About Mona Izquierdo
Director of Education - El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission

As Director of Education, Mona is responsible for the management of El Buen’s early-childhood, youth and adult education programs.

Prior to joining El Buen, Mona planned, developed, implemented and supported Communities In Schools programs for 17 years at the local, state and national level. Since joining El Buen in July 2008, Mona has solidified all education programs, adding life-skills workshops for adults and an evening tutoring program, reading camp and outdoor recreational program for children and youth. She began her career with the Young Women's Christian Association in El Paso after receiving her bachelor of arts from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Coming from an education-driven family, Mona continues fulfilling her life-long passion of helping children and families have a better chance for success in life. She strongly believes all children deserve the opportunity to receive guidance and support so they can fulfill their hopes and dreams. Mona’s goals for the year ahead include strengthening El Buen’s youth educational programs and providing a solid education experience to each student enrolled at El Buen Samaritano.

Which of your personal traits is most important in making you a good leader?
Fair-minded — I strive to show fair treatment to all my staff and rely on each of their strengths to get the job done. My ability to be sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others is the key to my leadership skills.
Was there a particular experience in your life that prepared you for leadership?
I cannot pinpoint one particular moment. I have had numerous supervisors that I learned so much from, the good, the bad and the really bad. I always took notice at the attributes that I found really effective and applied them. Honestly it was not the good leaders that I learned from most, it was the really bad leaders.
What was the "aha" moment that got you started in your current career line of work?
I actually fell into my career by accident. I come from an education driven family, my father, mother, sister, aunts and cousins are all educators and I decided that I was not going to be in education . I was going to be different. In fact I received my degree in Photography and advertising, thinking I was going to become an great advertsing professional. When I graduated from college, I decided to work at a summer camp in Maryland just for fun, and needless to say that was the beginning to the slow transformation of my career as an educator. Education was extremly important to my father, although he supported any career I would choose to do, he would be elated if I continued the family tradition. It was that same summer that my father passed way, I returned home and began to work for the school district working with immigrant middle schoolers, then with the YWCA, eventually beginning a 17 year career with Communities In Schools. Until the day that I walked into the fronts doors of the Texas Education Agency, did finally surrender to the fact that I was an educator and till this day I enjoy every minute of my career.
What are you worst at and what do you hate to do? How are they different?
Well if you ask my friends and colleagues I am not good at decorating, apparently I am no Martha Stewart. I hate public attention, I love to be in the background and make things happen. How are they different? I see these two items more similar than different. Both items are what people see and gather to determine their first impression s of someone. In this case me, and I prefer to remain a mystery to people.
When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was ten the the Six Million Dollar man and the Bionic Woman were popular tv shows, and I was always facinated with the different stunts they would do. I learned at that age that stunt doubles did those tricks and I really wanted to be a stunt double. A stunt person is a highly trained, skilled professional who believes there is no challenge that can't be overcome, or any idea that can't be accomplished. Creativity coupled with knowledge, experience and a "can-do" attitude is the key to their success. This intriguing realization on this past reflection is what I have always lived my life by. I truly do believe there is no challenge that can’t be overcome or any idea that can’t be accomplished and the “can-do attitude” has been the key to accomplishing my goals in life. These values are ones I have always tried to instill in my staff and the children’s lives that I have had the pleasure to work to with.