JoAnn Ortiz

ORTIZ

JOANN ORTIZ

How did you get where you are today? My journey to where I am now, the owner/director of the Multisensory Language Training Institute of NM (MLTI-NM), began with a substitute teaching job I had at Wingate High School outside of Gallup, N.M. in the mid-‘70s. It was there where I first encountered adolescents who desperately wanted to read but lacked the basic skills – they were reading at the second grade level. This was the catalyst that led to my earning a Master’s degree at the University of Arizona where I learned first-hand that some reading delayed students simply had never been taught correctly – and others were truly dyslexic. Years later, after moving to Taos, my interest in the truly dyslexic led me to find Sandra Dillon, the author and founder of MLTI-NM, who had created her Sounds In Syllables approach while teaching for over 20 years for Albuquerque Public Schools. She’s been my mentor ever since. I credit two Taos Municipal Schools Special Education Coordinators for their support: Charlene Gonzales (wife of Sen. Bobby Gonzales) for encouraging me to pilot Sounds In Syllables at Taos Junior High School back in 1990 and the late Jeanelle Livingston for continuing to support me and expand the MLTI-NM training to other educators during the late ’90s and early 2000s. Finally, as a veteran educator with no business background, I want to credit Anwar Kaelin and UNM-Taos’ Small Business Development Center for encouragement and practical support in my purchase of MLTI-NM.

How many years involved in your various endeavors? Of what are you most proud? I taught in the public schools and served as an administrator for 29.5 years, during which time I also was an instructor at the college and university level. I served more than 20 years in the community as a co- founder of several organizations and board member. I now serve as a hospital Auxilian, a Shared Table volunteer and as a deacon in the First Presbyterian Church. I am most proud of the care I provided for almost 200 children and teenagers through CYFD (foster parent), Amigos Unidos (shelter care program) and Casa de Corazon (respite care provider) from 1984-2000; however my most memorable experience was my first foster placement. I provided foster care for a young lady named Kimberly, whom we consider a daughter. We have watched her blossom throughout the years into an amazing mother and professional woman. She resides in Oregon with our son-in-law, Doug, and grandchildren, Kylie and Eric.

If possible, what advice would you give your teenage self? One word – listen. Listen to your parents, your elders and to your heart when you are still and alone. Many of life’s answers come from our parents and elders and what some believe to be our inner voice. I consider it communion with God. How do you create a sane work-life balance? I am now retired, but while working, I never really did create a balance. I realize that now. I spent too much time at work. I appreciate my husband, Bob, and my family for putting up with my absence in their lives during my career. I never really knew how to do anything in small measure. Still do not. For years, I lived on chocolate and caffeine! Thought I had to get it all done!

What do you think is the biggest issue for women right now? Trying to do it all. Most women have two full-time jobs and now, both jobs are in the same place, at home. Some are also caring for their elders, parents or grandparents. It is too much! We need to reach out to help one another. Years ago, a group called Taos Women Together, came together to host workshops of all kinds for women in our community. I think it is time for another women’s initiative to come together to brainstorm ways in which to raise each other up through supportive efforts of all kinds. There are many incredible women in this community who are already doing this.

Who are your real-life heroes? My number one true-life hero is my mother, who taught me that God’s love never waivers. She is still praying for others and is a beacon of light to so many, even though her eyesight is diminished. She still finds a way to serve others. Two other real-life heroes are two Taos women, single mothers who sacrificed much through the years, for the sake of their children, while working full time in professional careers. Both friends now have family members for whom they provide care: • Patricia Martinez. She is a professional counselor, former director of Amigos Unidos and the best mother to her children: Todd Gravelle, Darien Fernandez and Ciara Fernandez Fabre; • MaryAnn McCann, a strong and independent woman, a prayer warrior and true Christian. She raised three children: Kelly Bambino, Dr. Rebekah McCann and Clay McCann.

What has the COVID-19 pandemic made you be more aware of than ever before? I appreciate, as many of us Taoseños do, the “hard life” we thought we had as children, growing up with parents and grandparents who made us do what it took to live a good life. We learned how to raise food, prepare it and save it, to build our homes and furnish them, to haul and chop wood to heat our homes, to learn how to do so many things to care for one other, whether it be our blood family or our friends who are like family. There was collaboration amongst the families. When the pandemic hit, we were prepared. So many of us reached out to one another and shared what we had and were able to help others as well.

What is the main message you want Taoseños to hear coming out of this pandemic year? Our community is capable of becoming more self-sufficient.

I saw evidence of sharing and caring throughout this pandemic. We are good people. We need to listen to and learn from one another. We all possess “gifts” of knowledge in various areas that we can share with one another. What we need, we possess within us, collectively.