Faculty Staff

Faculty and Staff

We invite you to take a moment to meet them!

The EPCDS Board of Directors is made of up prominent business leaders, community leaders, and
educators. It is with their guidance that EPCDS continues to be one of the most successful
educational institutions in El Paso.

Board of Directors

President- Dr. Laura Alpern
Ramie Canales
Laura Gordon
Dr. Louis Alpern
Guadalupe Canales
Sweta Anoop
Sona Kumar
Peter Svarzbein

Contact

Melissa Blanchette

Director

Melissa Blanchette

Director

Education: Ph.D Candidate in Teaching, Learning & Culture, University of Texas at El Paso M.A. in Education in History & Social Studies, University of Texas at El Paso B.A. in History & Political Science, University of Texas at El Paso. Born in: Wurzburg, Germany Birthday: April 23rd Favorite Coffee Drink: Mocha Latte Favorite Color: Royal Blue Favorite Quote: “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” ~ Gandhi Melissa Eckert is an administrator and teacher at El Paso Country Day School. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at El Paso where her main area of study was History and Political Science. Melissa has a Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Texas at El Paso specializing in History and Sociology. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at El Paso where she is studying Teaching, Learning, and Culture. Melissa is very involved in community development and issues pertaining to social justice. She has worked at the University of Texas at El Paso where she taught future teachers Social Studies Methods and Critical Pedagogy. Melissa has spoken at several conferences on topics from gender inequality in education to content literacy issues.

Phone:(915) 533-4492
Email:melissameckert@gmail.com

Josh Alvarez

Assistant Director

Josh Alvarez

Assistant Director

Education: Master of Arts in the Teaching of English-M.A.T. University of Texas at El Paso B.A. in English and American Literature University of Texas at El Paso Born in: El Paso, TX Birthday: March 5th Favorite Drink: Chai Tea Favorite Color: Red Favorite Quote: “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” ~C.G. Jung

Phone:(915) 533-4492
Email:jalvarez1epcds@gmail.com

Clara Trevizo

Business Manager

Clara Trevizo

Business Manager

Education: Bachelor in Accounting from University of Texas at El Paso Born in: Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico Birthday: January 9th Favorite Drink: Coffee Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Quote: “Life is not a destination to be reached, but it is a journey to be enjoyed.” ~ Dabasish Mridha

Phone:(915) 533-4492
Email:clara.trevizo.corpus@epcds.org

Laura Cuellar

Office Manager

Laura Cuellar

Office Manager

Education: Associate of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies. Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Born in: El Paso, TX Birthday: April 9th Favorite Drink: Green Tea Matcha Latte Favorite Color: Green Favorite Quote: “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Phone:(915) 533-4492
Email:lauracuellar@epcds.org

Lourdes Alvarez

Alpha Homeroom

Lourdes Alvarez

Alpha Homeroom

Education: Associate of Science from Sampson Community College. Major: Early Childhood Education Born in: North Carolina Birthday: May 13 Favorite Drink: Coca Cola Favorite Color: Teal Favorite Quote: “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” Oprah Winfrey

Email:lalvarezepcds@gmail.com

Shannon Simmonds

Beta/Gamma Homeroom

Shannon Simmonds

Beta/Gamma Homeroom

Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and English from Norfolk State University Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education from Concordia Nebraska University Born in: Washington, DC Birthday: September 10 Favorite Drink: Coca Cola/Sprite Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Quote: “A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.” Robert A. Heinlein

Email:msshannonepcds@gmail.com

Marsha Heaton

Delta/Epsilon Homeroom

Marsha Heaton

Delta/Epsilon Homeroom

Education: B.A.in English Literature, University of California in Santa Barbara Graduate Studies in Special Education, NM State in Las Cruces Born in: Santa Barbara, California Birthday: May 28th Favorite Drink: Caramel Macchiato or Vanilla Latte Favorite Color: Purple Favorite Quote: “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” -Chinese proverb

Email:marshacafe@gmail.com

James Smith

Zeta/Eta Homeroom and Science

James Smith

Zeta/Eta Homeroom and Science

Education: B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Texas at El Paso Born in: Bolivar, Missouri Birthday: June 26th Favorite Drink: Coca Cola Favorite Color: Cyan Favorite Quote: “Everyone you meet has something to teach you.”

Email:jsmithepcds@gmail.com

Bryanna Bouche

Spanish & Art

Bryanna Bouche

Spanish & Art

Education: Associates of Arts in Teaching Bachelor of Science Education from University of Texas at El Paso Born in: El Paso, TX Birthday: August 12th Favorite Drink: Lemonade Favorite Color: Pink, Yellow, Blue, Bright Colors! Favorite Quote: “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart” -The Little Prince

Email:bryanna.bouche@epcds.org

Allie Kolpak

Science, Technology, and Math

Allie Kolpak

Science, Technology, and Math

Education: B.A. in Biology from James Madison University Birthday: November 27th Favorite Drink: Iced coffee Favorite Color: Forest green Favorite Quote: "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ~ J.K. Rowling

Email:allie.kolpak@epcds.org

Fan Chen

EPCDS Math Team Coach

Fan Chen

EPCDS Math Team Coach

Education: Doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso M.S. in Teaching Mathematics, University of Texas at El Paso B.S. for Mechanical Engineering Hefei University of Technology, China Born in: Yang Chun, Guang Dong, China Birthday: November 28 Favorite Drink: Tea Favorite Quote: “A thousand mile journey starts with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu

Annabell Sahr

Middle School German Teacher

Annabell Sahr

Middle School German Teacher

Education: Ph.D. Student in Teaching, Learning & Culture, University of Texas at El Paso. Alternative Teacher Certification in EC-12th SPED, University of Texas at El Paso Master of Science in Management and Organizational Studies, University of Technology Chemnitz B.A. in European Studies, University of Technology Chemnitz Born in: Leisnig, Germany Birthday: September 4th Favorite Drink: Mocha Latte Favorite Color: Turquoise Blue Favorite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Camren Thomas

Daycare and Substitute

Camren Thomas

Daycare and Substitute

Education: Pursuing a Bachelor in Education at the University of Texas at El Paso Born in: Trenton, New Jersey Birthday: December 14th Favorite Drink: Iced Coffee Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Quote: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important!” ~ The Help

Maria Martinez

Cafeteria Manager & Facilities

Maria Martinez

Cafeteria Manager & Facilities

Better known to our kids as their beloved “Ms. Coco” Born in: Torreon, Coahuila, MX Birthday: May 27th Favorite Drink: Decaf Favorite Color: Grey

Albert Salazar

Building Maintenance

Albert Salazar

Building Maintenance

Born in: El Paso, TX Birthday: July 13th Favorite Drink: Regular coffee Favorite Color: Royal Blue

Dr. Laura Alpern

Board President

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