Mr. Eastman is starting his fourth year here at EVCA and the third as a full-time instructor. He currently teaches math, science, and financial literacy. He also hosts the robotics club. Before EVCA he worked as an adjunct math instructor at Central New Mexico Community College for six years. Before that, he worked as a Math Instructional Technician for several years at the college level. His work history spans several different fields, including the trades, hospitality, and nonprofit work.  He lives in the East mountains with his kids, dogs, and farm animals. He has recently celebrated the birth of his first grandchild.

Ms. Elias-Gonzalez  was born in Guatemala. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Ms. Elias- Gonzalez has been with E.V.C.A since around 2013. She is very happy to be here!

Mrs. Tracey Erickson earned an M.S. in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University, Houston (2000), and a B.S. in Physical Education with a Physical Therapy emphasis and an English minor from Brigham Young University, Provo (1996). After graduate school, she and her husband Jon returned to Washington State where they both grew up. She homeschooled her children for 11 years, until she and her family relocated to New Mexico in 2019. Mrs. Erickson is a licensed physical therapist in New Mexico. As a PT, she has worked in hospital, skilled nursing, and outpatient settings, and currently delivers school-based PT services at EVCA. She earned an Alternative Teaching Licensure certification from CNM, and has been an EVCA upper school science teacher since 2020. All four of Mrs. Erickson’s children have attended EVCA; two are EVCA grads and one is a current EVCA student. Mrs. Erickson enjoys learning about exercise science and nutrition; morning fitness workouts; weekly date nights with her husband; hiking, watching BYU football, and eating good food with her family; playing violin; and reading.

Erika was born and raised in Queens, NYC and moved to New Mexico in 2018.  She met her husband in NYC at The Pierre Hotel where they both worked.  Together they have an amazing daughter who attends EVCA and is the sweetest, silliest, most incredible person they know.  She loves Harry Potter and Disney, animals, going on adventures, exploring the world when able, good food, and working out.  She comes from a hospitality background and has worked with kids of all ages as a camp staff member and here in New Mexico as a Pre-k3 assistant teacher and after-school teacher.  During HS years – she was in JROTC where she competed on the Drill Team’s unarmed color guard and unarmed squad/platoon in nationals.  Erika was also lucky enough to be selected to represent Queens to go on an educational awareness trip to Antarctica where she was able to swim in the freezing water, dip in hot springs, and have close encounters with curious penguins and whales.  She attended St. John’s University where she studied Hospitality Management and Business.  Erika was also part of a local sorority Lambda Phi where she held positions of Recruitment Chair, Athletic Chair/Community Service, and Vice President. Once she graduated is when she started working at The Pierre Hotel on 5^th Avenue for about 8 years in the food and beverage departments, between the restaurant, room service, and the bar & lounge where they served afternoon tea during the day and had glamourous parties and Broadway events in the evenings.

Mrs. Ford’s family and her husband Peter have grown up in New Mexico.  Their families have roots of approximately 100 years beginning as farmers and then moving into ranching in New Mexico.  Peter and Dixie were blessed with two children, Maria and Edward.  Mrs. Ford attended the University of New Mexico and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting.  She has worked in public accounting auditing not-for-profits, small businesses and construction companies.  In addition she has worked in private industry for a construction contractor.  Mrs. Ford is excited to be able to spend time with her students and share the core virtues of Estancia Valley Classical Academy.  Mrs. Ford loves spending time with her family doing activities like bike riding and boating.

Amanda Franklin has worked for the EVCA since 2022 mostly as a one-on-one Educational Assistant. She has lived in New Mexico since 2014. She primarily lived in the north west states, but has also lived in Upstate New York, as well as Texas. She is married to Randy Franklin who had also worked for the EVCA in the past. Mrs. Franklin loves to read, write stories, knit, and spend time with her family. She also has a love for poodles and breeds the standard variety when her time allows. Even though she loves working for the EVCA, her dream is to write entertaining stories for others to enjoy.

Tara Gomez was blessed in her early years as a successful High School athlete, while also establishing a thriving equine career.  In 2010, New Mexico State University signed Tara to a full scholarship to compete on their equestrian team. While at NMSU she garnered such awards as an NCAA All American in Reining, and an Academic All-American award while receiving her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, K-8. Tara has utilized her passion for teaching in kindergarten, first, second, fifth and now fourth grade. Tara has taught in Southern, Eastern, Western and now Central New Mexico, helping students find their love of learning is her greatest desire. This is Tara’s 11th year of teaching and third year at EVCA. Moving to the East Mountains in 2022 Tara and her family call Edgewood home. Tara enjoys paying her giftings forward by supporting the youth in the surrounding community in T-Ball, and Basketball.

Ms. Hanna has been a lifelong local of the East Mountains and currently resides in Moriarty. Her
love of art, family and animals propelled her through her early schooling. At the end of HIgh
school, Ms. Hanna dreamed of becoming an Art teacher and opening an art studio and gallery
in the East Mountains for those who do not have the space, supplies or support to explore their
artistic and creative interests. She acquired her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Santa Fe University
of Art and Design in 2016. Currently, she is working toward a career as an Art Educator, with
hopes of being able to accomplish that studio and gallery.

Mrs. Henson has been a part of the EVCA community for the past eight years working in a variety of positions.  She is going on her ninth year and will be teaching in the kindergarten classroom.  Teaching has always been a passion of hers as she began her journey as a Montessorian in 2000.  Mrs. Henson has over 20 years of experience working with children from the ages of 2-19 years old.  Though she is a native of New Mexico, she lived on the east coast and received schooling from Loyola College as well as received her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Grand Canyon University.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading, camping, trips to the lake, and spending time with her loved ones.  She is married to Chester and has three children.  Aidan, an alumni of The EVCA and is now a soldier in the Army; Andrew is 13 and he is eager for his eighth grade year; and Avery Jo who is absolutely excited to be in kindergarten.  She feels blessed to be a part of this beautiful community and ready for this school year to welcome the class of 2038!