LEADERSHIP
MICHELLE KATZ
Acting Executive Director
Michelle grew up in Ohio, but has lived across many western states in her professional and personal pursuits. With a deep-rooted value in education, Michelle is a lifelong learner who earned an MA in Counseling and holds several certifications including life coaching, yoga instruction, rites of passage guiding and eco-psychology. During her career, she has developed and coordinated various programs for teens and adult learners. She was a therapist at various agencies before she began leading initiatives for programs that meld mental health and education into daily practices, including training school staff on positive behavior interventions and supports, and providing consultation on trauma informed care implementation. She believes the success of every student/human has its foundation in meaningful relationship.
ISRAEL GARCIA
Director of Data & Evaluation
Israel is a native New Mexican. He has worked for various non-profit organizations in Santa Fe, focusing on database management/development, business analysis, and program management. He has always been passionate about helping and supporting the community. Israel holds an MBA from New Mexico Highlands University.
ELLIE HOFFMAN
Program Director
Ellie grew up in Montana, where she completed a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Spanish at the University of Montana. She moved to Santa Fe in 2017 and worked with youth experiencing homelessness, providing basic needs and helping youth move toward stability. That work inspired her to pursue a Master of Social Work with a Bilingual/Bicultural Concentration from New Mexico Highlands University. Ellie joined the CIS team in 2021 as a Site Coordinator at El Camino Real Academy and now works with the program administration team in support of Site Coordinators.
LAUREN IVERSON
Community Resource Navigator
Lauren was born and raised in Santa Fe, and is a proud graduate of Santa Fe Public Schools. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Lauren worked for Communities In Schools of Central Texas in Austin for several years, helping to coordinate services for children and families. She has worked as a school-based therapist in Santa Fe and is passionate about helping families and children to feel safe and understood and to achieve their goals.
KATE MITCHELL
Volunteer Program Manager
Kate is a native Santa Fean. After a six year stint in the Washington DC metro area, Kate returned home to raise her family and be closer to the mountains. With two children in Santa Fe Public Schools, Kate spent the last nine years volunteering in the schools and the community, becoming intimate with many of the challenges that CISNM aims to mitigate. Kate is also active on local boards with CISNM partners. Kate has a BA from Skidmore College in New York.
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JESSICA MOLLA
Director of Philanthropy
Jessica joined Communities In Schools of New Mexico as the organization’s Grant Writer and Researcher in 2019, and assumed the Director of Philanthropy role in 2022. Jessica has raised funds for many youth serving organizations in northern New Mexico, and brings over 20 years of experience with grant writing, fundraising and resource development to the role. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and brings a strong commitment to childhood and family well being, educational equity, and social justice to her work.
STEPHANIE MORLINO
Program Director
Stephanie joined the Santa Fe CIS team in 2014. She previously served with CIS as a Site Coordinator for a dual language school in Michigan. Stephanie’s rich experience includes work in youth development as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador and teaching experience in Honduras. After seven years of her deep commitment and compassionate support for her students and school as a Site Coordinator at Aspen Community Magnet School, Stephanie now brings her experience and skills to the program administrative team, in support of other Site Coordinators.
Site Coordinators
Site Coordinators
Paying It Forward
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