By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a board retreat on March 31, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, David Terrazas, Emmarie Heredia and Angelina Hardin. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended along with Charlene Fletcher executive secretary / board secretary.

They had the retreat at the parent center located at Bayard Elementary School. Evan Grasser and Cari Lemon facilitated the retreat with conversations and exercises to help the board get to know each other better and build the team. Grasser owns Principals L.E.A.D. and she works with schools and districts to develop leadership skills. Lemon works locally to help individuals and organizations to get unstuck and soar to the best versions of themselves.

The board broke into one-on-one groups to explore questions posed to them by Grasser and Lemon. They also answered questions posed as a group.

One of the questions posed to them was how they ended up on the board—both the internal and external reasons.

Begay said eight years ago she had attended an Emerge training program for democrat women and didn't know what she would do with it at that time. When the position on the board opened up, she decided she should apply. She could be a voice and address the lack of curriculum.

Guadiana said he had come home to care for his father and when he had put his kids in the Cobre schools he saw how bad it was Some on the board had been there 30 years. It was why he decided to run.

Terrazas said he had been appointed by the governor, so the board would have a quorum due to three people resigning at once. He had been involved in youth sports and coaching for some time and that was the reason Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales had called him and asked him to take the position on the board. "It's all about the kids."

Heredia said she works as a teacher and graduated from Cobre, and it would always have a piece of her heart. When the position for the board opened, she thought it would be a good thing to do. She had seen the district move forward in a positive direction.

Hardin said she has a child in special education, who struggles, and she thought she could help this way. She has an idea of starting a business that these kids could work at after they have finished school.

Fletcher said she started as the office secretary. She was born and raised in Grant County. She sees so much good happening and people working together to make it better.

All of the questions were brought forward to allow the board and administration to learn more about each other to work better as a team.

Meeting adjourned.