Leadership: Core Leaders
Four young Mexican professionals with complementary academic and personal backgrounds administer the Center’s operations. These senior coordinators are from the same social class as the Center’s beneficiaries. All four are now studying in rigorous master’s degree programs at private universities in Oaxaca; the Center assists them with tuition help through formal agreements with these institutions.
Their three professional degrees in educational administration and research, coupled with one in marketing, will enable the Center to develop to its maximum potential. Our core leaders have written a Five-Year Plan for Sustainability (2013-2017); they work collaboratively with the Center’s coordinators and tutors in program development and planning.
Their three professional degrees in educational administration and research, coupled with one in marketing, will enable the Center to develop to its maximum potential. Our core leaders have written a Five-Year Plan for Sustainability (2013-2017); they work collaboratively with the Center’s coordinators and tutors in program development and planning.
Jaasiel Quero Llaven, is co-founder of the Oaxaca Learning Center and its president from 2005. Jaasiel has a BS from the State University of Oaxaca “Benito Juarez” in Administration and Accounting; an MS from Multidisciplinario Instituto in Education and Administration in Education and Gender Equity; and he is completing an MS in Educational Research from LaSalle University/Oaxaca.
Jaasiel is co-author, with Gary Titus, of the holistic tutoring and mentoring program of the Center. Together they developed a tutoring methodology to empower young marginalized youth and maximize their potential. Jaasiel brings knowledge of the Mexican educational system through his experience as a secondary school teacher in the Sierra Norte and a teacher trainer in a normal school on the coast. His vision for a financially self-sustaining nonprofit educational organization is at the core of the Five-Year Development Plan (2013-2017) which includes a social business (fee-based tutoring and consulting that produces income and ultimately expands free tutoring). 
Sonia Bautista León is senior coordinator for project development and networking. Sonia has a BS with Honors degree in Educational Innovation and Intervention from the National Pedagogical University and is completing an MS in Education Administration from La Salle University/Oaxaca.
Sonia grew up in the Sierra Norte, speaking Zapotec as well as Spanish. A two-year scholarship from La Casa de la Mujer, a feminist center in Oaxaca, enabled her to complete her high school studies. She also participated in the US Department of State six-week program for young Latin American leaders. Sonia embarked upon her university studies in education but lacked the funds to continue. The Learning Center developed a plan to finance her education and provide free room and board. After working two years as a tutor, she became coordinator of the Women’s Group and later coordinator of our first Learning Center branch in Las Lomas de San Jacinto. Since 2013, Sonia has been a key player in overall project development, fundraising and networking for our new social business (called the Community Learning Center). She has led the team in developing its structure and services, which include fee-based tutoring, workshops, and educational consulting. |
Mirell Duarte Mendez is our senior coordinator for administration, monitoring and evaluation. She has a BS degree with Honors in Educational Innovation and Intervention from National Pedagogical University, and is completing an MS in Educational Research from La Salle University/Oaxaca.
Mirell is from the village of Santa Maria Atzompa near the capital. She was coordinator of the student financial aid program from 2009 to 2013. Since 2013 she has played a major role in developing administrative and monitoring systems for the Center’s social business. In addition to this experience and her academic studies, she served as an advisor at the Adult Education Institute in Oaxaca where she designed educational projects. 
Armando Carmona Cruz is senior coordinator for program promotion and marketing. Armando has a BS from the State University of Oaxaca “Benito Juarez¨ in Administration and Accounting, and is enrolled in an MS in Marketing from Anáhuac University/Oaxaca.
Armando is the only child of a single mother, born in a small village, Santa Cruz Papalutla, outside the capital. He began working at the Learning Center as an administrative assistant while an undergraduate, later becoming coordinator of the tutoring program. This role entailed interviewing potential students and their parents, developing and applying a socio-economic study to assure eligibility for our free services, as well as supervising and training tutors. Armando undertook his master’s studies to develop a successful marketing strategy for our social business. This will maximize our promotional outreach to schools and parents whose students can benefit from our fee-based services. |