Mission Statement

The Mission of the Haak’u Community Academy Family and Child Education (FACE) Program is to is to strengthen families and provide quality educational and lifelong opportunities for Native American families from Early Childhood through Adult Life.

Program Goals

The overall goals of the FACE Program are to:

  • Support parents/primary caregiver in their role as their children’s first and most influential teacher.
  • Strengthen family-school-community connections.
  • Increase participation in their child’s learning and expectations for academic achievement.
  • Support and celebrate the unique cultural and linguistic diversity of each American Indian community served by the program.

Participant Eligibility

  • Be a Native American Child
  • Comply with: Adult Education, Early Childhood Education, PACT Time and Parent Time

What is PACT Time?

FACE Parents/caregivers dedicated 1 hour everyday to interact with their children in the Center-Based FACE classroom, allowing for their child to lead. Parents/caregivers will be able to support their child’s learning.

  • Promote family literacy
  • Home-Based families must be active in visits
  • Center-Based families must participate in FACE center-based programs

What we offer

  • Free books offered monthly
  • Field Trips
  • Incentives
  • In Adult Education, adults work toward obtaining their goals

Home Based FACE Services

  • 1-hour home visits
  • Tracked progress of Infant milestones
  • ASQ Screenings
  • Hearing/Vision Screenings
  • PACT Time

Center Based FACE Services

Center-Based FACE is located at the Haak’u Community Academy

  • Child 3-5 years of age, are prepared for the transition for Kindergarten.
  • Reflect on their culture and community
  • Early childhood teachers help parents in learning about their child’s development
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks are provided for FACE Center-Based children

Center Based Adult Education

  • Parents/caregivers in the Adult Education classroom focus on their personal, academic, or career goals.
  • Gain educational training
  • Job training
  • PACT Time with Center Based Children
  • GED test prep

 

FACE also serves K-3rd grade families at the Haak’u Community Academy, working toward supporting families in Adult Education and 1-Hour (weekly) PACT Time that takes place in the elementary school setting.

Staff

2020-04-27_larissa-judd

Hello Everyone, my name is Larissa Lujan- Judd, and I am from Grants New Mexico, born and raised. I have my Associates Degree in Liberal Arts an Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and I am currently working on my Masters of Early Childhood Education through NMSU. I serve on the board for the New Mexico Breastfeeding task force.  Currently I work as the Parent Educator and have been for going on three years for the Family and Child Education (FACE) Program for the Pueblo of Acoma Department of Education. With this I serve expecting mothers and children in the community from prenatal to five years of age. The primary goal of home-based services it to support parents in their role as their child’s first teacher because learning happens in the everyday moments you share with your child. I am very pleased to serve the Acoma community and I look forward to seeing the great steps our program will take as we serve our families in the community.

Gu’wa’dzi Hou’ba

My name is Marissa Pasquale. I am currently the Early Childhood Education Center-Based Co-Teacher for the Family and Child Education (FACE) program. I Graduated from Grants High School and attended some college at New Mexico Highlands University. I then attended New Mexico State University. I am an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma. I look forward to working in the classroom with the youth of our community. Outside of teaching I enjoy spending time with my family. If any questions about the FACE Preschool Program feel free to contact any of our FACE staff.

Hello, My name is Esteban Alba-Perez and I am the Pre-Kindergarten teacher for the FACE program. A little about me: I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Spanish. I am currently working on my Master Degree in Early Childhood. I have taught 3 years of Bilingual Kindergarten and 2 years of middle school (6th through 8th grade) Social Studies (Bilingual) and English Language Arts and now entering my 6th year of teaching Preschool. Prior to becoming a teacher I also have been an Educational Assistant for Kindergarten, 1st grade and for Special Education for 4 years. I look forward to working with your children on a daily basis and watching them grow academically to prepare them for Kindergarten.  

Deidre Williams is the new Adult Education Instructor. Her role is to support the Grandmothers/Parents/Aunties/Guardians of our Pre-K students by providing parenting, literacy, academic and cultural enrichment classes for adults. She has previously taught GED/HSE classes in Albuquerque and at the Women’s Prison in Grants as well as teaching classes in Literature, Composition, Social Problems, and Identity & Inequality at UNM Main and Valencia Campuses. Ms. Williams has a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies and an M.A. in Creative Writing. She is committed to making education a nurturing and positive experience for families and believes in holistic support that includes writing and workshops on generational trauma, healing, consciousness and resilience.