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Board of Education Members
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The Pueblo School District 60 Board of Education is responsible for educational planning and evaluation, staffing and appraisal, school facilities, financial resources and communication. The Board, whose powers and duties are set by state law, acts as a court of appeal for staff members, students and the public on issues involving board policy or implementation of that policy.
The Board is composed of five members, elected at-large, to alternating four-year terms. Elections are held every two years. Board members are not paid; they give freely of their time to serve the community. After each School Board election, the Board chooses its officers for the next two years. If vacancy occurs, the Board names an appointee to serve until the next election.
The regular meetings of the Board of Education are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Administrative Services Center, Arapahoe Room, 315 W. 11th Street.
Board Member Biographies
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Tommy Farrell, President
Born and raised in Pueblo County, Tommy is proud to call Pueblo home. He attended public schools in both Districts 60 and 70, graduating from Rye High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo.He has served Southern Colorado youth as a District Executive with the Boy Scouts of America, teaching youth the importance of leadership through service, and gained experience balancing tight budgets, managing staff resources, and building community relations. More recently Tommy has worked with youth as an instructor for El Pueblo History Museum’s Hands-on History program.
Tommy currently works for a power line engineering consultant, a position that has given him a working knowledge of contracting, requests for proposals, land rights, and permitting the electric utility industry as well as continuing to develop his skills in finance, managing resources, and building relationships.
Tommy is passionate about public education and is ready to help District 60 live up to its promise of educating for purpose and impact.
Mr. Farrell was elected to the Board of Education in November 2019, and elected Vice President in December 2021. His term expires in November 2023. He can be reached by email at thomas.farrellboe@pueblod60.org or at (719) 569-5433.
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Dr. Kathy DeNiro, Vice President
Dr. Kathy DeNiro is a native Coloradoan, raised in Pueblo, and attended K-12 Pueblo School District 60 (D60) schools. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Denver. She served in teaching and staff positions as well as central and school administration roles in D60. Past experience also includes School Board President, Vice President, and Board Director for D60.
For the past five years, she has been an Educational Consultant collaborating with schools to improve positive school culture. She has delivered trainings throughout the nation and passionately believes that kids want to learn, teachers want to teach, and everyone, including parents, wants a safe and caring learning environment.
Past honors include selection as Colorado Middle School Principal of the Year from the National Association Secondary School Principals. Also, a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sports Festival, and United States Olympic Committee World Hemisphere Tournament, Taipei, Twain, serving as a certified athletic trainer of sports medicine.
Dr. DeNiro was elected to the Board in November of 2021. Her term expires in November of 2025. She can be reached by email at drkathy.deniroboe@pueblod60.org.
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Barb Clementi, Member
Barb Clementi is a lifelong resident of Pueblo and a proud 1971 graduate of Central High. She earned her teaching degree from CSU Fort Collins, and returned to Pueblo as a classroom teacher, finding her niche as a middle school language arts and reading teacher. She also holds an M.A. in Technology from Lesley College and a Paralegal Certification.Barb served as the Facilitator of Organizational and Leadership Development for District 60, training and directing the professional and leadership development for all staff, and guiding the district through the Site Based Decision Making process. She is a well-respected trainer of Interest-Based Solutions, the Steven Covey programs, Total Quality Transformation, and also, a skilled facilitator.
An active union leader, Barb was elected twice by Colorado’s educators to represent them on the Board of the National Education Association in Washington, DC. She was elected by that board to lead their compliance and training committee, serving in that capacity for five years. Barb also represented Pueblo area educators on the Colorado Education Association board, serving at the state level in many different capacities, and she served here as the Executive Vice President of PEA for ten years. Barb now consults with school districts across the country, focusing primarily on Labor-Management Collaboration, a process and tool which ensures that school district decisions are based on what’s best for kids.
Barb Clementi was elected to the Board in 2015, elected Vice President in April 2017 and President in 2018; her term expires in 2023. She can be reached by email at barb.clementi@pueblod60.org or at (719) 924-5232.
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Anthony Perko, Member
Anthony (Tony) Perko is a Pueblo native and attended Pueblo District 60 Schools, graduating from Central High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Mr. Perko has been licensed to practice law in the state of Colorado since November 2013. He is the owner and principal of Perko Law, LLC, located in the Mesa Junction neighborhood which opened its doors in May of 2020. He has served as a member of the City of Pueblo’s Historical Preservation Commission since 2018 and has previously served on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Pueblo County.
Tony believes that the Board and the District should comprehend the contemporary challenges facing educators, administrators, and students alike without judgment or preference, and do so in a welcoming, engaging, and forward-thinking framework.
As the city grows in the coming years, Tony feels the Board should seek to provide stability and structure to students, for in turn this benefits all stakeholders within the community and adds to the city’s strength.
Mr. Perko was appointed to the Board of Education in September 2022. His term expires in November 2023. He can be reached by email at anthony.perkoboe@pueblod60.org or at (719) 621-5822.
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Sol Sandoval Tafoya
A first-generation daughter of immigrants from Colima and Michoacán, Mexico—Sol Sandoval Tafoya is a fully bilingual Latina from a union family and a seasoned community leader who has been fighting for working people for over 20 years. Sol is a Chicana, community organizer, and former candidate for U.S. Congress in the Third Congressional District of Colorado.
Upon graduating from Colorado State University-Pueblo, Sol spent a decade with the Pueblo County Department of Social Services to give back to the community because she knew from a young age that too many working families never get their fair shot and that the American Dream doesn’t come easy. Sol is passionate about education because she knows first-hand that education is a pathway out of poverty and can be an equalizer for children living in neglected neighborhoods.
She envisions a community where people who have not been given a seat at the table have allies and comunidad who will ensure that they are no longer left out of the decision-making. Sol enjoys dancing, running and volunteers translating for monolingual Spanish speakers. Sol lives in Pueblo with her two children and her dog, Esteban—a Chihuahua rescued from Las Vegas, NM.
Ms. Sandoval Tafoya was appointed to the Board of Education in September 2022. Her term expires in November 2023. She can be reached by email at soledad.sandovaltaboe@pueblod60.org.
