Working Together
Rio Gallinas School’s faculty bring first-class, real-world insight into the classroom. They maintain strong local connections to provide opportunities for personal service and unique opportunities to students. With a faculty as key leaders, Rio Gallinas School capitalizes on their expertise to solve problems and move the school to the next stage of excellence. In 2015, we will continue a comprehensive academic and organizational review to ensure consistent and high-caliber academic programming and student support.
2025/2026 Faculty and Staff of Rio Gallinas School
Aja Currey, Executive Director
aja.currey@riogallinasschool.org
This is Ms. Currey’s first year as school Principal but her 12th year at Rio. She is in charge of all academics. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Multicultural Education and a BA in Special Education from New Mexico Highlands University. She is a licensed New Mexico teacher with a Level II Professional License in both areas. She recently received her administrators license and is putting it to good use. She began her teaching career as a Voyager elementary teacher and then moved into special education. She is also the sponsor of K-Kids, which is the largest service organization for elementary school students, with more than 1,200 clubs worldwide. Club members discover their passion to serve, desire to lead and their ability to engage and collaborate with others to better the school and community. Ms. Currey is committed to giving students with all learning styles, abilities, and differences an equal education, with emphasis on hands-on, active learning. What Ms. Currey loves about Rio Gallinas is the caring community of teachers, parents, and students that work together in the best interest of the students. She loves the excitement brought to learning from the expeditionary teaching model. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, along with her two dogs and two cats. Her favorite thing to do is to snowboard on the local mountains.
Front Office Specialist/Bus Driver
Mrs. Joelle has been a vital part of the Rio Gallinas School for Ecology and the Arts. She has been with the school for 7 years in various capacities throughout her career. Joelle runs the front office, lunch supervision of students, student confidant and supervision, parent contact person, and school bus driver (and district route driver), as well as helping out with custodial work in her down time. Ms. Joelle requests that if you are on our campus, stop and say “Hello” so that she may become familiar with all the new scholars and families. When not at work, Ms. Joelle enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren; as well as travelling.
Kindergarten Teacher/ Instructional Materials & Experiences Coordinator
Maren Woods is the Kindergarten teacher and Instructional Materials and Experience Coordinator at Rio Gallinas School for Ecology and the Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Multicultural Education (cum laude) from New Mexico Highlands University. She has over a decade of experience in early childhood classrooms. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling.
Lynette Melendrez is a first grade teacher at Rio Gallinas School of Ecology and the Arts. With many years of experience in education, she has taught across multiple grade levels and learning environments, including early childhood and home-based instruction. In addition to her teaching role, she also serves as the school’s Social Media Coordinator.
First Grade Teacher / SEL Coordinator
Lynette holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on children’s behavior and abnormal psychology, as well as a minor in Sociology . She also has a strong background in performing arts, music, dance, and has experience teaching and tutoring at the college level.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on learning and student engagement, drawing on Constructivist Theories to encourage learning through observation, collaboration, and real-world connections. Outside the classroom, Lynette enjoys blending her love for the arts with her passion for education, inspiring creativity and curiosity in her students.
5-8 History Teacher / K – 8 Art Teacher
Mr. John Peden has worn many hats during his 14 years here at Rio Gallinas. His primary role has been the Visual Arts Instructor for all grades, where his mission has been to see students discover their creativity in a variety of mediums. Mr. Peden has also fulfilled the roles of English Language Arts instructor and Social Studies for grades 6-8 and strives to make those subjects engaging and hands-on, including field work outside the classroom. Mr. Peden is currently in the role of arts instructor for all grades and social studies instructor for grades 5-8.