Governing Board

Meet David Sachez
David is a community member representative on the board and was one of the first employees hired at Salida del Sol Academy when the school first opened in 2014. He has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the school in addition to being the Director prior to Mr. Ricky Bucher. David is a Colorado native, having been raised in the San Luis Valley and received a BS degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He enjoys spending his free time playing golf and spending time with family.

Meet Mark VanDriel
Mark is a parent representative on the board and father of two Salida elementary students. Mark is a native of Greeley and a graduate of University Schools. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Northern Colorado and a PhD in history from the University of South Carolina. He is an educator with 15 years experience in many different environments. Mark has served numerous non-profit organizations and currently is serving as a Regent of the University of Colorado, elected from the 8th Congressional District. He loves hiking and playing games with his wife Erika and their four children.

Mark es un copresidente de la Mesa Directiva y es padre de dos estudiantes en Salida del Sol Academy. Mark es nativo de Greeley y graduado de University Schools. Tiene una licenciatura en historia de UNC y un doctorado en historia de la universidad de Carolina del sur. es un educador con 15 años de experiencia y ha trabajado en numerosas organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Actualmente, Mark está en la junta de regentes de la Universidad de Colorado, elegido del octavo distrito del congreso de Colorado. le encanta caminar en las montañas y jugar con su esposa y sus hijos.

Meet Madeline Milian
Madeline Milian, Professor Emerita at the University of Northern Colorado, is a community representative on the Salida del Sol Academy Board. She has been a teacher and a teacher educator for over 40 years. Her academic preparation includes bilingual education, English as a Second Language, and special education. She obtained degrees from Florida International University (BS), California State University, Los Angeles (MA), and Teachers College, Columbia University (EdD).

I was born in Greeley and because my father was in the Navy, I spent part of my childhood in San Diego, Los Angeles/Wilmington area, the San Francisco Bay area, and several years in Kansas. After moving back to Greeley, I graduated from Greeley Central then worked at Monfort (now JBS) for a short while. I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1972. I have served in many locations around the world, including Operation Desert Storm. Schools I attended while in the Marine Corps include:  Admin Course, Combat Search and Rescue, Embarkation and Logistics School, Passenger Travel Specialist, Military Airlift Command Airlift Planners Course, Substance Abuse Info Course, Naval Security Manager Course, Advanced Personnel Admin Course, and Recruiter School. I retired from the Marine Corps in 1993.

After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1993, I earned an AA degree From Aims CC, a bachelor of arts degree from University of Northern Colorado, and a master of arts degree from University of Colorado – Boulder and am near an MA in human communications. I have taught elementary, middle, and high school. I’ve also taught GED for the CU BUENO Program, adjunct faculty at Aims where I taught citizenship. I retired from teaching in 2016. 

Meet John Valencia
A veteran of the navy, John served two tours of Viet Nam on river boats. Originally from Wyoming, John moved to Colorado at an early age. He graduated from College High school (now University Schools) and attended Aims Community College. In addition to various sales positions, John is the former owner and operator of the Great San Francisco Seafood Company, which had locations in Greeley, Fort Collins, and Boulder. Eventually he transitioned into real estate and has been a realtor for the last 34 years. He is currently the president of Sears Real Estate. Prior to joining the Salida del Sol Academy Board, John served on the school's Accountability Committee for three years. Other boards and commissions include past president of the Country Club West Association, board member of A Woman’s Place, and eight years on the Greeley Planning Commission.

Meet Nohemi Toscano
I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I am a lawyer, and my master's degree is in social sciences and international relations, both from Universidad de Guadalajara. I have worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico (SRE), Guadalajara City Hall, in a Chilean transnational company, and most recently as an immigration attorney in Mexico. Currently here in Greeley, I am a bilingual interpreter for District 6, working for North Range Behavioral Health and AmeriCorps Member.

I really enjoy participating in projects to support the community where we live and my children's schools. In this way I not only have the opportunity to contribute but also to improve everyone's quality of life. That is why I am so proud to be part of the SDSA board.

Nací y crecí en Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Soy Abogado y tengo una Maestría en Ciencias Sociales y Relaciones Internacionales, ambas de la Universidad de Guadalajara. He trabajado para la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores en México (SRE), Municipalidad de Guadalajara, en una empresa transnacional chilena y más recientemente como Abogado de Inmigración en México. Actualmente aquí en Greeley, soy intérprete bilingüe para el Distrito 6 y trabajo para North Range Behavioral Health y miembro de AmeriCorps.

Disfruto mucho participar en proyectos para apoyar a la comunidad donde vivimos y a las escuelas de mis hijos. De esta manera no sólo tengo la oportunidad de contribuir sino también de mejorar la calidad de vida de todos. Por eso estoy tan orgulloso de ser parte de la Junta de SDSA.

Meet Fabián Garcia
For the past ten years, Mr. Garcia has been involved in higher education in various capacities. He is currently a member of Aims Community College where he oversees and directs pre-collegiate initiatives as the director of recruitment. In this role, he leads a team of full-time staff and student employees whose focus is on recruitment and outreach efforts, primarily focusing on historically underrepresented and underserved student populations. Due to his leadership and expertise in this area, he has had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles at the institution, state, and regional levels, including serving on the Colorado State University Undocumented Student Support Task Force, Colorado State University Translation and Interpretation Steering Committee, University of Northern Colorado Equity and Diversity Council, University of Northern Colorado DREAMers Task Force, Rocky Mountain Association of Student Financial Administrators, Colorado’s Higher Education Taskforce for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth, and Northern Colorado Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Alliance.

Meet Yolanda Mendoza
Soy madre de dos estudiantes que actualmente asisten a Salida del Sol Academy. Nací en Michoacán, México y me mudé a Colorado cuando tenía 13 años. Tuve el placer de ser parte de la Junta Directiva Fundadora de Salida del Sol Academy. Tengo un título universitario, una licenciatura y una maestría en Justicia Penal de la Universidad del Norte de Colorado (UNC). Mientras estuve en UNC, fue un honor recibir la beca de Stryker Institute for Leadership Development. Estoy orgullosa de ser investigadora de defensa penal en la Oficina del Defensor Público del Estado de Colorado. He impartido clases de inglés como segundo idioma y educación cívica a quienes solicitan el examen de ciudadanía estadounidense. En años pasados, he tenido el honor de ser miembro de Hispanic Women of Weld County. Actualmente, soy miembro de la Junta Directiva del Centro Comunitario de Duelo, donde también co-facilitó un Grupo de Apoyo para el Duelo en español.

Me encanta llevar a mis hijos a muchos, muchos lugares y disfruto capturar esos momentos con mi cámara para crear recuerdos para atesorar. Salida del Sol Academy es un sueño hecho realidad: una escuela que ofrece educación bilingüe y bicultural para nuestros niños, una maravillosa oportunidad para mantener viva nuestra hermosa lengua y lo mejor de nuestra cultura.

Meet Erica Cooper
Erica Cooper is the faculty board member at Salida del Sol Academy. She has taught middle school art at Salida for six years. Overall, she has taught art K–8 for a total of eleven years, with previous teaching years in the Wisconsin Public Education System. She currently holds a Master's Degree in Art Educational Leadership from Boston University with her undergraduate work in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She enjoys working at Salida, and is excited to be on the board to advocate for her fellow colleagues and current students.