Manny Ruiz
Board Clerk
Mr. Ruiz was born in 1955 in Nogales, Arizona. He had served as a board member of NUSD for 18 years prior and took a two-year rest before deciding to run again. His decision to join the Governing Board again was because he wanted to make a difference for the children of NUSD.

Mr. Ruiz graduated from Nogales High School in 1974. He attended Cochise College in 2006 moving forward to the University of Arizona and then later attended Arizona State University in 2008 where he graduated from the Certified Public Manager program. He further attended the Leadership Institute in 2009. He received technical training from 1991 to 1995 in Safety, Health, Handling of Hazardous Materials, Emergency Services FEMA Disaster Response, and Recovery, and FEMA HS 2-Emergency Management.

Mr. Ruiz has been involved in different associations in the community and was elected to serve the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in 2001. He is presently serving his third term.

Amongst the several recognitions and awards, he has received is the Arizona School Certificate of Orientation and Master of Boardmanship.

Cesar Lopez
Board Member
Cesar Lopez is a graduate of Nogales High School. Cesar is a new member of the Governing Board of the Nogales Unified School District, starting his term in 2021.

His career and passion have focused on building skills and capacity for local green job development through hands-on education in garden/farm design and development, water harvesting in the desert, native pollinators, organic vegetable production, and community and youth leadership development. He utilizes strategies in popular education, cultural empowerment, collaboration, and training for trainers methods to build the next generation of leaders in community agriculture.

He has experience in collaborative efforts toward community development through his past work on community farms, community organizations, community health organizations, health initiatives, food banks, non-profits, schools, education, the University of Arizona, and working in government through different county public health departments in Southern Arizona. In Nogales, he has been building on a history of green job development and local leadership for young people through his experience in a decades-long, collective community-based job development program in the barrios of Southside Tucson. 

Currently, Cesar works as the Program Director for the SEEDS Garden program, which is focusing its efforts on working with youth and young adults to build the SEEDS garden based on community education and engagement at Las Lagunas de Anza. Cesar is the farmer at Santa Cruz Farm, a small farm working to expand local organic vegetable production. He is also a member of the Nogales Compost Cooperative which is working on producing local healthy compost while addressing food waste from the community and the produce industry. Cesar has also supported the creation of cross-border spaces that bring people together through community efforts as a member of Colectivo Colmena of Ambos Nogales. 

Cesar believes in education that strengthens healthy communities, that strives to build cultures of peace and sustainability. Cesar challenges the concept that: "young people are the leaders of tomorrow", and passionately promotes the vision that: "young people are the leaders of today." 

For Nogales, By Nogales. 

Robert Rojas
Board President
My name is Robert Rojas, son of Renato C. Rojas and Amalia Siqueiros Rojas.  I am a graduate of Nogales High School (1972) and a graduate of Arizona State University (1979). I worked for NUSD for 38 years as a teacher, coach, club sponsor, class sponsor, and in whatever capacity in which I was needed. 

I am currently the Nogales Lions’ Club President, Santa Cruz County Supervisor, and formerly a member of the Nogales City Council. I am looking forward to continuing my service as a governing board member and being part of a successful team.

Mayra Quintero
Board Member
TBA

Patricia Muñozcano
Board Member
Ms. Munozcano was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona, and taught third grade for three years at Lincoln Elementary School before her election in 2022 as a Nogales Unified School District #1 Governing Board member.

She attended Sacred Heart School up to the sixth grade and was homeschooled through the twelfth grade before being accepted to Pima Community College. After transferring to Cochise College, where she received an associate degree, she attended the University of Arizona, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Munozcano currently works as a second-grade teacher in a neighboring school district.

As a board member and former NUSD educator, she is dedicated to serving all of the children and families in the NUSD school community. Ms. Munozcano is committed to working collaboratively with district leadership, staff, parents, and fellow board members to ensure that our children’s education is our top priority, ultimately preparing them for a successful transition to college or career upon graduation.