CVCS Teachers
Contact Information, Supply Lists, etc.
Kindergarten Teacher, Jill Abraham
Jill grew up in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. She originally moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1989. She met her husband, Wayne, and had a son, Jordan, while in Albuquerque. Later she moved, with her family, 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. In January, 2006, Jill went back to school for her Early Childhood degree. She graduated summa cum laude in 2009 from UNM Albuquerque. In the summer of 2009, she obtained her Early Childhood license with a TESOL endorsement. During the 2009-2010 school year she substituted in the Belen and Los Lunas school districts. For fun, Jill enjoys reading, crocheting, spending time with family and entertaining friends at her home.
Second Grade Teacher, Jennifer Kelley
Third Grade Teacher, Kristen Willoughby
Fourth Grade Teacher, Edie Castañeda
Ms. Edie Castañeda is a Socorro native and a Socorro High School alumnus. A meandering educational path eventually led to a BA in Human Performance Sports and Leisure Studies with a minor in Business Management (and an emphasis in the leisure studies, or course!) from the Metropolitan State College of Denver. After managing swimming pools and recreation centers in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, she worked for a few years in the Lobo ticket office at the University of New Mexico. Eventually she completed the alternative licensure program at Santa Fe Community College and thus the adventure began.
Currently she is in her tenth year of teaching. She has taught 4th grade, Special Ed, and most recently, K-5 physical education. She is excited about beginning a new chapter and grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that she has always considered her home.
Fifth Grade Teacher, Breanna Leseberg
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 I 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.
Middle School Science Teacher, Tommie McSherry
Middle School Math & Social Studies Teacher, Robert Fuller
6th & 8th grade English Language Arts Teacher, Lindsay Glover
Spanish Teacher, Victor Del Real
Special Education, Kristen Willoughby
Mrs. Willoughby grew up in San Antonio, NM and graduated from Socorro High School. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2015 with a bachelors in Liberal Arts and in 2019 with a Masters of Special Education. She lives in San Acacia with her husband, three children, two cats, dog, and horses. In her free time, she reads, bakes, and explores/learns new ways to help her students learn at their level and pace. Mrs. Willoughby has been teaching in Special Education K-8 for 6 years and holds a level II NM Special Education License.
Classroom Philosophy: A classroom should provide a safe and caring community for students, where they can speak their minds, thrive, and grow. It is my job to have flexible thinking and expectations in order to reach students on their individual level.
Special Education, Lisa Arendt
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!
Music, Beth Crowder
It’s hard to say whether music or farming is more important to Beth; neighbors have overheard her singing to her bees sometimes! 2023 begins her 13th of teaching music at CVCS. She loves her job of creating something special for each grade to participate in, from international tunes, math songs and campfire rounds, to popular music and building instruments. Beth held a fundraiser many years ago, resulting in a great collection of world music drumming instruments, as well as more traditional pieces such as the piano and keyboard. She holds degrees in Chemistry and Biology from UNM, and her family was part of the group who built the BEMP site that CVCS visits monthly. One of Beth’s favorite places to sing is the Good Sam Home, and she sings locally as a member of the duo Mockingbird. When she’s not weeding or planting, she’s playing music with friends, hiking, or READING!
P.E. Teacher, Antoinette Pracht
Art, Holly Feraldi [long-term substitute]
CVCS Educational Assistant, Zenaida Colmenero
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.
CVCS Educational Assistant, Billie Hopkins
CVCS Educational Assistant, Sherry Graham
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.