OUR TEAM
AURELIO HERNANDEZ
Guatemala Country Director
JOE FONTANA
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Aurelio has worked with GL since 2003. Prior to his involvement, he worked with El Centro Linguistico, La Union in Antigua. He coordinates all on-the-ground activities in Guatemala, connecting GL with local partners for service projects and cultural exchanges. He has worked in Tourism and Hotel Management since 1994, and holds a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad de Francisco Marroquin. Aurelio enjoys working with foreign visitors to Guatemala and believes strongly in the benefits of building partnerships between Guatemala and foreign organizations toward a common goal of creating a better living standard for all Guatemalans.
In 1997 Joe and Jason Morgan-Foster planted the seed of an idea to take students into the world and teach leadership and service learning. Joe's brother Chris collaborated on this idea and Chris grew the program to incredible heights. Global Leaders has become a standard bearer for youth leadership training and service learning. The students who join the GL family become members for life and have consistently given back to their communities.
For 30 years, Joe taught Geography, History and Leadership classes at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado, Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California and Poudre High School in Fort Collins. He has been an advocate for student voices and positive action since his career began. He believes by equipping students with education, leadership skills, and empowerment, students are capable of positively changing their world; today, not tomorrow.
Joe is a dreamer and believes in the impossible. This is evident as he is a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. He holds a B.A. in Social Sciences and an M.A. in Educational Leadership, both from The Colorado State University.
KYLA WORTH
Program Director
SKYLER HALOPOFF
Program Assistant
Before Global Leaders, Kyla coached high school basketball during her time at Colorado State University where she studied Human Development and Family Studies with a Pre-Health Concentration. She enjoys working with youth and has found a passion for service over the years. She always says,"The coolest part about my job is getting to learn from the students I work with." GL was a perfect fit! In her free time she enjoys reading, working out, and playing with her German Shepard, Dax (get it...like Dax Shepard)!
Skyler joined GL when she was a student at RMHS. After graduating, she continued working with GL while pursuing a bachelors at CSU in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. She graduated from CSU in 2023 and is excited to continue working with students to help them find power in their voices as they create positive change with others. In her free time she loves to travel, hike, and read. If you come by the GL office, be prepared to be greeted sweetly by her puppy, Arlo.
ZOE BASHKIN
Program Assistant
NATALIE STOCKLEY
Journey Leader
Zoe is an undergraduate student at CSU pursuing a degree in Environmental Policy. She was a GL student for 4 years and served on the student Executive Board for 2 years. She has a passion for the outdoors and loves climbing, hiking, and camping, especially if it involves rice and beans. She is excited about building community around service and love for one another.
Natalie joined GL when she was a student at Poudre High School. While studying at Colorado State University, she interned with Global Leaders, and spent 2 years as our Program Assistant. Natalie is a third-year math teacher and Student Leadership Instructor at Poudre High School! She never looks at this page so we could really write anything about her like…. She loves Taylor Swift.
ROBERT LAURIE
Group Leader / Rocky Mountain High School Teacher
Robert Laurie heeded the call of the mountains and moved west to Colorado just after graduating high school in suburban Chicago. At Colorado State University, Robert studied English Education, English Literature, and Spanish. He is currently a Language Arts teacher and soccer coach at Rocky Mountain High School, where he is inspired every day through collaboration with student leaders. Robert values relationships and experience and is thankful to be a part of the Global Leaders team and its vision of peace, justice, and service.
An ideal day in the life of Robert Laurie would include a run on the Reservoir Ridge trail, a deep dive into a Shakespeare play, and an adventure in the wilderness with family and friends.
MINA DELGADO
Journey Leader
Aminadab "Coach" Delgado grew up in Mexico City, and came to the US to study. After completing a degree in Spanish and Communications, he fell in love with teaching and coaching. After 17 years of teaching, Aminadab founded Fields of Hope (fofh.org), a nonprofit whose mission is to build soccer fields in impoverished communities to improve children's lives and strengthen families and communities through soccer. Aminadab uses his background and experiences to help students move out of their comfort zones, experience the world with fresh eyes, and become empowered to make a difference wherever they are. As an educator, advocate, and world traveler, Aminadab brings a richness of depth to the Global Leaders team. Our Executive Director calls Coach "...the most inspirational and positive educator he's worked with in 30+ years in education."
STEPHANIE GUTIERREZ
Group Leader / Poudre High School Teacher
Stephanie Gutierrez has been teaching social studies classes at Poudre High School since 2017. She graduated with her Bachelors of Arts in History with a Social Studies Teaching Concentration in May of 2017 and with her Masters of Education in Education Equity and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and Multiculturalism in May of 2021. She has been with GL since 2022 and went on her first trip to Guatemala in July!