The FMS Board of Education welcomed a new member, elected new officers, recognized eight FMS teachers who earned National Board Certification, and celebrated the outstanding students who took part in the 2025 Petroleum Engineering Mentorship Class.
During the meeting, Board members Ms. Andra Stradling, Mr. Deazhan Maize, and newly elected member Ms. Alyssa Begay were officially sworn in by Presiding District Judge Brenna Clani-Washinawatok. Judge Clani-Washinawatok is a Farmington attorney and a proud member of the Navajo Nation, and she made history as the first Native American to serve as a district court judge in the Eleventh Judicial District, which includes San Juan and McKinley counties.
Ms. Begay is a business owner, realtor, and business consultant and trainer. She focuses on supporting business owners in rural communities by helping remove barriers and connecting them with needed resources. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies and is currently studying Navajo Law. She currently serves on the Board of the Dineh Chamber of Commerce and is the Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee for the New Mexico Association of Realtors.
New Term, New Leadership
The Board selected new officers, unanimously appointing Ms. Krista Lee McWilliams as President, Ms. Andra Stradling as Vice President, Ms. Lisa Lynn Maxwell as Secretary, and Mr. Deazhan Maize as Deputy Secretary. Read more here.
Ms. McWilliams and Mr. Maize were appointed to serve on the Board’s Finance Committee, while Ms. Stradling and Ms. Maxwell will serve on the Audit Committee.
Petroleum Engineering Mentorship Class
The FMS Board of Education proudly recognized the Merrion Oil & Gas Petroleum Engineering Mentorship Class, a long-standing program that began in 1994. Over the years, the class has supported many successful students, including current Board Deputy Secretary Mr. Deazhan Maize.
During the recognition, Investment Manager George Sharpe introduced the students and shared how their thoughtful engineering recommendations contributed to the purchase of an oil well this year, an impressive real-world achievement.
The students recognized were Savannah Davis and Tristan Burns (Farmington High School); Andy Hill, Isaiah Herrera, Jayden Arnell, and Zack Zweschper (Piedra Vista High School); and Cade Maynes, Hayden Bodo, and June Loukinas (San Juan College High School).
National Board Certified Teachers
The FMS Board of Education proudly celebrated eight FMS teachers who have earned National Board Certification, one of the highest honors in the teaching profession. More than 50 FMS educators have achieved this distinction at FMS, and we are proud that 43 of them continue to serve students in our schools today.
The names of all National Board Certified Teachers are permanently recognized on a plaque displayed at the Central Office, including the following educators:
Amanda Cazares (Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood), Lacey Murray (Generalist/Early Childhood), Kelly Read (Generalist/Early Childhood), Kristina Starr (Generalist/Early Childhood), Tiffany Gobble (Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood), Diane Riley (Generalist/Early Childhood), Hans Schlierf (Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood), and Nancy Olivarez (Generalist/Middle Childhood).
The celebration was led by retired Farmington High School librarian Ms. Kyla, along with Mr. Nathan Pierantoni, Executive Director of Human Resources and Support Services.
Members of the FMS Board of Education will attend the New Mexico School Boards Association (NMSBA) Board Member Institute Conference in Santa Fe from February 5-7, 2026.
The next Regular Board of Education Meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2026.