La Puerta Staff
Erin D. Manzanares - Founder, Director, Lead Teacher
As the Founder of La Puerta School Erin is thrilled to be able to create, in partnership with other school personnel, students, families and community members, a learning environment filled with possibility! Erin received her B.A. in Drama from Ithaca College in 1996. She is a certified Level II teacher in the state of New Mexico. In 2006, Erin earned a M.S. in Education—Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University. She has eight years teaching experience working with children in grades kindergarten to eighth grades. All of her experiences—from her training in theatre, traveling the world, passion for teaching and learning, to raising three very active young children—come alive in the classroom. She would like to acknowledge her family for their gracious support and selfless giving to make La Puerta a reality. Erin was recently honored by her alma mater, Walden University, as a Scholar for Change grand prize winner.
Barbara Luhman - Classroom & Office Assistant
Leona Hillary Lutz - Instructional Partner
Leona lives in Abiquiu, NM with her husband and two children. Her passion is “arts and education advocacy for youth.” She is a visual artist and recently worked as the Lead Teacher and Educational Director for the Boys and Girls Club del Norte-Abiquiu Site. Currently she continues her work with youth as the Program Director for the Northern Youth Project, a non-profit teen organization, and with La Puerta School as a reading specialist. She graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor degree in “Art, Child Development, and Culture,” and completed graduate coursework through University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There she worked as a special education teacher for the Clark County School District, and completed the “Teach for America” teacher-training program.
Ome Ellias Jaramillo, PhD - Spanish Instructor
Ome is the Spanish teacher for La Puerta. She is dedicated to teaching Spanish and other language skills using fun and creative activities. Ome is also committed to the philosophy that all teachings lead children to their own self-empowerment in order to enjoy and realize success in their lives.
Sue Parker - Music Instructor
Sue Parker has been teaching music for over 42 years, beginning with public school music in Dallas, Tx. In 1982, she moved to Mountain View College in Dallas, where she taught voice, piano, and all music subjects, and eventually became the director of the Performing Artists Musical Theatre Conservatory. For the past 16 years she has been teaching private voice, piano, and musical theatre in Abiquiu. She enjoys watching her students blossom in every way through the discipline and joy of making music.
Suzanne Snow - Yoga/Creative Movement Coach
Doing yoga has benefits beyond the stretching, strength and flexibility that is obvious. Children benefit from the breathing exercises and the time spent slowing down and tuning in to their bodies and their awareness of their surroundings. Research shows that the practice of yoga has helped children with academic work as well. I personally believe,as a former elementary school teacher, that it helps improve direction and awareness of others.
Michael Hibner - Chess Coach
Iren Schio - Art Liason/Instructor
I was born and raised in Switzerland. After studing art at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich, I traveled throughout Southern Europe. In 1976 I came to the Land of Enchantment, where I had many one person shows at Keats Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, while being Artist in Resident at the Little Earth School .
My work is in many private and public collections, including the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. Why do I want to be a part of La Puerta? Because I have been a life long practitioner with my art of William Blake's poem Auguries of Innocence:
"To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour."
I would like to help the children see that also, while creating curriculum based, integrated art projects.