GOVERNANCE BOARD
The Governance Board of Raíces is comprised of the community at large, with individuals who bring professional expertise that the founders have identified as referenced in the Charter—fiduciary, budget, academic, bilingual, culturally diverse, Mesoamerican history, and cultural knowledge. One of the board members is a parent. The qualifications and skills of the Board demonstrate that they have the capacity, knowledge, and experience to operate a successful, high-quality public charter school.
​
Professional expertise and talents of board members include individuals who identify with the mission through experience in business and finance, the legal system, academic leadership or management; academic background in teaching, instruction, and curriculum development; cultural knowledge and awareness as a producing artist; community leader and parent; and an understanding of Mesoamerican history and the relevant aspects of living in a bi-literate, bicultural border community and environment such as Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, near the US-Mexico border.
Board Chair: Dr. Ismael Camacho is a New Mexico Legal Aid Staff Attorney.​ Areas of practice: Labor and Employment Law, Fair Labor Standards Act, Agricultural Worker Protection Act, Farmworker Health & Safety.​ Bar Admissions: New Mexico (1997) U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2004)​ Education: J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (1997), B.A., New Mexico State University (1992), Paralegal study, Antioch School of Law (1978). ​Professional Association and Memberships: State Bar of New Mexico.​Background & Practice Experience: Dr. Camacho is of Mexican descent and is fluent in Spanish. His valuable speaking, writing, and reading Spanish skills are indispensable when communicating with Spanish-speaking farmworkers. He received his B.A. from New Mexico State University in 1992 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 1997. State Bar member since October 1997, and his practice has developed from his 17 years of experience working on behalf of farmworkers and 13 years of experience working for the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General. Educational knowledge about your rights is presented to high school, middle, and elementary students.
​​​​​​​​​​​​
Board Vice-Chair: Ana Mangino,
​​
​​
​​
​
​
​
​​
​
​
​
​
​
Board Treasurer: Maria Elena Garza, I am honored to be accepted to serve at Raíces del Saber as part of the Governance Board. My experience with Public Libraries allowed me to collaborate in different educational programs that inspire me to continue helping in any capacity to enhance our children's education. I do believe in Community Schools supporting our children and their families holistically. Students must experience what it is to belong to a school that cares about individuals and is part of a society where everyone can contribute and improve knowledge and education. I also hope to assist with my long-term experience and skills in the private and public sector as an Administrator Manager, having experience in designing and implementing programs that involve the overall quality of administration, developing entrepreneurial guidelines to export and import industrial products worldwide, and the ability to adapt new concepts and direction, embracing new challenges and learning opportunities.
​
Board Secretary: Dr. Judith Flores Carmona (Ph.D. University of Utah, Post-doctorate, Hampshire College [UMass-Five College Consortium]) is the daughter of Josefina and Vicente (QEPD/RIP). Dr. Flores Carmona was recently promoted to professor at the Honors College and the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation. She was born in Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in South Los Angeles. She is a first-generation college student and scholar. Her academic and community work is guided by a sense of responsibility and commitment to social justice. Her research and scholarship include critical pedagogy, critical race feminism, critical multicultural education, and testimonio methodology and pedagogy. Her work has appeared in Equity and Excellence in Education, Qualitative Inquiry, in the Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, and Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social, among others. She has two co-edited books, Chicana/Latina Testimonios as Pedagogical, Methodological, and Activist Approaches to Social Justice (Routledge) with Dolores Delgado Bernal and Rebeca Burciaga and Crafting Critical Stories: Toward Pedagogies and Methodologies of Collaboration, Inclusion & Voice (Peter Lang) with Kristen Luschen. She co-authored Un-Standardizing Curriculum: Multicultural Teaching in the Standards-Based Classroom (2nd Edition) with Christine Sleeter (Teachers College Press). She is the Lead Editor of Chicana/Latina Studies, the Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social.​​​​​​​​
Board Member at Large: I am originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I have lived in the United States for over thirty years and have four children and four dogs. I graduated from NMSU in 2012 with a degree in Criminal Justice. I have been chairing the school's Concilio de Padres (Parent Council) for two years. This experience made me believe that when families, schools, and communities work together effectively and as partners, parent involvement is a powerful strategy that enhances the student's academic performance and helps better prepare our children to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives. Because of that, I would like to continue to serve at my child's school by being part of the Raíces Governance Board. I believe I would be an asset to the board because I have the enthusiasm and charisma. I’m Bilingual, but most importantly, I desire to create an environment of trust, identify the needs of children and parents and school, and all of our work together for a better tomorrow. Also, my academic and work experience gives me a better understanding of how to deal with government rules and regulations. My understanding of Public Education is no exception. I work for the City of Las Cruces, and such a position allows me to be exposed to great connections to establish beneficial partners for our school.
​
Board Member at large: Patsy López is a native El Pasoan and first-generation American born to a culturally traditional Mexican family. Her family’s experiences directly influenced Patsy’s desire to become an attorney and serve her community.
Patsy has broad legal experience, including housing, family law, prosecution, and general counsel work. She has dedicated much of her adult life to creating and participating in educational and leadership programs for children and adults. She is passionate about assisting Raices Del Saber in its mission to empower children with cultural knowledge and practical life skills. Her experience with dual language program legislation, educational programs, and board service benefits the Raices Del Saber team.