Southwest Regional Education Cooperative Staff

Valerie Brea has been in education for over 29 years. She spent the first eight years of her career as a special education teacher in a self-contained K–5 class and then as a reading coach in an elementary school in Silver City, New Mexico. During these years, she obtained two master’s degrees, one in special education and one in educational leadership, in addition to her BA in elementary education. Providence led her to a ten-year position, during which she was simultaneously the principal and SPED director, and she taught as many as three classes a day in history and English to middle and high school students. Ms. Brea has spent the past 11 working with the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative (SWREC). She started as a program director and associate director, designing and implementing professional development for teachers covering a wide range of topics including Special Education and MLSS, and now has the position of Executive Director. She also coaches principals and school leaders across the state in various Priority Schools Bureau programs and throughout the SWREC member districts.

Erica was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but she has lived in Deming, New Mexico, all her life. She started as a vocational transition specialist who, after being in the banking business for ten years, plunged into this new career on August 1, 2017. Erica has earned a bachelor's degree in general business and a master's in business administration, both from Western New Mexico University. As of January 3, 2018, she is the SWREC operations manager.

About Debora Armijo

Debbie is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but has lived in Deming for over 30 years. Debbie has been with the SWREC for almost three years in the capacity of Office Manager/IGA Support, after previously working at the local hospital for over 24years. Debbie is married and has a son, daughter, stepson, and six grandchildren. She and her husband live on a “mini-farm” along the Mimbres River where she enjoys the peacefulness of country living and attending her grandchildren’s many activities. Debbie is currently pursuing a degree at Western New Mexico University in Human Services

Kristina Camacho was born and raised in Deming, New Mexico. She started with SWREC in 2018. She is a medicaid clerk for the organization. She hopes to pursue a degree in graphic design. Kristina is married with four boys, three of them grown and the last one in high school. In her free time, she plays women's slow pitch softball. She loves to hang out with her husband and boys while hunting and fishing, or just playing softball!

Crystal Gonzales, a proud Deming native, joined the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative team in February 2023 as our Medicaid financial coordinator. She comes to us after working for the Deming Public School District for over 21 years. Crystal served in various positions during her tenure with DPS, including her most distinguished positions as administrative assistant for the Transportation Department and lastly as the lead equity liaison for the Equity Department. During her time in the Transportation Department, she obtained her bachelor's degree in business from Western New Mexico University.  In her downtime, she enjoys time spent with her family and friends.

Lisa Pastran has lived in New Mexico for 50 years. She comes from a military family with many family members being career military. She joined the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative in March of 2013. She came from a lengthy 28-year career in Banking and Finance where she worked her way to becoming a bank officer. During that time, she worked across most departments and considered her co-workers family. In her 12+ years with the SWREC she has also worked across many positions such as events coordinator and office management and Medicaid support. At present she holds the position of Business Services Specialist which puts her back in her niche and a role she enjoys with her love for numbers where her passion has been for most of her working career. In her time away from work she enjoys church, time with family and has been known to win a Chile cooking contest or two. She also has a love for writing and hopes to publish a book once she decides to put away her calculator for good.

Amber Rivera
Medicaid Specialist
Southwest Regional Education Cooperative

Amber Rivera is a Medicaid Specialist with the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative, where she provides billing support and guidance for the Medicaid School-Based Services Program. She works closely with over 50 school districts and charter schools across New Mexico, helping them navigate the ins and outs of Medicaid billing with confidence and clarity.

Before joining the team, Amber spent nine years at Mimbres Memorial Hospital as an ER Registration and Admissions Clerk, gaining valuable experience in healthcare administration and patient services.

When she's not helping schools stay on track with billing, Amber enjoys spending quality time with her husband, kids, and grandbaby. Family means everything to her, and she brings that same warmth and care to her work every day.