Board of Trustees
Roles of the Board of Trustees at Rio Grande School
Like most independent schools, a Board of Trustees governs Rio Grande School. Per Best Practices of Independent School governance, the board serves the following roles:
Serves as the guardian of the school’s mission and it formulates and supports policies that perpetuate the mission;
Sets policy, focusing on broad policy issues rather than operational details;
Leads fundraising efforts through personal giving, solicitation of others and oversight of the development plan;
Oversees the finances of the school by setting appropriate tuition, approving the budget and monitoring spending;
Hires and guides the Head of School;
Plans strategically for the future through a formal planning process, with yearly goal-setting;
Evaluates the school's performance, the Head of School by defining measurable performance indicators and annually reviewing success in achieving mutually defined goals.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Christina Price - Chair
Christina Price and her husband Connor Browne are parents to Edgar (Washington University in St. Louis), Ella(11th grade at Santa Fe Prep), Juliette(9th grade at Santa Fe Prep), Pippa (6th grade) and Haddie (Kindergarten). Christina and Connor have been parents at RGS since 2011 (and will continue to be here until 2032). Christina is an East Coast transplant who moved to Santa Fe in 2008 after finishing an Emergency Medicine residency in Philadelphia. Christina has worked as an Emergency Medicine physician at the University of New Mexico since 2008. She is also an Assistant Residency Director for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at UNM, where she focuses on resident education and well-being. Christina has supported other not-for-profit organizations in Santa Fe, especially as a board member for Communities in Schools of New Mexico since 2019. Christina received a BS from Boston College in 2001 and an MD from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2005.
Teddy Huyck - Vice Chair
Teddy Huyck is an architect who works on cultural and educational projects in New Mexico and has worked on projects from the Bay Area to Boston. He has one child in the 3rd grade and another child who graduated last year from Rio Grande. Volunteering on the board has offered an opportunity to share his expertise with the community and help strategize for the future of the campus. He loves being outdoors gardening, hiking, and mountain biking. He studied anthropology and art at Stanford (AB ‘00) and did his architecture masters at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (March ‘09). Teddy has been a board member since 2023 and now serves as Vice Chair and Chair of the Buildings and Grounds committee.
Todd Wax - Treasurer
Melanie Maxon - Compliance Officer
Melanie Maxon and her husband, Ryan Bailey, are the proud parents of Kora Bailey (2nd Grade). Melanie grew up in Santa Fe and is excited to give back to the wonderful community that gave her so much in her formative years. After graduating from Santa Fe High School, she moved to The Hague, Netherlands. Melanie then returned to the United States and attended the University of Arizona Tucson, American Intercontinental University London, and the University of Colorado Denver where she received a BS in Business Management. Her passion for business brought her to Northern California, where she worked for Goldman Sachs and Indus Capital Partners. Melanie and Ryan returned to the Land of Enchantment to start a family in late 2015. She currently serves on the Santa Fe Children’s Museum's board of directors while continuing to invest in start-ups and private companies. Melanie enjoys many outdoor activities with her family and two dogs including hiking, mountain biking, skinning, and skiing.
Eveline Brunner
Eveline Brunner and her husband Magnus have 3 children: Iona in 8th grade at SF prep, Campbell in 6th grade at RGS and Felicity in 3rd grade at RGS. Eveline is originally from Dallas but lived 18 years in the UK. She is a UK solicitor/lawyer who practiced commercial litigation in London. The Brunners moved from London to Santa Fe and joined the Rio Grande community in 2015. Eveline has been on the board since 2018. She has served on the Development committee and is currently on the Strategic Planning committee.
Mary Carmack-Altwies
Mary Carmack-Altwies and her wife, Jolene, have been parents at Rio Grande School since 2014. Mary is currently the District Attorney for the First Judicial District which includes Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos Counties. Mary has been in New Mexico for over twenty years, having moved from Washington, D.C. to New Mexico for law school. Originally from Oklahoma, Mary bounced around the East Coast before moving to New Mexico. Mary has been working within the criminal justice system in New Mexico for 20 years. Mary and her family moved from Albuquerque to Santa Fe 11 years ago and quickly became loyal to the RGS mission as their children began their time at the school. As a community leader, Mary supports other community based program- around Santa Fe and the state. Mary received her BA from Mount Holyoke College in 2000 and her JD from the University of New Mexico in 2005.
Ali Effati
Ali Effati and his wife, Najmeh Mousavi, are parents to Nora (4h grade). Ali is a Water Resources Manager with the State of New Mexico. He has worked for the State government since June 2013. Between 2006 and 2012, he worked as a Civil Engineer in the private sector and worked on planning, design, engineering, and construction oversight for several water resources projects. Ali is a Professional Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master's Degree in Civil/Water Engineering. Ali has been a member of the RGS Buildings and Grounds Committee since November 2022, and a member of the RGS Board of Trustees since September 2023.
Sydney Kinzie Horning
Sydney Kinzie Horning grew up in Dallas, TX, received her Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA and her MBA from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Sydney worked at BNY Mellon in the investment sales industry in New York City, where she met her husband Tommy. Sydney and Tommy are the wonderstruck parents of three energetic boys – Beau (6), Ben (4) and Hank (3) and are recent transplants to Santa Fe. Sydney deeply values education and the doors it may open for a fulfilled life. She serves on the Finance Committee at Rio Grande School, and in her free time, Sydney loves spending individual time with each of her three sons, playing tennis, practicing hot yoga, experimenting in the kitchen, skiing, and international travel.
Dennis Jasso
Dennis Javier Jasso and his partner, Inga Hendrickson are the parents of Amalia (9th grade Santa Fe Prep) and Lu (4th grade RGS). They’ve been parents at RGS since the 2019-2020 school year. Dennis is an award winning producer, songwriter, arranger and drummer and has been a voting member of The Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards) and The Latin Recording Academy (The Latin GRAMMY Awards). He was recognized with the "Norman Petty Producer of the Year" award from the NM Music Awards and has also won several other NM Music Awards for his songwriting and arranging. Other awards received have come from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the NM Musicians Fund who recognized him as drummer of the year. He studied music at New Mexico State University and currently performs as drummer for the Latin band, Nosotros. Dennis has earned certificates in music production from Berklee College of Music's highly acclaimed online program. He proudly endorses Natal drums. When Dennis is not performing he can be found working at Fw Studios, his recording studio in Santa Fe.
Mollie Parsons
Mollie Parsons has been a passionate educator and curriculum designer for 20 years. After earning an undergraduate degree from Brown University, she went on to receive Masters Degrees from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Boston College in education. She taught in public and private schools as well as museums and other nonprofits, including teaching science at RGS from 2008-2013. Before starting her own business, Cerise Consulting, she was the founding Director of Education and Interpretation at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. She currently works with numerous local nonprofits and schools to write curricula, helping to connect teachers and students with the natural world. She is excited to be on the board at RGS to support the school's dedication to engaging children in experiential learning in a student-centered environment.
Sean Pilgrim
Sean Pilgrim, along with his wife Nina, are proud parents of their daughter Athena, a 4th grader. A Santa Fe native, Sean graduated from Monte Del Sol Charter School in 2005 and now serves on its Governing Board as Secretary. Since founding 4Leet in 2014, Sean has transformed the company from its humble beginnings in web development, consumer computer repair, and break-fix IT support into an award-winning and industry-leading B2B Managed IT Services provider. 4Leet now specializes in offering 3rd Party CTO/CIO solutions for SMB and mid-market businesses, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, productivity, and operational efficiency. Over the years, Sean has successfully expanded 4Leet’s reach by acquiring several IT companies across New Mexico.
In addition to his work in the IT industry, Sean is a founding partner of Elite Poker Coaching, helping players hone their skills through game theory optimal strategies. He is also an active community lead for Fate Gaming and a proud member of the eSports organization GØDFIRE, further reflecting his passion for gaming and leadership.
Yvette Roybal
Anne Salzmann
I spent my childhood on the campus of Verde Valley School in Sedona, AZ, experiencing the glorious red rocks on the back of a horse before anyone “discovered” the area. My family moved to the East when I was 11, first to Exeter, NH and then to Amherst, MA where I went to high school and college. I got my M.Ed in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from the Harvard University School of Education, followed by four years of work with delinquent teenagers on the North Shore of Boston. Finally, in the mid-80s I returned to my beloved Southwest - first to Phoenix where I was Director of Counseling at Phoenix Country Day School, then to Sedona where I was Head of Verde Valley School. When David and I moved to Santa Fe, I was Assistant Head and then Head of Monte del Sol Charter School followed by ten years as Founding Head of The MASTERS Program Charter School on the Campus of SFCC. As a retiree, I miss the deep satisfaction of being part of a school, but as a principal mentor for the NM Charter School Coalition, I still get to live vicariously. I am very happy to be a part of the RGS Board supporting Ahlum.
Wilson Scanlan
Wilson Scanlan and his wife, Jenna, are the proud parents of three RGS Hawk graduates: Hank (9th grade at Santa Fe Prep), Owen (11th grade at Santa Fe Prep), and Jack (a first-year undergraduate at the University of Virginia). Born in Austin, Texas, Wilson has been a proud New Mexican since 1999. He received his B.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles, with a focus on Italian Renaissance Art and Architecture. Wilson owned and operated Verve Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe for 14 years. A passionate environmentalist, Wilson is an enthusiastic partner at Positive Energy Solar, New Mexico’s largest residential solar panel installer. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and the New Mexico Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Wilson joined the Rio Grande School Board of Trustees in 2015 and is the former chair the Building and Grounds Committee. Wilson enjoys skiing, tennis, fly-fishing, mountain biking, and, most of all, spending time with his family.
Jakub Walko
Jake Walko, and his wife Nicole, are the parents of Hudson (1st) and Halle (Pequenos). As East Coast emigres to Sante Fe they’ve been grateful for the quality of the education, administration, and community around Rio Grande School. Jake is a Managing Director at Thornburg Investment Management where he focuses on understanding environmental, social, and governance dimensions of investing. He has spent the last twenty years in finance having previously worked at Neuberger Berman, and BlackRock, both in New York. Jake was born in Poland, grew up in New York, and holds a BA in Economics from City University of New York Hunter College and a MA in International Relations from City University of New York City College. He is an active member of Atalaya Search and Rescue, and enjoys skiing, hiking, and camping with the family.
Laura Widmar
Laura Widmar and her husband Sergio Tapia are parents to Paloma Tapia (2nd Grade). Laura is from El Paso, Texas and moved to Santa Fe in 2000. Director of The Owings Gallery for over twenty years, Laura has enjoyed making Santa Fe home and has also served on the board of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation for several years. When not at school or at work -– Laura, Sergio and Paloma love to spend time traveling. Laura received a BS from Wellesley College in 2000.
Martha Yazdani
Martha Yazdani was raised in Tchad, immersed in North African culture alongside traditions of her Persian immigrant parents. This plays a significant role in her interest in micro-finance and grass-roots community development, recognizing both as essential for improving community life. Working in small business account management for over 16 years, she has developed the ability to identify and implement improvements which can streamline processes and increase efficiency and productivity. Driven by a desire to bring people of diverse backgrounds together around a common purpose, Martha has spent the past 10 years building The Birthing Tree, a local nonprofit providing childbirth education, labor and postpartum doula services in the Santa Fe and surrounding area. Martha has a BA in International Studies and Economics, is the proud mother to Nadia (9th grade) and Mateen (5th grade), and an active member of the Baha’i community.