Meet the Cottonwood Support Staff
Ms. Tiffany Clark, Front Office Receptionist
tiffany.clark@cottonwoodclassical.org
Ms. Dee Sowle, Attendance Secretary
dee.sowle@cottonwoodclassical.org
Ms. Cathy Gutierrez, Office Manager
cathy.gutierrez@cottonwoodclassical.org
Ms. Gutierrez has three children, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild who are my world. I’ve been in education going on my 29th year. During the summer months I’m a lunch monitor for Bernalillo County for 18 years monitoring sites around Albuquerque for Summer Lunch. I enjoy watching football, basketball and track. I enjoy working as Office Manager at CCPS learning with the students everyday.
Mrs. Katherine Smith, College and Career Counselor
katherine.smith@cottonwoodclassical.org
Katherine was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a first-generation college graduate she understands that navigating the college experience and the transition into adulthood is about more than just being academically prepared. Her goal is to support ALL students in selecting post-secondary paths that carefully consider future goals, personal values, and financial considerations. Her door is always open to discuss summer programs, college and career research, or to help with applications, scholarships, resumes, and college essays. She is also the sponsor of the Socrates Chapter of the National Honor Society at CCPS. When she isn’t completing professional tasks, she spends her free time traveling with her family, completing extensive home DIY projects that require the assistance of her husband, and snuggling with her three Goldendoodles.
Mrs. Meghan Lowe, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Coordinator
meghan.lowe@cottonwoodclassical.org
Meghan Lowe grew up in California. She earned her BA in History from UC Berkeley. She began teaching in 2008 at an International Baccalaureate World School on the Texas-Mexico border. She moved to NM and joined the CCPS staff in 2011. She has held various roles in the CCPS History department, and is now the IB Diploma Program Coordinator, working primarily with 11th and 12th grade students and teachers to implement our IB program. She has traveled in Latin America, including living in Chile and Guatemala, and enjoys hiking, reading, social justice work, cooking vegetarian food, and hanging out with her partner and two kids.
Mrs. Julie Green, Assistant Registrar
julie.green@cottonwoodclassical.org
Julie is the Assistant Registrar working remotely for CCPS. She’s been with Cottonwood since 2015 starting as the Front Office Receptionist. When it comes to her job she believes in the Golden Rule and service excellence! She’s a loyal supporter of the IB program and the IB Learner Profile Traits. Julie has 2 amazing kids that graduated from Cottonwood and has seen the benefits that an IB education has provided them. Anytime she’s not working she loves being with family and friends. She enjoys outdoor adventures, cooking, music, binge watching favorite shows and curling up with her cat and a good book.
Mrs. Jackie Geerts, Registrar and STARS Coordinator – Retired as of March 1st
jackie.geerts@cottonwoodclassical.org
Jackie is the registrar for Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School and has worked for Albuquerque Public Schools and New Mexico Charter Schools for 21 years. Jackie has spent 30 years volunteering in the community with children and the elderly in association with APS, NM Charter Schools, and in her personal life. Jackie has raised three children and instilled the values and importance of hard work and giving back to the community through example. Jackie has always been involved in volunteering from being a girl scout leader and boys scout leader, to booster clubs, PTA and PTO. Jackie is a firm believer in advocating for the community, especially the underserved who have no one to advocate for them. Jackie joined The Willow Foundation because she believes that everyone should be treated the way that she would treat her own loved ones. The measure of a society is how we treat our young, our elderly, and our sick; Jackie views volunteering and Non-Profit work as her way to give back to improve the measure of our society. In her free time, Jackie enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two grandchildren.
Mrs. Francine Binnert, Librarian; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator
francine.binnert@cottonwoodclassical.org
Francine is the founding librarian at CCPS and is responsible for the development and implementation of the library learning commons space and program. In this capacity, she manages electronic and physical collections; provides instruction on research, citing, AI, and academic integrity; and is dedicated to ensuring all students and faculty have free, confidential access to the information they desire. In her spare time, she also volunteers as the vice president and site coordinator for New Mexico Battle of the Books and secretary for the New Mexico School Librarians SIG of the New Mexico Library Association.
Additionally, Francine serves as the diversity, equity & inclusion coordinator and equity council lead. She sponsors multiple student affinity groups and assists in the implementation of professional development and student programming related to DE&I.
Natalie Pace, Library and Technology Assistant
natalie.pace@cottonwoodclassical.org
Ms. Natalie Pace is the Library and Technology Technician at CCPS. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History and English Literature from Colorado State University, and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Syracuse University. Here at CCPS she can be found working with students in the library and assisting with technology questions and distribution. She has a passion for books and reading, and also enjoys listening to music, spending time with her cat, and playing video games in her free time.
Mrs. Jennifer Dennison, School Nurse
jennifer.dennison@cottonwoodclassical.org
Jennifer Dennison graduated from UNM School of Nursing Bachelors program in 1995. She has had many experiences in different nursing roles, but her passion lies with charter school nursing since 2009. She has had the pleasure to be able to work alongside many students from kindergarten to the twelfth grade. Her goal is to always be compassionate and encouraging to any student who walks through her door, and to support the students health so that they can succeed to the best of their abilities.
Chris Rigali, Athletic Director, Title IX Coordinator, Sports Officiating Teacher, Safety and Security Director
christine.rigali@cottonwoodclassical.org
A native of Albuquerque, NM, Christine Rigali has a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ and a Master’s of Education in Professional Leadership from Regis University, Denver, CO. Prior to joining the staff at CCPS, Ms. Rigali taught Physical Education, coached and was the athletic director for 15 years at Our Lady of Fatima School. In her first 4 years at Cottonwood Classical Prep, she taught Physical Education and for the past 6 years she has since taken on the role of Athletic Director and Safety/Security Director.