La Puerta School Board of Directors
Sue Parker, Chair
Sue Parker made Abiquiu her home almost 15 years ago when she relocated from Dallas, Texas in 1995. Since Sue has been in New Mexico, she has established a private studio teaching students from ages 3 to 70 piano, voice and musical theatre in Abiquiu, Espanola, Pojoaque, Santa Fe and Taos, NM. She has vast experience in arts administration serving as the Director of the Performing Artists’ Musical Theatre Conservatory at Mountain View College in Dallas, TX where she was a part of the creative team that established the Conservatory. In addition to 40 years teaching experience, Sue has also been a performer, presenter and musical director. She has written children shows and musicals as well as a book and workbook entitled Sounding the Silence. Sue was commissioned to write a musical, “The Nutt Cracker” for Granbury Opera House in Granbury, Texas in 1996 and was received into the Glewitz Hall of Fame at the University of Mary Harden Baylor in 1996. Sue holds a M.A. in Vocal Performance & Music Education from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Denton, TX, a B.M.E., in Vocal Performance and Music Education from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX. and post graduate credentials in voice and musical theatre from TWU.
Dinah Manzanares, Vice-Chair
Dinah is a native of New Mexico and lives in the small village of Tierra Azul. Dinah just recently celebrated 43 years of marriage and is a mother, grandmother and guardian. Dinah’s experience is focused in service and agriculture. She, along with her husband, have worked the land for many years; planting, hoeing, irrigating, harvesting, processing, storing and selling their produce at local markets and stores. Farming has always been a hobby for Dinah and serving the youth and the elderly have been her passion. From 1967 to 1982 Dinah worked part-time assisting the elderly with a visiting nurse service while she raised her three young boys. Then beginning in 1994 Dinah served as the Lead Teacher for Youth Development Inc. (YDI) Abiquiu Headstart for eleven years. For this she completed four years of early childhood education classes at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola in addition to obtaining her CDA in 1995. Dinah retired in 2005 from YDI to care for her grandchildren, she has 10, and to be a full-time care taker/guardian to her mentally challenged adult nephew. In addition to her agricultural and teaching experience, Dinah was an entrepreneur who owned and operated a beauty shop in Tierra Azul for 27 years.
Ann Cunningham, Secretary-Treasurer
Ann brings over 40 years teaching and administrative experience to La Puerta. She served as a college dean, teacher and athletic director for three colleges and universities in Texas before retiring to beautiful New Mexico. As the Dean of Fine Arts at Mountain View College in Dallas, TX, Ann was responsible for implementing the Performing Artists’ Musical Theater Conservatory and a video production studio at the college. She also developed and supervised a number of programs at the college; a student tracking system, a computer assisted developmental lab, an academic advisement system and a part-time instructor training program. Ann holds a M. S., and B.S in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Baylor University in Waco, TX and completed post graduate work in Public Health, Community College Teaching and Administration and Physical Education. Ann grew up in Southern New Mexico and always knew that she would some day make it back to her “home.” Although recently physically disabled by multiple sclerosis, Ann participates in local studio events showing and selling her one of a kind rustic crafts. She also cares for and plays with three of her energetic grandchildren.
Suzanne Snow, Member
After Suzanne’s retirement from academia she and her husband, Bob, moved to Abiquiu, NM where they have been for ten years. Suzanne taught in the public school system in Arizona for 28 years. She has three children and five grand children. She is a certified Hatha Yoga Instructor and uses her skills as a former professional dancer to teach children classical ballet. Suzanne and her husband enjoy gardening, hiking and climbing mountains, snow shoeing, and dancing the tango.
Erin Manzanares, Member
Erin Manzanares is the Founding Director of La Puerta School. It is Erin’s dream, in conjunction with the expertise and life passions of other board members, which will make La Puerta a reality. She has 5 years teaching experience in the K-6 arena and completed coursework for a teaching license through the Alternative Licensure Program at Northern New Mexico College. Erin holds a B.A. in Drama from Ithaca College in New York and a M.S. in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University. She maintains a Level II K-8 Teaching License from the state of New Mexico. Erin spent several years working professionally in theatre in New York City prior to her move to Northern New Mexico where she discovered her true passion for teaching. Erin’s undergraduate and professional theatrical experiences were a great stepping stone to a career in education.