Mailing Address: PO BOX 156 Navajo,NM 87328

Physical Location: Shepard Springs Boulevard/Mill Road Navajo, NM 87328
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Phone Number: (505)777-2053 

DEAP'S FOUNDERS

DEAP Co-Founder & Teacher
kdbegay@deapschool.org

​KAYLA DAWN BEGAY is an emerging leader and Diné woman from the community of Navajo, NM. She is Tódích’íi’nii born for Táchii’nii. She earned her B.A. in Sociology and Education from Occidental College and M.A. in Elementary Education from UNM. As a product of Navajo, NM, Kayla returned to fulfill the desire of Diné Nation’s wish that Navajo students go and get an education and return to make their communities better. Kayla has taught at Navajo Elementary, a school she went to. Her experiences enabled her to be a role model for her students, staff and community members in her actions and mindsets of hope, strength, perseverance, and belief that anything is possible.  In the classroom, Kayla is able to build and maintain strong relationships with her students and their families and convey her love and belief in their ability to succeed despite so many obstacles against them.  Her work with the community of Navajo and partnership with the NACA Inspired Schools Network to create a school based in the community vision speaks volumes to her understanding and deep belief that all students deserve an education that allows them to be firm in their identities and reclaim their rights as Native people on a sovereign land. Kayla is currently a NACA Inspired Schools Network Fellow, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow, Teach for America Alumni, and serves on the Red Lake-Navajo Community Action Group council. 

DEAP Co-Founder 

PRESTENE GARNENEZ spent her youth running around the red sandstone bluffs of Red Lake-Navajo... truth be told, she was actually supposed to be herding her Mom's sheep.  Sheepherding afforded her the opportunity to appreciate nature and all her surroundings as well as provide quiet time to read.  Drawing upon her experiences, Ms. Garnenez pursued the study of science and nature (Biology/Mathematics) and later--of human nature-- a Master's degree in Planning with emphasis in Community Economic Development and Enviromental Analysis.   Since returning home, she's bee a passionate advocate in the revitaliztion and balanced growth of her community, Red Lake-Navajo.  She is also a founding member of the local grassroots organization, the Red Lake-Navajo Community Action Group which strives to improve the quality of life in the Red Lake-Navajo community.  She also holds officer positions with two other boards/commitees: Vice-Chairperson, for a local housing non-profit and the President of the Red Lake #18 Chapter’s Community Land Use Planning Committee.  

DEAP STAFF AND INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM

LOUELLA POBLANO is originally from Zuni, New Mexico and currently serves as the Head Administrator at DEAP School. Her A:shiwi Clans are K'walashi:kwe Bit chi:kwe and Shohk wida:kwe. She currently lives in Fort Defiance, Arizona, and has been involved with the Navajo community schools since 2006. She worked as an instructional coach at Navajo Elementary, Navajo Middle, and Navajo Pine High School, and served as the principal of Navajo Elementary from 2012 to 2014. She has been the DEAP Head Administrator since 2017.

Head Administrator
administrator@deapschool.org

VIDAL BARRAGAN graduated from UC Riverside with a double major in History and Anthropology. He is Mexican and believes that native people need to have our education in our own hands to regain old wisdoms for a new tomorrow. Vidal teaches our high school Social Studies courses and leads the College and Career Readiness program.

Social Studies +
​High School Co-Director
​vbarragan@deapschool.org

I-STEAM Teacher and Edgenuity Coordinator dben@deapschool.org

DAWNLEI HUNTER BEN is NaaNeshtezhi Ta'chiinii, born for Nakaai Diné. Her maternal grandfather is Todichiinii and her paternal grandfather is To'tsohnii. She is a graduate of Kansas University where she received her MSE and Diné College where she obtained her BA and AA. Dawnlei brings her cultural knowledge to the STEAM movement at DEAP. Growing up in Canyon DeChelly and Fort Defiance, she was able to hold onto her cultural knowledge from her maternal grandparents and parents. She is a regional coordinator for Alliance of Indigenous Math Circles, runs a food donation center from her home, and is a member of the Ni'hookaa Diyin Diné people. Dawnlei is the I-STEAM teacher at DEAP and coordinates the High School Edgenuity program. 

TIERRA BIA's first clan is Ashiihí, second clan is Nakai Diné'ee, and third clan is Todichiinii. She is from the Sawmill community. Tierra has been a part of DEAP for three years; the 2021-2022 school year will be her fourth. She joined the DEAP team as an AmeriCorps member for two years while also serving as the Parent Advisory Committee Chairperson. She then accepted the role as the Family Liaison the following school year and moved from the PAC’s Chairperson position to the Secretary position. She will continue with DEAP as the Family Liaison for the 2021-2022 SY. All of these roles have given her the opportunity to build relationships with DEAP’s students and their families. During the summer months, Tierra enjoys outdoor activities like tending her garden, and camping and fishing with her family. During the winter months, she enjoys leisure reading, practicing her art crafts, and celebrating her birthday with her loved ones. She also has a deep appreciation for her Navajo culture through the traditional practices and beautiful art crafts. Her goal is to provide her best quality of work for the students and pass on all my knowledge that will help students grow as an Indiegenous individual. Not only just telling students how to be an exemplary Navajo person, but showing them through her own actions.

Family Liaison and
​Office Support
tbia@deapschool.org

Office Manager tclark@deapschool.org

TERRANCE CLARK currently serves as the DEAP Office Manager. His clans are Tábąąhí - Water’s Edge/Among the Waters, Ma’ii Deeshgiizhinii - Coyote Pass, Tó’aheedlíinii - Water-Flows-Together Clan, and Honágháahnii - One Walks Around You/Place of Walking/People Formed of Her Back. His mother is from Steamboat, AZ and his father is from Blackrock, AZ. Terrance is married and has one beautiful daughter. He originally went to school to be an Automotive Technician, because it was both something he loved and something he could do to help others. He says that his role as Office Manager has the same attributes––fixing and gathering information and helping the community by keeping them moving forward. 

KYLEE GEORGE is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and comes from a family of mixed Irish and German descent. She earned her BA in English from the University of Central Oklahoma, her Secondary Teaching Certificate from Santa Fe Community College, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University. Since joining the DEAP community in 2017, Kylee has served as an ELA, Social Studies, and Wellness teacher, and represented DEAP as a 2020-2021 Rural School Leadership Academy Fellow. She is passionate about empowering students to use their voices to affect meaningful change through the arts and civic engagement, as well as creating an inclusive environment for every member of the DEAP community. Currently, Kylee serves as the High School Literature teacher and provides support to students and families through DEAP's College and Career Readiness and Social-Emotional Learning programs.

Literature + High School Co-Director
kgeorge@deapschool.org

Meals + Tech Support rlee@deapschool.org

Yá’át’ééh! Shí éí RUCHELLE LEE yinishyé, Tábaahí nishłí, Honágháahnii bashischiin, Lók’aa’dine’é dashicheii, Áshiihí da’shinalí. I am from Rock Point, Arizona & I currently reside in Tsaile, Arizona. Ruchelle is a mother of 3 beautiful girls, Aubrey Deswood, Lacey Deswood, and Morgan Deswood. She is 27 years old and her hobbies are: cooking, cleaning, playing sports; volleyball & basketball. She loves to go camping, take walks, and make arts & crafts. In addition to her responsibilities at DEAP, Ruchelle is a full-time college student at Navajo Technical University pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She will be graduating with her Associates in Spring 2022. Becoming an educator has been Ruchelle's life goal; teaching and working with students brings her so much joy! Ruchelle has been working as DEAP's Resource Coordinator & Student Advocate for over a year, and also served one year with the AmeriCorp program. She has learned so much about every individual student at DEAP and has experienced the teaching field with this school and continues to learn everyday. Ruchelle says she will try her best to help our students. She is so excited to start another school year with DEAP students & staff!  Ahéhee’!!

DEAP'S GOVERNING COUNCIL

BENITA LITSON (Chair): MS in Environmental Resource Management, BS in Agribusiness and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Currently, the Director of Diné College-Land Grant Office, Ms. Litson has served in this capacity for 9 years. She has provided professional experiences in project development for Navajo Ranchers and Farmers by offering technical service around rangeland management, conservation planning workshops, and various extension and outreach programs. In addition to her responsibility to the Navajo Communities, she has developed a Natural Resource Certificate Program and serves as an Instructor for the program’s courses at Diné College. 

​MICHAELA PAULETTE SHIRLEY is Water Edge, born for Bitterwater. Her maternal grandfather is Salt and her paternal grandfather is Coyote Pass. She was born in Fort Defiance, AZ and grew up in Kin Dah Lichii (Red House), AZ. She received her bachelor’s in urban planning from Arizona State University, and a master’s in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico. Michaela’s background is in urban planning, community planning, and Indigenous planning, with research interests in community development, community-school relationship, youth engagement/development, biographies of landscape, decolonization, and Navajo feminism/cultural studies. Shirley’s master’s thesis, entitled, “The Role of Schools in the Community Development of Kin Dah Lichii, Arizona”, will provide the foundation for her PhD work. Michaela is the Program Specialist for the Indigenous Design and Planning Institute(iD+Pi). Shirley plans and coordinates the development and implementation of subprograms, special projects, and other initiatives to achieve the overall mission of iD+Pi. Shirley oversees the day-to-day operations of the various iD+Pi programs and activities. Michaela serves as a primary liaison for the iD+Pi and represents the University with respect to program activities on a local, regional, national, and international basis.

JENNIE JIMENEZ, Vice Chair

BECKI JONES, Treasurer

GAVIN SOSA (MEMBER) moved to New Mexico in 2002. He taught English/Language Arts for 6 years in the small town of Navajo, NM. He was also a successful cross country and track coach, with his girls and boys teams winning numerous State Championships. After leaving the classroom in 2008, Gavin attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, earning his master’s degree in educational leadership. After completing his degree he returned to the Southwest, working as a Leadership Fellow at the Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque. As a NACA Leadership Fellow Gavin worked with NACA’s founders and administrators to learn about the charter school start-up process and school leadership. In 2012 he moved to Shiprock to coach the Diné College cross country and track programs, and to work with the Dream Diné Charter School founding team. Along with working with the students, staff and families of Dream Diné as Director of Operations, Gavin was also involved with various community projects across Shiprock. 
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