlands University. She has a K-8 Level II License with an endorsement in TESOL. She has lived in Socorro for the past 6 years and loves the small-town community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two sons. She has enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom with her children over the past 6 years but is excited to return to her lifelong passion of teaching young minds. 

Tommie McSherry

Middle School Science, Algebra I and Gifted Teacher

13th year at CVCS

Kimberly Scarborough

Middle School Social Studies Teacher

2nd year at CVCS

I am Kim(berly) Scarborough. I am excited to continue working with students and parents at CVCS as I move forward into my second year here.  My family has lived and worked in Socorro for many years. I have several nieces, nephews, and cousins in the Socorro school system, including here at CVCS. I graduated from Socorro High School in 1991, then went on to earn a BA in History and Literature at UNM followed by a teaching certification at NM Highlands in Las Vegas, New Mexico. I got my first full time teaching job in Gallup, NM in 1999, teaching 7th grade NM History at JFK Middle School, moving to Chief Manuelito Middle School (still in Gallup) after about 15 years. I taught US and/or NM History in Gallup for a total of 25 years before returning home to Socorro to be close to family, baseball, basketball, and football games and to teach History at CVCS. I would like to thank everyone for welcoming me back into the Socorro community.  

Paula Sims

Middle School Math Teacher

2nd year at CVCS

Paula Sims has been a math teacher for 15 years. She started her journey teaching high school math in two Albuquerque high schools. Paula and her husband moved to Socorro to be closer to her sister. She was fortunate enough to be hired at CVCS in 2019 teaching math to middle school students. Paula decided to enjoy retirement for a few years, then, as fate would have it, she returned to Cottonwood as a substitute teacher. She realized she still had a passion for teaching math and still loved the environment at CVCS. Fortunately, she is once again teaching math at CVCS.

Lisa Arendt

Special Education Teacher

8th year at CVCS

Lisa grew up in Albuquerque and Socorro. It wasn't until attending NM Tech after high school that she embraced the beauty and outdoor recreational fun that surrounds Socorro.  She lived in Santa Fe for many years working in home health as a CNA (certified nurses assistant) and completed an American Sign Language Interpreting degree from Santa Fe Community College.  She returned to Socorro to be with her future husband and found her love for teaching young students while working at Head Start in Vegita and Socorro.  After enjoying many years as a stay-at-home mom and completing her bachelor's degree in general studies from NMT she worked for CVCS's after school program and has loved being an educational assistant since 2017.  In her free time she enjoys taking her children into the great outdoors!  

Felipe Romero

Special Education Coordinator/Teacher

1st year at CVCS

Victor Del Real

Spanish Teacher

3rd year at CVCS

Antoinette Pracht

P.E. Teacher

3rd year at CVCS

Margarito "Lito" Uranga

Art teacher

2nd year at CVCS

Melissa Camberos

CVCS Educational Assistant

4th year at CVCS

Zenaida Colmenero

CVCS Educational Assistant

4th year at CVCS

Zenaida was born in Albuquerque NM.  Her family moved back to their hometown of Socorro NM,  shortly after she was born. Zenaida has lived in Socorro almost all of her life. She graduated from Socorro High School in 2004. Less than a year after graduating she was hired on as an Educational assistant and Library assistant at Parkview Elementary School. After four years there, she fell in love with working with children and education.

 Zenaida then decided to attend Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces NM, to work on her Early Childhood Education degree. After 3 years in Las Cruces she met and fell in love with her husband, Jesus Colmenero.  This lead her to move back to Socorro. Zenaida has been with her husband for 10 years and married on October 15th, 2019 in Pagosa Springs, CO.  Zenaida has two beautiful children:  Julian, is 8 years old and Hope is 6.  "They are my world!"

Zenaida has worn several hats during her career and has taught so many kids in our community. She worked for Socorro Consolidated Schools for a total of 17 years, and for the last 7 years, she found herself back in the library as the main librarian at Parkview Elementary.

 During my "Me" time, I enjoy reading, dancing, watching scary movies and spending time with my family. 

Sherry Graham

CVCS Educational Assistant

3rd year at CVCS

Sherry grew up in East Texas and has lived in Southern New Mexico since 2009. She currently lives in Socorro with her wonderful husband, oldest son, and their 2 dogs Duke and Daisy. She has 3 grown children and 4 grandkids that are the light of her life. Sherry has years of experience working with special needs individuals and the elderly. She enjoys gardening, playing corn-hole, and taking road-trips to see her grandkids every chance she gets. Sherry is very excited to be part of the kindergarten team and looks forward to making a difference through the children she teaches as a Kindergarten Educational Assistant.  

Eric Sewell

CVCS Educational Assistant

2nd year at CVCS

Kristen Griego

Speech Language Pathologist

2nd year at CVCS

Mrs. Kristen Griego was born and raised in Socorro. After graduating from Socorro High School, she attended New Mexico State University where she was on the golf team and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders in 2017 and a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders in 2019. She returned to work as a school-based speech language pathologist at Socorro Consolidated Schools and now at Cottonwood Valley Charter School. In her spare time, Kristen coaches the high school golf team and enjoys spending time with her family.