Leadership

LEADERSHIP

Jay Slauter, Executive Director

Jay Slauter joined TYD in 2002 as a Youth Opportunity (YO) program coordinator, quickly advancing to Director of Alternative Education, School Counselor and Assistant Principal. For the past six years he has served as the principal of Alternative Computerized Education (ACE) Charter High School. Before relocating to Tucson in 2002, Mr. Slauter worked in transportation as marketing manager for Southwest Airlines and vice president for Customer Sales/Service with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. He also owned a travel agency in Durango, CO. He earned a second masters degree in counseling from Adams State University before becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor and working as a therapist in the behavioral health field. He also served as project director for a U.S. Department of Labor, Welfare-to-Work program in Cortez, CO for three years.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marissa Amezcua , President

Marissa serves as Case Manager at the Southwest Key Programs and is responsible for reunifying youth with their families. She holds an Associates degree in Liberal Arts from Pima Community College and a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a concentration in Leadership Studies & Practice from the University of Arizona.. Marissa also completed Arizona’s Science, Engineering and Math Scholars Program (ASEMS). She was nominated in 2014 for the Pima County Workforce Investment Board Youth Council’s Outstanding Youth award. In 2017, she received the Arizona’s Science, Engineering and Math Scholars Certificate of Achievement from the University of Arizona. She also participated in the 2017 Arizona Undergraduate Student Research Symposium for the presentation, “The Scientific Power of Meditation on Stress” and received a Certificate of Achievement from Pima Community College.

“I joined TYD’s After- School & Summer work program in 2011, and built a strong relationship with TYD staff and was encouraged to be a part of the leadership team and the change the organization is creating. My passion is to find ways to improve educational outcomes for underrepresented populations and promote early literacy practice and readiness in education.”

Robert C. Wortman, Ph.D., Treasurer

A former Director of Summer Youth Employment Programs, Robert is an Associate Professor of Practice teaching Language and Socio-cultural Studies at the University of Arizona. He is also on the Board of Directors for Tucson Area Reading Council and Arizona Reading Association.

Kirt Gardner

Kirt is a retired business manager, having spent over thirty years with Corning Inc. and 10 years with NovaNET Learning - a 9-12 computer-based distance learning program. Kirt is currently President of Imago Dei Board, a grades 5-8 private school for 80 lunch-program children.

"I have been on the TYD Board for more than 15 years. This is an exceptional 9-12 school-to-work program for children, many of whom would need a second chance."

Kasey Hill, Vice President/Secretary

Bio coming soon...

Jose Arias, Treasurer

Bio coming soon...

Julie Kudrna

Bio coming soon...

View Board of Director Governance requirements
as required by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools

• • • JOIN THE BOARD • • •

If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors, or to access Board Policies,
contact TYD's administrative office at (520) 623-5843 or by email.