Biography:

Vanessa R. LaGrange is the Coordinator for the New Mexico Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC). She has been with Parents Reaching Out since 2000 and with the PIRC since 2006.

Vanessa graduated cum laude from the University of New Mexico in 2008, with a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) and a minor in Communication. Vanessa enjoys reading and writing. In her spare time, as scarce as it is, she composes poetry, short stories (fiction) and nonfiction articles.

Vanessa has three children, Jordan, 13, Lana, 7 and Noah, 5 months. She and her family reside in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She is a "baseball mom" and she spends a great portion of her time cheering in the stands!

Biography:

Alethea has been with PRO for one year. One thing that brought her to PRO is her responsibilities as a Treatment Foster Parent and some of the children that she fosters who have educational delays. She attended an IEP workshop and also a workshop call ADVOCACY with HONOR. She liked what she heard and saw and signed up to be a volunteer. Before she could put any of her volunteering services to use with PRO, a job position became available with PRO.

Alethea loves to read, travel and run. She is a mother of 4 biological children, 2 girls and 2 boys. She is also a proud grandmother. She has been a foster mother to many, many children for 8 years. She enjoys her job at PRO because she enjoys helping others. It makes her feel real good to know that she can enhance a positive outcome for all families and children in the state of New Mexico. Alethea likes the networking opportunities for families to connect and support each other with the information we provide for them.

At PRO we support families where ever they are in their journey. We are able to supply them with the tools and support they need to accomplish their dreams. By doing, so we develop family leadership. It brings her joy to connect families to each other, build collaborative partnerships and provide families with knowledge and tools to enhance their power.

Biography:

Sierra has served families in the southern part of our state since 1999. He began his work with Parents Reaching Out as an advocate for children and families with special needs through Project Adobe. In 2001, he joined the Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) team to provide leadership tools for all families. He is a strong supporter of family involvement and has used his extensive training in the Epstein model to encourage schools to make true connections with families through Action Teams for Partnerships. His work takes him beyond his community and across our state in support of families. Sierra has six children, three boys and three girls, who have fueled his passion for helping all children and families be successful in their journeys.

Biography:

Tiffany Barela began her journey at PRO in November 2010. She has always been actively involved in her community with activities related to parental involvement. The spectrum of her volunteer activities ranges from serving on the P.T.C. and organizing school functions, to volunteering in sports - as a team mom, coach, or being one of the moms that helps cook Friday night football dinners. No matter how small or large the task, she’s always ready and willing to help!

Tiffany received a BA in Education from the College of Santa Fe in Albuquerque. She plans to pursue her Master’s in Teacher and Family Leadership in August 2011.

Her belief is that nothing is impossible or too challenging. And with that being said, Tiffany will try anything once!

Biography:

Coming soon!