Our People

Meet the people who make it all happen at The Cibolo.

The Cibolo Staff

  • Tom Mengler Headshot

    Thomas M. Mengler, J.D.

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Dianna Hopkins Headshot

    Dianna Hopkins, MBA, CFRE

    Chief Advancement Officer

  • Marcus Felan Headshot

    Marcus Felan, MBA

    Chief Business Officer

  • Sarah Berringer Bader Headshot

    Sarah Berringer Bader

    Farm Education Director

  • Bluebonnets

    Vanessa Barnes

    Farm Educator

  • Annie Briseño Headshot

    Annie Briseño

    Grant Manager

  • Ria Brown Headshot

    Ria Brown

    Custodian

  • Bluebonnets

    Cindy Butler

    Ranger

  • Brian Davenport Headshot

    Brian Davenport

    Communications Director

  • Christina Foley Headshot

    Christina Foley

    Farmers Market Coordinator & Education Administrator

  • Lee Garteiser Headshot

    Lee Garteiser

    Building & Grounds Director

  • Cindy Glass Headshot

    Cindy Glass

    Office Manager

  • Michele Guyer Headshot

    Michele Guyer

    Special Events Coordinator

  • Kel Hoffman Headshot

    Kel Hoffman, PhD

    Land Conservation Director

  • Kathleen Hoover Headshot

    Kathleen Hoover

    Nature Education Coordinator

  • Noah Lawrence Headshot

    Noah Lawrence

    Nature Education Director

  • Bluebonnets

    Summerly Lara

    Ranger

  • Bluebonnets

    Mia Mensi

    Ranger

  • Shyann Martinez Headshot

    Shyann Martinez

    Farm Manager

  • Bluebonnets

    Eric Sharpe

    Landscape & Maintenance Technician

  • Jennifer Smith Headshot

    Jennifer Smith

    Volunteer Coordinator

  • Sarah Vergara Headshot

    Sarah Vergara

    Research Scientist

  • Sydney Ward Headshot

    Sydney Ward

    Marketing Coordinator

  • Brittany Whalen Headshot

    Brittany Whalen

    Development Director

Board of Directors

Desiree Whitney, President

Corbett Christie, Vice President

Jeremiah Leibowitz, Treasurer

Marilyn Tremper, Secretary

Staci Almager

Leslie Brown

Nancye Drukker

John Freud

John Leonard

Mark McCurley

Jonathan Piper

Jeff Schwarz

Joanne Williams

Emeritus

Our Emeritus status honors former board members whose leadership and service helped shape the direction and impact of our organization. Though no longer serving in an active governance role, these individuals remain an important part of our community. We also remember those included here in memoriam, recognizing their lasting contributions and the enduring influence of their dedication to our mission.

Carolyn Chipman Evans

Juanita Chimpan

Brent Evans

Roger Hemminghaus

Steve Lewis

Jan Newton

John Brazil

Guy Chipman

Tom Fros, Jr.

Tim Hixon

Joan Kelleher

Interested in a career at The Cibolo Center for Conservation?

Our Cibolo Team is a passionate, dedicated group who believes in creating thriving land, people and communities.

  • POSITION

    Full-time position, 40 hours/week

    SUMMARY

    At the Nest Nature School, we are nurturing strong bodies, inquisitive minds, and wild hearts. The school fosters a cohesive learning community and employs the best practices of early childhood and nature-based educational approaches. Our curriculum incorporates play and learning in nature to best support the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, physically to ensure that they are prepared for Kindergarten and beyond. 

    The Nest Nature School is part of the Cibolo Center for Conservation, an organization founded in 1988 to connect people with nature and inspire them to fall in love with land, water, and wildlife in the hopes that they will become champions and stewards of the Earth. Since 2016, the Cibolo has been providing exceptional early childhood education in the Nature School to foster young children in their full spectrum of development.

    The Cibolo is seeking an energetic and passionate early childhood educator to provide strong coaching, leadership, and direction in the role of Lead Teacher for the region’s premier nature-based preschool, the Nest Nature School.

    The Nest follows an emergent curriculum with a play-based approach prioritizing our natural spaces as an integral part of our classroom. The Lead Teacher works collaboratively to provide guidance and leadership in one of our four preschool classes.

    We are looking for applicants equipped with a strong background in early childhood development or a related field with a passion to inspire children to connect with nature through play and exploration. We are seeking individuals who are joyful, collaborative, passionate, responsible, energetic, flexible, child-focused, and enjoy being outdoors year-round.

    The position will support a traditional school day schedule, typically 40 hours per week, scheduled Monday – Friday. Some weekends or evenings may occasionally be required for family events, staff meetings, or training opportunities. This is a year-round, full-time position, with benefits available.

    FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION

    Read the position description here.

    TO APPLY

    Please submit a letter of introduction and a current resume to hr@cibolo.org with the subject line: THE NEST NATURE SCHOOL LEAD TEACHER
    or click the button.
    The position will remain open until filled.

    QUALIFICATIONS

    • 2+ years experience as a lead teacher at an accredited preschool, preferably using play-based learning and/or nature-based learning

    • Bachelor’s degree preferred in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Early Childhood Special Education or related educational field or 3+ years experience in the Early Childhood field

    • Working knowledge or willingness to learn natural history, ecology, and conservation concepts

    • Ability to work outdoors in all seasons and all weather conditions 60% or more of each day

    • Employment is contingent on applicant passing fingerprinting and background check

job postings

internships

Turn your love for nature into experience.

We believe sustainability means caring for both the environment and the people who steward it. That’s why we invest in tomorrow’s environmental leaders. Apply for an internship at The Cibolo (18+) and gain hands-on professional experience in land management, horticulture, marketing, education, or environmental conservation. If you’re a high school or college student who is excited about sharing a love of nature with others, the Cibolo Internship Program may be a great fit for you!

We offer internships across several disciplines. If you’re interested in an area not listed, we encourage you to reach out and tell us how your interests and skills could contribute to our dynamic team.