About NVALAS

President

Ramona Esparza-Stoffregan co-founded the Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents’ (NVALAS), est. 2018, and serves as the President on the Executive Board. As a former student of the Clark County School District, she understands the past and current challenges of the fifth largest school district in the nation.  She served as a site-based and central administrator in CCSD  for almost three decades. She was appointed to the Clark County School District Board of Trustees in November 2023. She represents the municipality of Henderson, Nevada. She is committed to improving the working and learning environment for students, staff, and families in order to thrive as a community. 

She mentors, coaches, and builds networks of support for current and aspiring leaders. She is an experienced Leadership Advocate, Coach, and Consultant with demonstrated results and a history of working in educational advocacy and leadership transformation processes. Her skill sets are in Collaboration Solutions, Systems and Design Thinking, Coaching and Mentoring Leaders, Universal Learning Designs, Data Analysis; and Outcomes-Based Implementation.  Her philosophy of life-long learning is infectious, and she has been an advocate that believes “that by educating others with an empowerment mindset and self-efficacy is truly an equalizer.”    She is a passionate believer that #Because Leadership Matters- Courageous Leaders are Everywhere, Changing the World!  

Vice President

Shirley Jimenez serves as the Principal of Desert Pines High School, bringing over two decades of dedicated service to public education. Born in Los Angeles, California, where she began her teaching career working for the LAUSD, Shirley relocated to Las Vegas in 2001.  She continued her work as a passionate high school mathematics teacher in Las Vegas and completed ten years in the teaching profession. In 2007, she transitioned into school administration within the Clark County School District (CCSD), dedicating her leadership to mentoring and coaching teachers to refine their instructional practices and maximize student achievement.

Guided by a philosophy of servant leadership, Shirley thrives on collaborating with and learning alongside fellow educators, students, and community members. Beyond her campus responsibilities, she serves as the Vice President of the Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (NVALAS). In this role, Shirley is deeply committed to empowering the Latino community and advocating for equitable, high-quality educational opportunities across the region. She is a mentor for other CCSD administrators and will soon be a mentor for the UNLV Teacher Leadership program. 

Treasurer

Elena M. Fabunan is a retired educator and administrator with more than 30 years of experience in public education. She began her career as a bilingual elementary teacher and went on to serve as a school counselor, assistant principal, and principal of Global Community High School, where she led a school community serving newcomer immigrant and multilingual students.

Known for her “Velvet Hammer” leadership philosophy, leading with compassion while holding firm to accountability, Elena has dedicated her career to educational equity, student advocacy, and ensuring historically underserved communities have a voice in education.

As Chief Financial Officer of NVALAS, Elena supports the organization’s fiscal stewardship, governance, and long-term sustainability while helping strengthen leadership pathways for Latino educators.

A proud Mexipina, Elena continues to advocate for courageous, culturally responsive leadership grounded in corazón, community, and opportunity for all students.

Chief Innovation Officer

José L Sotelo Jr. is a math teacher by trade who has dedicated his professional life to demystifying academic success for all students, especially historically marginalized student groups. Mr. Sotelo started his career in the Clark County School District (CCSD) as a paraprofessional tutor for the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. He fell in love with Education and dove head first into the field, serving in numerous capacities: secondary math teacher, robotics coach, Equity and Diversity liaison, AVID teacher, math department chair, learning strategist, assistant principal, Equity and Diversity Education Department Administrative Coordinator, and currently a Region Support Coordinator in the English Language Learner Division. His experience is vast but his areas of expertise are leading and implementing large district initiatives surrounding Restorative Practices, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching Practices, English learner education, and instructional coaching.

Professionally, Mr. Sotelo is motivated by a sense of duty to the community that shaped him and to honoring the sacrifices of his immigrant parents, which is why he supports NVALAS as the Chief Innovation Officer responsible for driving Innovation, technology, strategic initiatives, and leadership development. Mr. Sotelo is also the founding chairman of NVALA’s La Semilla Institute and finds deep purpose engaging with current and aspiring administrators in Nevada at large.

Chief Operations Officer

Azucena “Suzy” Parra is an educational leader committed to advancing equity, excellence, and opportunity for students, educators, and communities across Nevada. A proud product of the Clark County School District and a first-generation college graduate, Suzy has served in leadership roles across elementary, middle, and high school settings and currently serves as Principal of Mountain View Elementary School.

As Chief Operations Officer for the Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (NVALAS), Suzy supports the organization’s strategic initiatives, operations, and leadership development efforts. She is also a leader with La Semilla Institute, an NVALAS-sponsored leadership initiative focused on identity, courage, instructional equity, and developing the next generation of educational leaders.

Suzy is passionate about creating pathways for Latino leaders, strengthening educational systems, and ensuring that every student and community has access to high-quality, culturally responsive leadership.

Leadership Philosophy

Suzy believes leadership begins with relationships, grounded in listening, trust, and a deep belief in the potential of others. She leads with courage and purpose, creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow. Her approach centers on leading with heart, building collective capacity, and turning vision into meaningful action for students, families, and communities.

Chief Communications Officer

Óscar Padilla is an educational leader with more than a decade of experience serving students and families in Southern Nevada. He began his career as a Spanish teacher and Student Council advisor before moving into school administration. As a former English Language Learner and immigrant from Mexico, Óscar’s own educational journey has shaped his commitment to advocating for multilingual learners and creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

Throughout his career, Óscar has focused on building strong school communities, supporting student leadership, and ensuring students and families feel seen, valued, and connected to their schools. His work with NVALAS reflects his passion for elevating Latino educators, developing future leaders, and strengthening representation in educational leadership across Nevada.