Sara Fitzgerald is proud to serve as Vice Chair of Equip Academy of New Mexico’s governing board. With a background in education policy, Sara has dedicated her career to improving student outcomes in New Mexico through roles with former Governor Susana Martinez’s policy team, the New Mexico Legislature, a community-based advocacy organization, and another local charter school. She now serves as Director of Policy and Compliance at BeWell, New Mexico’s health insurance marketplace.

Passionate about ensuring every child has access to a supportive, challenging, and joyful education, Sara brings both her professional expertise and personal commitment to Equip Academy’s mission. She believes deeply in creating a school environment where students feel they belong, discover their strengths, and pursue learning with confidence.

In her free time, Sara enjoys weightlifting, outdoor adventures with her partner Ben and their dog Rocco, and crafting.

Alejandra Grijalva
Alejandra Grijalva is honored to serve as a Founding Board Member of Equip Academy of New Mexico. A proud first-generation American and first-generation college graduate, Alejandra earned both her BBA in Finance and International Management and her Master of Public Policy from the University of New Mexico. She brings over a decade of experience in public service, including work as a fiscal analyst for the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, leadership roles in a nonprofit serving immigrants and refugees, and as a contract grant writer and translator helping secure more than $2 million in critical funding for national education and policy organizations.

Driven by her own journey as a Spanish-speaking child navigating U.S. schools, Alejandra is deeply committed to equity and inclusion in education. She believes strongly in creating learning environments where English learners, students with disabilities, and children from marginalized backgrounds are not only supported but also empowered to thrive.

Outside of her professional work, Alejandra enjoys giving back to her community, advancing language access, and helping shape the next generation of Latinx leaders.

Janet Leung is proud to serve as a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of Equip Academy of New Mexico. Raised in Mississippi by immigrant parents whose first language was Cantonese, Janet’s early challenges with English and her teachers’ encouragement helped spark a lifelong love of reading. She firmly believes every child deserves to read at grade level, regardless of background, and is passionate about Equip Academy’s focus on literacy as the foundation for success.

Janet brings over 13 years of professional experience in finance and accounting, with a degree in Financial Consulting and Economics from Southern Methodist University. She has worked in both Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations, and in her role as Board Treasurer, she applies her expertise to ensure the school’s fiscal strength and sustainability.

Dedicated to supporting young people, Janet has mentored and tutored children with special needs, guided high school students toward higher education and trade pathways, and continues to inspire youth to pursue their dreams. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, she enjoys traveling and outdoor adventures with her husband, including completing long-distance bike rides and hiking challenges. At home, she is happily outnumbered by her two spoiled indoor rabbits.

James Abeyta Stevens is honored to serve as a Founding Board Member of Equip Academy of New Mexico. A proud native New Mexican from Las Vegas now residing in Albuquerque, James credits his teachers for inspiring him to pursue higher education and believes deeply in the transformative power of supportive educators.

James holds a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from New Mexico Highlands University, along with bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Organizational Psychology. He has built a career spanning over two decades in Human Resources and is both SHRM-CP and PHR certified. In addition, he is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist in New Mexico and serves as Program Director and Chair of the Human Services Department at Central New Mexico Community College, where he oversees programs in Human Services and Substance Abuse Counseling.

Beyond higher education, James is a nationally recognized HR leader, serving on SHRM’s Membership Advisory Council as one of only five representatives for a 10-state region. In this role, he helps shape the future of work for more than 300,000 members nationwide.

James is passionate about creating safe, supportive, and inspiring environments for students. His commitment to Equip Academy stems from his belief that every child deserves to feel seen, encouraged, and equipped to succeed.

Mike Quinn is honored to serve as a Founding Board Member of Equip Academy of New Mexico. With over 35 years of professional experience in engineering management, operations, and executive leadership, he currently serves as Executive Vice President at Rio Grande, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Mike’s personal journey beginning in manual labor and trade work before earning his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and MBA has given him a deep appreciation for the transformative power of education.

A longtime Albuquerque resident, Mike has volunteered extensively with youth groups and mentored both his own children and colleagues throughout his career. He believes in equipping students early in life with opportunities that open doors to their future. His passion for learning and commitment to creating systems that help organizations thrive will guide his contributions to Equip Academy’s mission.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys hiking, tennis, pickleball, and scuba diving particularly with large marine animals like mantas, sea lions, and sharks.

Mary Jones is proud to serve as a Founding Board Member for Equip Academy of New Mexico. Mary was blessed with a wonderful kindergarten and first grade teacher who instilled a love of reading. Mary parlayed that formative experience and her lifelong love of learning into a successful legal career, culminating in partnership at a national law firm.

As a constant consumer of writing and a parent