CORE Project Founder and Former Director
2014-2020
Rocio Benedicto, Ph.D
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Dr. Rocio Benedicto is a Mathematics Educator with the Institute for Math and Science Education (IEMSE) at New Mexico State University. She has been a teacher of English Language Learners for more than 20 years in K-12 and university classrooms in the United States as well as in Mexico and Russia. In the last 10 years her work has focused on assisting teachers in improving their mathematics instruction for English Language Learners in New Mexico through coaching, mentoring or modeling inquiry based lessons. As part of a statewide initiative to improve mathematics education in New Mexico she has successfully worked with districts to improve the outcomes for their math students, specifically the outcomes for English Language Learners in the math classroom. Additionally, she has instructed in New Mexico State University’s Teacher Education Program, Bilingual Education program and Educational Development of Learning Technologies program. In 2008, Dr. Benedicto was recognized as one of the National Science Foundation’s Promising Young Researchers and presented at many conferences in the United States and in Mexico in an effort to bring light to the issues and challenges that English Language Learners face in the math classroom.
*In November 2020, Dr. Rocio Benedicto passed away. Thank you for your work and devotion to social justice and education. |
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CORE Project Director
Zaira Falliner
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As a highly-qualified bilingual educator, Zaira has taught through a variety of bilingual models including a two-way dual language settings and transitional models. She has worked with a cadre of exceptional teachers in top performing New Mexico elementary schools. She has planned and developed curriculum in mathematics for research at New Mexico State University. Ms. Falliner obtained Bachelors Degree in Bilingual Education with Endorsements in K-8 English Language Arts and TESOL. She has also earned a Masters Degree in Teaching Mathematics through a program which pairs mathematics, curriculum and instruction as a framework for best practices, She is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Educational Technologies and Educational Leadership.
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Assistant Director
Camille Larrieu
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Camille Larrieu is currently working with the CORE Project at New Mexico State University as a Reading and Math Specialist. She has served New Mexico’s students and educators as a classroom teacher and instructional coach in the Rio Rancho and Santa Fe Public School systems for 20 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education with a TESOL Endorsement and a master’s degree in Curriculum Development Specializing in Early Childhood Education Ages Birth to Eight. Ms. Larrieu has had extensive training in the ELA, Common Core State Standards with the Reading and Writing Project through Columbia University. She is highly qualified in Early Literacy and is currently an instructor with the Early Childhood Education Department at the Santa Fe Community College. These experiences gave her a good foundation in understanding how children learn to read and write and oftentimes, how to unlearn things that are not helpful. She is devoted to collaborating with educators to strengthen instructional practices to support learning outcomes for all children.
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CORE Reading Specialists
JoDee Lanari
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JoDee Lanari is a Reading with CORE. She has 15 years of classroom teaching experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, master’s degree in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies and Educational Administrator’s Licensure. She is highly trained in PLCs, the high reliability school model, and school improvement. JoDee has spent the last several years of her career working with teachers and support staff on early literacy, with a focus on explicit instruction in grades K-3. Through this work, Ms. Lanari found a special interest in teacher development and adult learning. She is a life-long learner and has a passion for collaborating with teachers to improve student learning for all New Mexico students.
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Project Coordinator
Cathy Brewer
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Cathy is the Project Coordinator for CORE. She oversees the day-to-day fiscal and administrative activities. She ensures the financial information and records are accurate and complete for CORE. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from NMSU. For several years, she had a Daycare business in her home, allowing her to be a stay-at-home home to not only her 3 kids, but to well over a dozen other children, who are all well into adulthood by now. She helped in opening a new elementary school, Monte Vista Elementary, and continued to work there as secretary for 8 years. She then moved to Mesa Middle School as the Office Manager. She has learned so much about education from many dedicated and passionate teachers from both schools, and has so much respect for people who work with children every day. Her goal is to make it easier for teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators to focus on the children.
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CORE Coaches
Glenda Rodriguez
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As a CORE/ECLIPSE Instructional Coach I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide professional development in Mathematics, English Language Arts, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Intervention and Special Education Strategies for special needs students. I look forward to collaborating with school teams to improve instruction for student success.
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Debbie DawsonDebbie Dawson has been with CORE for four years and loves her job. She brings a blend of passion, humor, insight, excellent listening skills and an extensive background to her schools. She served students in Albuquerque Public Schools for 32 years in a variety of positions, special education teacher, high school department chairperson, rehabilitation counselor/transition specialist, program support specialist, assistant principal, and elementary principal. Her favorite positions have always been providing direct services to students and teachers and this is one of the many reasons she is excited to continue to make a difference in the lives of public-school educators as an instructional coach with CORE NMSU.
She began her career with the core belief that all students can learn and has extended this value to all people can learn. She firmly believes that all educators want to make a positive difference in the lives of their students and sees her role as an instructional coach to assist and guide educators to that end. When asked to reflect on her professional achievements, she is quick to tell stories about her students’ accomplishments. One of her favorite high school students, who has dyslexia and dysgraphia, is now a teacher at a charter school and inspiring young minds. Her passion continues to be to make a difference in the lives of others and she is proud to be a part of CORE NMSU. |
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Sandra Aaron
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Sandra Aaron, has more than 27 years of public education service in the state of New Mexico. Her work spans a broad range--early childhood, general education classroom teacher, special education head teacher, co-teacher and director, high school college guidance counselor, and now CORE Coach. Sandra has provided leadership, staff training, and oversight implementing special education inclusion programs at Bernalillo High School in the town of Bernalillo and South Valley Academy charter school in the South Valley of Albuquerque. A significant strength is the commitment to differentiated instruction and advocacy for at risk students that she brings to school settings. Her credentials include M.A. Multi-cultural Special Education, College of Santa Fe; M.A. Art Therapy, University of Louisville; and B.S.Ed. Art Education, Georgia Southern College. Additionally, Sandra is a certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She holds the distinction of being among the first cadre of special education teachers participating in a NMPED initiative for training Transition Specialists over 20 years ago. In 2009, while at South Valley Academy Sandra began the work of developing, implementing and establishing the school’s first college guidance program which required particular strategies for addressing the needs of minority and first-generation college bound youth. In 2018, ACT bestowed the honor of New Mexico K-12 ACT Champion of the Year to Sandra in recognition of advances made in creating initiatives at SVA that focused on increasing student access and scores on college entrance exams. Sandra is eager to collaborate with teachers and schools participating in the CORE Project to continue making strides in classrooms on behalf of New Mexico’s most vulnerable students.
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Corinna Saiz
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Corinna Saiz holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education, and is a certified K-8 teacher in the state of New Mexico. She taught for eight years before becoming an Instructional Coach for two years. She has been a Digital Learning Coach (DLC) for the last five years and a CORE Literacy Coach for the last two years. Corinna comes from a family of educators and her passion for education has led her to her current position.
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Joy Walkey
I began working for NMSU CORE during the fall of 2019, after retiring from Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) with 25 years of teaching and administrative experience. My passion for students and their individual success focused primarily on alternative education, including: Career & Technology Education (CTE), Special Education and Administration in non-traditional settings and schools. My last five years with LCPS was at the district level, providing Special Education administrative support to elementary students, school staff and parents.
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Veronica Acosta-Everhart
Veronica Acosta-Everhart is one of the CORE Specialists at NMSU. Ms. Acosta-Everhart has over 20 years of experience in the education field. She began as a bilingual education teacher working with the diverse NM population of students grades k-5. She later became an assistant principal and worked with at risk students and families to promote positive learning environments in school and in the home. As she continues her work focusing on educating students to be life-long learners and leaders, her passion and interest in working with students with exceptionalities lead her to become an educational diagnostician and an Irlen Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome Director. Combining her interest, experience, and passion for learning, she is able to offer a wide range of educational practices and instructional strategies for teachers working with our children.
Patrick SwopePatrick Swope has been an “educator artist” for nearly 30 years now. He taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade at McCoy Elementary School for over 25 years, and he looped from 1st grade to 2nd grade five times. Pat was nominated for Educator of the Year twice through Aztec’s Chamber of Commerce, and his strengths include writing instruction, technology integration, and classroom management. He received his Master’s in Elementary Education through UNM. As a CORE Coach, his new passion is helping other “educator artists” by building positive relationships, collaborating, and giving the teachers the tools they need to help their students succeed.
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Sherry Fenton |
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Sherry Fenton is currently working with the CORE Project at NMSU as an Instructional Coach. She has worked over 40 years in Colorado and New Mexico with elementary students as a
Classroom Teacher, Gifted Teacher, School Librarian, Instructional Coach and Title One Teacher. She was also the Administrator/I.C. for a specialized 2nd grade Reading Summer School Academy for six years. She is highly qualified in early literacy and was recognized as the NM IRA Reading Teacher of the Year in 1994. She has taught in-services at the school and district levels as well as presented at regional IRA conferences. Her passion has always been early literacy and helping students become life-long learners. Since working with CORE she is committed to supporting and collaborating with teachers to give them the tools they need to provide the best instructional practices to support the learning for all their students. |
Debbie Mouser
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Debbie Mouser, a CORE Instructional Coach, is thrilled to work with the next generation of educators. She has been in education for 32 years. Her experience as an educator: 1st & 4th grade teacher, reading & math interventionist for grades K-6th, instructor of emergent literacy for college students with alternative licenses, instructional support specialist, coach, and elementary principal. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UNM and her master’s degree in education administration from Eastern New Mexico University. Coaching gives Debbie the valuable opportunity to collaborate with educators building on their knowledge and skills leading to a more informed teacher. Debbie is committed to supporting teachers with best practices to allow for student success.
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Donna Garner
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