Blake Stogner is the first and second grade teacher at Red River Valley Charter School (RRVCS). Originally from Georgia, Stogner now lives with his wife in Sunshine Valley just north of Questa. Stogner’s path toward teaching hasn’t been linear but his passion for working with youth has always been present.

Stogner grew up in the college town of Carrollton, Georgia and after high school attended the University of West Georgia where he obtained his undergrad in early childhood education. “I was encouraged by my mom to go to college. She wanted me to have the experience she wasn’t able to have.” Stogner knew his major would be early childhood education as he had always enjoyed working with the youth in his community, something his dad fostered as a Sunday School teacher, which Stogner helped him with.

Upon graduation, Stogner served in the Peace Corps and headed to Vanuatu, an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. “I loved the goals of the Peace Corps,” states Stogner. He was an education volunteer there for five years. Being part of the Peace Corps proved to be a transformative experience, as he was immersed in a completely different lifestyle and culture. “When I was done volunteering, my goal was to continue working in the South Pacific and I needed to figure out how I could do that.” This led Stogner to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces to pursue a graduate degree in agricultural extension education, which would help him reach his goal of working internationally again. In Las Cruces, Stogner met his wife, Naoma, and has remained in New Mexico ever since. Together, they spent 12 years in Las Cruces, making lifelong friends they still visit to this day.

While working towards his master’s, Stogner did handyman work and eventually applied for a teaching position in Las Cruces. Starting in 2011, he became a math teacher at Picacho Middle School. It was there that Stogner was able to revisit his passion for working with and becoming a positive impact on students. “Naoma and I did a lot of after-school bicycle education for the kids in Las Cruces. Some of those kids are now in their 20s and they are like family to us.”

Then a job opportunity in Red River presented itself for Naoma, and soon after for Stogner as well. Stogner joined RRVCS in 2022 as the teacher for the combined first and second grades. His classroom, capped at 18 children, was just the right size and a pleasant change from his much larger classroom sizes in Las Cruces. “I really enjoy being at RRVCS. The school is small and personal and the environment is comfortable and joyful.”

When asked how it’s been for them, settling into a new town, Stogner says, “Everywhere I’ve lived I’ve always settled into feeling at home. I really like rooting deeply in a community.” This past summer Stogner and his wife recently moved into a home, after spending some time in an RV at the Questa Lodge and RV Resort.

Being a Georgia native, living in southern New Mexico, and on an island in the South Pacific, it’s apparent Stogner has always gravitated towards and preferred warmer climates. “After being here for two years I have gradually adjusted to the climate. I had never skied and now I do because our entire school goes skiing. All the teachers have oriented me to the schoolwide ski days and introduced me to words like ‘chalet.’”

Stogner has been at RRVCS for nearly three years now, and enjoys the staff and students. When asked what his favorite thing about teaching is, Stogner says, “When you are able to give wonderful experiences to a young person, that is something that sinks in very deeply. I have always enjoyed working with youth all my life.”