Southwest Regional Education Cooperative Staff

We are proud to employ a dedicated staff of experts in their field! With a love for our community and a desire to provide our students with an exemplary public education, we are committed to providing local school districts with services that streamline their administrative responsibilities so they can focus on what matters most—students! If we can help you in any way, please feel free to contact us. We are here to serve you!

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  • Brea Valerie
    Valerie Brea Executive Director Send message »

    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.


  • Reyes Erica
    Erica Reyes Finance Director Send message »

    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.


    Erica Reyes
  • Smyer KaLee
    KaLee Smyer HR Director Send message »
    KaLee was born and raised in New Mexico. KaLee graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in 2019. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and family. KaLee joined the SWREC team in April 2021 and took on the role of HR Director in 2022.

    KaLee Smyer
  • Armijo Debora
    Debora Armijo Office Manager/IGA Support Send message »

    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


    Debora Armijo
  • Cabrera Tina
    Tina Cabrera Medicaid Clerk Send message »
    Tina started working every summer at a meat company in New Jersey where her siblings and Tina would spend our summers with their grandparents. She began an early education degree at NMSU but was unable to finish. She still has the passion for teaching young children. Before coming to join the SWREC family, Tina worked for Luna County as a court security officer. She enjoyed working with the public at the old courthouse, and the coworkers there became family. She has been with her lovely wife 21 years, and she is Tina's rock. They have a four-year-old they are truly blessed to have in their lives. Although technically a grandchild, the baby calls Tina's wife mommy, and Tina is Nini. She is their world! Tina joined the SWREC team June 2024 and loves the chance this new job allows her to spend more time with her baby. She is a welcome addition to the SWREC family.

    Tina Cabrera
  • Camacho Kristina
    Kristina Camacho Medicaid Clerk Send message »

    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!


    Kristina Camacho
  • Gonzales Crystal
    Crystal Gonzales Medicaid Financial Coordinator Send message »

    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.


    Crystal Gonzales
  • Hester Terrance
    Terrance Hester Business Services Specialist Send message »
    Terrance is a New Mexico native and has lived here his entire life. He was born and raised in Alamogordo and attended college at both UNM and NMSU. He graduated from New Mexico State University in May of 2011 with his bachelor's in business administration, specializing in finance with minors in banking and risk management and insurance. Terrance came to our team after spending 10 years in the federal sector working for the USPS management team. In April of 2021, Terrance joined the SWREC team and is motivated to work with his school teams and the Business Services Department.

  • Labadie Virginia (Gina)
    Virginia (Gina) Labadie Special Education Instructional Specialist Send message »

    In July 2019, Virginia (Gina) Labadie joined Southwest Regional Education Cooperative as a special education instructional specialist. She has been an educator for 22 years. After graduating from WNMU in 1997, she taught Head Start for three years. In 2000, she began working in public schools and just completed her nineteenth year. During her teaching career, she taught regular education for six years and then special education for thirteen years. She has experience in grades K-12 that includes resource room, self-contained, and inclusion support classes. She currently holds a BA in elementary education and a MAT in special education, with a Level III dual teaching license for K-8 elementary and K-12 special education.


    Virginia (Gina) Labadie
  • Ortiz Mary
    Mary Ortiz Instructional Specialist Send message »
    In July 2023, Mary Ortiz joined our Southwest Regional Education Cooperative team as an instructional specialist. She began her career teaching in the Deming Public School District in 1996. She holds an elementary education bachelor's degree from NMSU. She taught 4th and 5th grade at Columbus, Smith, Ruben S. Torres, and Chaparral Elementary Schools before retiring from Deming Public Schools after 27 years of service. She is married and a mother of three grown children and grandmother. She enjoys spending time with her husband, friends and family, watching sports, and dancing.

    Mary Ortiz
  • Pastran Lisa
    Lisa Pastran Business Services Specialist and Medicaid Support Send message »

    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.


    Lisa Pastran
  • Richmond Amber
    Amber Richmond Instructional Specialist and IT Send message »

    Amber Richmond joined the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative (SWREC) in July 2022 as an Instructional Specialist, bringing with her over 16 years of experience in education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education with endorsements in Reading, English Language Arts (ELA), and Technology, along with a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Amber also holds a K–12 Administrative License, equipping her with both the instructional and leadership expertise necessary to support educators at every level.

    In her current role, Amber works closely with school staff across eight different school districts, providing targeted support through professional development, instructional coaching, and mentorship. She facilitates a variety of trainings tailored to the evolving needs of educators, helping them implement research-based strategies that improve student outcomes. Whether working one-on-one with teachers, leading collaborative team meetings, or supporting district-wide initiatives, Amber is known for her thoughtful guidance and commitment to fostering growth in others.

    Amber’s work extends beyond instruction—she has also taken on the role of IT support for the SWREC. In this capacity, she troubleshoots technical issues, maintains technology systems, and ensures that staff has the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital learning environment. Her dual role highlights her adaptability and her willingness to step in wherever help is needed.

    Throughout her career, Amber has remained passionate about empowering educators and creating positive, supportive learning environments for all students. Her combination of instructional knowledge, leadership skills, and technical expertise makes her a valuable resource and trusted partner for the schools she serves.


    Amber Richmond
  • Rivera Amber
    Amber Rivera Medicaid Specialist Send message »

    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.


    Amber Rivera
  • Soderberg Toby
    Toby Soderberg Project Administrator Send message »
    Toby Soderberg is a level III teacher and administrator who began teaching for the Deming Public School District in 2004. He spent the first eight years of his career as a music teacher (instrumental and vocal) at an elementary, middle school, and high school in Deming, New Mexico. During this time, he obtained his first master's degree in educational leadership from WNMU. Upon completing this degree, Dr. Soderberg made a career change and shifted from teaching music to teaching English language arts in sixth grade for three years. During this transition, he completed his second master's degree in education from ENMU, which focused on reading and TESOL. For the past five years, Dr. Soderberg has been a principal at an elementary school and completed the doctoral program at NMSU, where he received his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on educational learning technologies. He began working for SWREC in February 2022. His priority is to continue to support the districts, educators, and students of Southwest New Mexico.

    Toby Soderberg
  • Verduzco Lauren
    Lauren Verduzco IGA Coordinator & Chief Procurement Officer Send message »
    Lauren is a New Mexico native who has been residing in Deming most of her life. Lauren is currently pursuing a business degree from WNMU with an emphasis in finance and management. For the past seven years, Lauren has worked at and managed two local non-profits. These non-profits aimed to address domestic violence and our homeless population in Luna County. The business and grant portion of her work helped to ignite her passion for business services and, particularly, finances. Lauren joined the SWREC team on contract in August 2020, managing a grant for daycares throughout the state of NM, and she became a full-time business services specialist in June 2021. Lauren is married with two children and has a growing farm outside of town.

    Lauren Verduzco