David Griego
Mr. David Griego, Safety Coordinator for Central Consolidated School District. He is about to begin his third year of employment with the district. Mr. Griego is a twenty-one-year veteran of law enforcement with the Farmington Police Department. During his career, he has been involved in every type of criminal investigation at the local, state, and federal levels. He held various functions and positions with the department, including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Street Crimes, Investigations, and Internal Affairs. Mr. Griego was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he was responsible for supervising officers’ daily activities until he retired.
Mr. Griego is dedicated to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all CCSD students and staff.
Devin Verhulst
Mr. Devin Verhulst is currently the COVID-19 Safety Coordinator for Central Consolidated School District. He has been with our district for approximately four years. He is retired from a 20-year career in the Criminal Justice Industry. During his 20-year career, he has served our community in many capacities with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. He has a passion for instructing and helping people grow professionally through learning.
Mr. Verhulst is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a Degree in Parks and Recreation Management/Ecosystems Science Management. He loves our community and our public lands. He continues to work extremely hard to help protect the people of San Juan County but also to protect/preserve/conserve the public lands for future generations.
Mr. Verhulst looks forward to continuing to serve our students and staff at CCSD in helping to empower everyone to improve upon their safety awareness.
Kari Abney
Mrs. Kari Abney is currently a Lead Safety Advisor at Kirtland High School, and this is her first year working for Central Consolidated School District. She is originally from Bloomfield, NM, and she has a passion for the outdoors, and sports and loves to spend time with her family.
She is a graduate of Napa Valley Jr College in Napa, CA with an AS Degree in Social and Behavior Science. Mrs. Abney earned a BA degree in Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 1999. Throughout her career, she has helped women and children heal from the trauma of domestic violence and has been advocating for Domestic Violence Survivors in our community for several years. Her leadership skills in Crisis Intervention, safety planning, and informational support will be a welcomed asset to the CCSD Safety Team.
Mrs. Abney’s goal as a Lead Safety Advisor is to utilize her skill sets to make Kirtland Central High School and ALL other CCSD schools the safest by working with the entire community. Safety is her first priority.
George Joy
Mr. George Joy is currently assigned to Shiprock High School as a Lead Safety Advisor. This is his first year working for the Central Consolidated School District. He was born and raised in the United Kingdom until he immigrated to the United States of America in 2005. While living in the UK, he served almost 12 years in the British Army in various roles. Mr. Joy is a veteran of Desert Storm and counter-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland.
After immigrating to the USA in 2005, he had several different jobs in Northern Virginia and New Mexico. He served with the Farmington Police Department and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office from 2010 to 2021. During this time he was a patrol officer, detective, field training officer, Corporal, and instructor in several different disciplines. Mr. Joy is glad to be part of the CCSD Lead Safety Advisor team and will continue working with our students, staff, and the public to keep them safe.
Denise Thompson
Mrs. Denise Thompson, Lead Safety Advisor at Newcomb High School for Central Consolidated School District. Mrs. Thompson is a retired Military Police Officer and a Combat Veteran who served multiple tours overseas protecting and serving this great nation. Through her Military service, Mrs. Thompson met her spouse and relocated to Tohatchi, NM to raise their family and focus on Navajo roots and traditions. Mrs. Thompson is a lifetime student and values the educational system in her personal and professional life. Holding an Associates degree in Medical Massage and Sports Recovery as well as a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology and Organizational Leadership, she is motivated to keep the students, staff, and members of the community safe while providing an exciting and engaging atmosphere in the school system.
Dave Hamlin
Mr. Dave Hamlin is one of the Lead Safety Advisors currently assigned to Kirtland High School. He originally came to the area serving a 2- year church mission and decided to make the area his home. He is a long-time resident of Kirtland, where he raised his children, who all graduated from Kirtland High School.
Mr. Hamlin managed a business in Shiprock for 19 years. He was a volunteer as a law enforcement officer with the New Mexico Mounted Patrol for 7 years, working with the State Police. In 2000 Mr. Hamlin left the business and was hired by the Sheriff’s Office to follow his dream of a career in Law Enforcement.
During his career at the Sheriff’s Office, he worked as a Patrol Deputy and then as a School Resource Officer at Kirtland High School. Mr. Hamlin later worked as a detective for four years. He was on the SWAT team, a firearms instructor, and Crisis Negotiations team leader during his career. He was later promoted to Sergeant in 2008 and then to Lieutenant in 2013. As a Lieutenant, Mr. Hamlin was instrumental in getting deputies back into the schools by developing an MOU with the school administration in 2014. Mr. Hamlin retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2021.
Mr. Hamlin is active in his religion and has worked with youth for most of his adult life. He has volunteered many hours to the Boy Scouts of America and teaches martial arts with his friend at Kirtland Karate. He enjoys the outdoors through camping and hunting. His goal is to maintain a safe learning environment for the students and Staff at Central Consolidated Schools.
Eric Williams
Mr. Eric Williams was honorably discharged as a Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of Shiprock High School. He is currently assigned to Naschitti Elementary School as our Lead Safety Advisor. He loves fitness, especially running. While in the USMC, he earned the title “Company Iron Man” by being the most physically fit recruit in his company, “Echo.”
Mr. William's experience and knowledge in the security field, with an emphasis on combat preparedness/readiness and his tactical leadership skills, are welcomed by our students, staff, and community members to help keep everyone safe. As a Lead Safety Advisor for Naschitti Elementary, he looks forward to influencing those around him to become the best at whatever they choose to be! His favorite saying is, "Be a King who fights his own battles!” He loves to help everyone to be able to beat all adversity that the world puts in front of them, no matter their size, lifestyle, or ethnicity.
Miguel Velarde
Mr. Miguel Roque Velarde, “Rocky”, is the Lead Safety Advisor at Tse Bit Ai Middle School, for Central Consolidated School District. Mr. Velarde is a retired Police Officer, who served for 21 years at the Farmington Police Department. During his time as a Police Officer, he served as a Patrolman, a School Resource Officer, a Narcotics Agent, a SWAT Commander, and a Supervisor. He is a Father and Grandfather who enjoys spending time with his family, the outdoors, and participating in Rodeos, where he rides bulls.
Misty Genson
Mrs. Misty Genson was born in Durango, Colorado, and raised in Aztec, New Mexico, where she graduated in 2001 from Aztec High School. She attended College for a year and then went to Northland Baptist Bible College for three years to return to San Juan College. While going to school, she worked for her dad, Willie Taylor, as a plumber’s assistant.
In November 2008, she joined the Farmington Police Department and graduated from the Police Academy in June 2009. During Mrs. Genson's time at the Farmington Police Department, she served as a Patrol Officer, District Coordinator, an advisor for the Explorer program, an Instructor at the Police academy, and finished as a School Resource Officer. Mrs. Genson is excited to share the knowledge she has learned over the years as she starts her new endeavor as a Lead Safety Advisor at Ojo Elementary.
Gary McKendry
Mr. Gary K. McKendry is the Lead Safety Advisor at Career Prep High School for the Central Consolidated School District. Mr. McKendry is a 9-year U.S. Navy Veteran, and he was honorably discharged. He worked for the San Juan County Adult Detention Center for 17 years. During his time with the Detention Center, Mr. McKendry worked as a Booking-Release Officer, Transport Officer, Intake Officer, and Video Arraignment Officer and finished his career as the Classification Gang Task Force Officer.
Mr. McKendry is very loyal. His training and knowledge throughout his many years of service protecting our Country and community have led to his safety-minded mentality. His professionalism in the Safety profession and his attributes in the area of Safety are why he is a Lead Safety Advisor for CCSD.
Beronica Barber
Mrs. Beronica Barber identifies as Ma’ii Deeshgiizhnii, Tl’ááshchí’í yash’chiin, Naakaii dine’é da bii chei, Tachchinii da bii nali. She lives in Sanostee, New Mexico, and is currently the Lead Safety Advisor at Shiprock High School located in Shiprock, NM. Mrs. Barber is an experienced Emergency Response and Logistics team member. Her experience and knowledge are also in the areas of Victim Advocacy, Children Advocacy, Youth Program Supervisor/Advocate, and she has numerous years in the Security Profession.
Outside of work, she has a passion for ranching, Dine Culture, and spending time with family. She is looking forward to working as a new LSA and assisting in implementing safety and support to the district and schools.
Kyle Atcitty
Mr. Kyle Atcitty is from Zuni Clan, born for the Towering House Clan. His Maternal Grandparent is of the Mexican Clan, and his Paternal Grandparent is from the Red Bottom Clan. He is a son, husband, father and grandpa. Mr. Atcitty was born and raised in Shiprock, NM, and graduated from Shiprock High School. Mr. Atcitty was a Police Officer with the Navajo Nation Police Department and worked for the Pueblo of Sandia Police Department. During his law enforcement career, he has held multiple positions and was an instructor in multiple areas of specialties.
After his law enforcement career, he worked at the Navajo Mine and San Juan Mine. Mr. Atcitty enjoyed operating all sorts of heavy equipment. Mr. Atcitty holds various certifications to operate heavy mining machinery. Mr. Atcitty is currently a Certified NRA Firearms Instructor in Handguns/Rifles. Some of his hobbies include weightlifting, motorcycle riding, Fishing, small game hunting, and any type of mechanical work.
Mr. Atcitty looks forward to using his skill set to assist in keeping our schools at CCSD safe for all of our students and staff.
Emerson T. Charley Jr.
Mr. Emerson T. Charley Jr. is a 1991 graduate of Kirtland Central High School. In 1999 he began hiscareer with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office where he served in several positions including PatrolDeputy, Field Training Officer, Crime Scene Technician, School Resource Officer (SRO), Crash Reconstruction, and Civil Deputy. In 2019 he completed his 20 year service and retired from the Sheriff’s Office but wanted to continue helping those in need and enrolled in San Juan College. In that same year he was accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. In 2022 he graduated from San Juan College with his Associates of Applied Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant. In November of 2022 he passed the state board exam and is licensed as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). Although Mr. Charley loved working as a PTA he felt he could do more as a positive influence to the children of our communities as he had done while serving as an SRO for the Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Charley is excited to start a new chapter in his life as a Lead Safety Advisor for CCSD.
David Rock
Mr. David Rock grew up in Alaska spending most of his time outdoors fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, and playing sports. Mr. Rock is a graduate of Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He accepted a position with Farmington Police Department in 2003. Mr. Rock served our communities for the past years in many capacities with the Farmington Police Department, including patrol, street crimes, gang unit, traffic, SWAT, bomb squad, and detectives prior to his retirement this year. Mr. Rock loves to spend time with his family skiing, hiking, camping, kayaking, and many other outdoor activities. He is excited to continue serving our CCSD Community in the capacity as the New Lead Safety adviser for Kirtland Middle School.
Lorette Vinzant
Mrs. Lorette Vinzant is a new roving Lead Safety Advisor assigned to Judy Nelson Elementary and Kirtland Elementary schools for the Central Consolidated School District. In 2017 she was a volunteer Sheriff Deputy and in 2018, she joined the Farmington Police Department where she served as a Patrol Officer, a bicycle Officer with the District Coordinator Unit, a Field Training Officer, and was also a part of the Peer support team. Mrs. Lorette Vinzant looks forward to sharing the knowledge she has gained over the years in her new position to keep our community safe. She enjoys being involved in children’s ministry, and teaching. She has a great love of anything outdoors along with spending time with her family.