Allison Martin, Executive Director
Being outdoors was where I found my wings. I always did my best learning and understanding the world around me through place-based experiences that I could not only relate to as a child and now adult, but connect with right in my own backyard. I have an MA in Elementary Education with an emphasis on multicultural curriculum and instruction. After formal teaching for a short time at a middle school, I knew my career path would be to bring the outdoors into daily instruction.
My experiences over the past 15 years in environmental education includes Park Ranger at Petroglyph National Monument, Education Manager at Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District, Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM) Fellow, Board Director of EENM, Program Director at EENM, and now Executive Director at TOTAL NM. This broad and enriching experience has allowed me to create innovative avenues to empower educators to teach and communicate the necessity of incorporating environmental education into daily home and school life. These last few years of helping create and make possible the recommendations in the community- centered vision and strategy of Every Kid Every Day Every Way has really shown me what is possible for ensuring New Mexico students experience the outdoors.
By expanding possibilities for equitable and accessible outdoor spaces and places at schoolyards across the state through collaboration, partnerships, and projects, our team seeks to create lasting change in outdoor education for the benefit of every student, teacher, parent, and community member throughout New Mexico and beyond.
Eileen Everett, Board Chair
Eileen brings over 20 years of nonprofit experience to TOTAL NM, with her ongoing commitment to embodied social justice and extensive work in collaboratively changing systems for education, the outdoors, and conservation to be more authentically inclusive, equitable, and just for all. Having worked at all levels of nonprofits, from staff member to serving on boards, Eileen challenges the dominant paradigm to create new ways for nonprofits rooted in shared leadership, transformational leadership, and embodied practices to work with each other.
Eileen served as executive director of Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM), where she built one of the largest capacity outdoor learning networks in the country serving over 150 organizations that support 285,000 New Mexican youth annually. During her six years in this role, Eileen tripled the operating budget, advanced state-level policy in outdoor learning with a 100% success rate at the New Mexico legislature, left a six-figure operating reserve upon her departure, and created a variety of new programs including the first fellowship program of its kind supporting interconnected interests like environmental justice, conservation, outdoor recreation, and outdoor learning and education . She looks forward to applying these past experiences to support growing TOTAL NM.
Currently, Eileen serves as Chief Transformation Officer for Prospera Partners where she handles business development and systems change consulting and facilitation for the company. With a team of wholehearted people, she works to create real change and learning experiences by transforming out-of-date models, growing leaders, and bringing people together. She serves on the New Mexico State Parks Advisory Board and New Mexico Public Education Department’s Outdoor Learning Advisory Board, and was a co-founder of the Queer Environmental Educators Network (QEEN).
Holly “Noelle” Chavez, Board Member
Holly Noelle Chavez was born in El Paso, Texas. She graduated from Osan American High School in South Korea and moved on to New Mexico State University where she earned her BAS in Criminal Justice and later her MS in Psychology from the University of Phoenix.
She co-owns and manages H2 Academic Solutions, which offers intervention and acceleration tutoring, alternative to detention, diversion, mentoring, and restorative programs in Valencia County. She is a board member of La Vida Felicidad and H2 Academic Solutions Scholarship Fund.
Action Team Members
Ariadne Cuares Reagen
My name is Ariadne Cuares Reagan, and I am entering my 14th year in teaching. I mostly taught middle schoolers but also had 2 years teaching 2nd and 3rd graders. Throughout my career, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to teach in various places, including the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Florida, Albuquerque, and now here in Belen. Each of these experiences has enriched my understanding of diverse educational environments and has shaped my approach as an educator. One of the greatest things I want to try this school year is integrating outdoor learning in my current lessons. I truly believe that nature provides a unique and powerful backdrop for education, where students can engage with their surroundings in meaningful ways. By integrating outdoor activities into my teaching, I aim to foster a love for exploration and discovery in my students
Caleb Crum
Hello, everyone; my name is Caleb Crum! I am the Assistant Principal at Belen Middle School, and this marks my eighth year in education, with my previous experiences ranging from teaching physical education to fifth grade and sixth grade. I recently graduated with my Masters in Education from Eastern New Mexico University (go Greyhounds!), making the transition into the more administrative side of education. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my wife and four children, reading, playing video games (when time allows), and caring for our sheep and soon-to-be chickens. My attitudes and philosophy toward education have always been centered on the fact that education needs to be fun and enjoyable, especially in the 21st century. I am incredibly excited to be in this program, bringing all that I learn to my staff at Belen Middle School, and continue to help shape the school and classroom culture, transforming the boundaries of the classroom in the process! My passions in education are everything educational technology, and creating individualized and authentic learning experiences for students.
Kirsten Couevas
Kirsten Couevas was born in Las Vegas although she moved around a lot living all over the southwest. Her love for the outdoors and farming comes from the time she lived with her grandparents on their ranch in the desert of Nevada as child. They raised/ trained Paso Fino horses and had large pistachio orchard.
Her career background has been in multiple different fields. She hold college degrees in Business/Accounting . Yet due to her challenge with life changing neurological/autoimmune issues it brought her back to her family’s land in Middle Rio Grande Valley. That is where her 2nd chance in life came alive. She currently own/runs a small regenerative farm that raises black angus beef and pasture heritage pigs. She has been in remission since 2018 with her health issues coming off treatment by using diet and holistic medicine. Learning that most foods being sold in grocery stores are processed with no nutritional value anymore.
Kirsten also uses her farm as educational place and has held several workshops . She works with the local SWCD hosting summer camps teaching kids about soil health. She believes having kids interact with livestock showing them. Where their food comes from and how to appreciate everything on this planet. She currently also sits on the Young Farmers Federal policy board as the Southwest representative advocating for Young Minority farmers/ranchers since 2021.
Kirsten’s love in life is traveling to other places especially other countries and learning different cultures and agriculture practices. When she needs to escape you will find in the middle of stream or ocean with an fishing pole in hand tuning out all the noises and reconnecting to nature.
Jim Hinde
Jim Hinde is a native of Albuquerque. He spent most of his work career in engineering and aviation, retiring in 2019. The last 27 years of full time work were with the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department, including 8 years as director of the Aviation Department, overseeing the finance, administration, capital improvements and operation of the Albuquerque International Sunport and Double Eagle II Airport. He attended Eastern New Mexico University and graduated with a BS Degree in wildlife biology with major course work in geology and education. He continues to work part time providing consulting assistance in the aviation industry.
Jim is an avid outdoorsman and loves to hike, fish, hunt and photograph the natural surroundings in New Mexico. He stays busy with 4 grandchildren, exposing them as often as he can to the outdoor environment.
He believes that outdoor education should be an opportunity for all students to take advantage of and hopes that his background in funding and project management will help serve the community through the efforts of TOTAL NM.
Allyson Wiley, Advisory Member
Allyson Wiley is the Assistant Director of the Wild Friends program at the University of New Mexico School of Law. In 2020, Allyson graduated from The University of Michigan with an MS in Natural Resources and an MA in Educational Studies. She previously worked as an educator for undergraduate students and held various positions in environmental education organizations as she completed her studies. Allyson contributed to Wild Friends’ involvement in outdoor learning legislation during the 2022 NM legislative session (SB 32/ HB 2) which resulted in the creation of the Outdoor Learning Program at the New Mexico Public Education Department.
Lord Alcomendras
I am Lord R. Alcomendras, a J1 Teacher from the Philippines. As a dedicated educator at La Promesa Elementary School of Belen Consolidated Schools and an active Scout Master in the Philippines, I am passionate about integrating outdoor education into my teaching. My extensive background in scouting, emergency preparedness, and first aid, combined with my certification in American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED, underscores my commitment to fostering resilience, teamwork, and environmental stewardship among my students. I am eager to bring this passion and experience to the TOTAL NM Outdoor Educator Leadership Program to enrich my students’ learning experiences and promote a lifelong respect for nature.
Shelby Bazan
Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, Shelby has a great passion for the city, land, and culture. She has a B.S. in Biology from the University of New Mexico where she grew a fondness for ecology, stewardship, organismal biology, and environmental justice. Shelby is an environmental educator through and through and spent many years with the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program where she acted as a facilitator for students’ learning and exploration of the Middle Rio Grande bosque. She became a volunteer Outings Leader with Latino Outdoors New Mexico in 2021 where she takes local Latine families and community members into various outdoor spaces to experience joy, curiosity, and connection. Currently, Shelby is the Wyss Fellow Conservation Organizer with NM Wild working on statewide national monument campaigns and general nonprofit management/experience. In her spare time, you can find Shelby crafting, biking, hiking/birding/herping, or attending live music.
Susan Schipull
Susan Schipull is the School Gardens Resource Teacher and a member of the Outdoor Learning Team for Albuquerque Public Schools. She encourages the use of gardening as a way to connect children with the natural environment and advocates for the use of outdoor learning to promote mental health, personal growth and academic progress for all students. Susan also provides professional development for teachers who want to use outdoors spaces as an educational resource and teaches with a signature outdoor experience for all 3rd grade students in the district.
Prior to becoming the Gardens Resource Teacher, Susan spent several years as the coordinator of the school garden at Wilson Middle School in Albuquerque, where she taught garden elective classes and maintained the school hydroponics system. Susan has 30+ years as an educator and is committed to providing opportunities for students across the district to learn and grow in the garden.
Nino Labininay
I am Mr. NINO LABININAY, an 8th Grade Science and STEM teacher in Belen Middle School. This is my third amazing year in this wonderful learning environment. Teaching this subject is truly one of a kind, the students are great and full of hope and spirit.
I finished my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education major in Biology in the Philippines where I taught for more than twenty years. I am a father of three adorable, cuties kids and married to an I.T. woman of my life. We live in our humble apartment on Aragon Road
