Board Of Directors

With a Masters in Special Education and 33 + plus years in full time  teaching for the Saugus Union School District, Deborah Rocha, founder of  SRD Straightening Reins, has created a great team, each with their  specialties, to serve both the youth on the ranch and in the community.   Recently retired, Deborah can now spend full time to further develop  programs that will enhance the mission of SRD.

The fact that horses and ranch life provided an additional five years  for her daughter, Samantha, to spend time with her family and friends,  before she took her life, solidified the power of horses. Deborah  proceeded to acquire her EAGALA certification and made a commitment to  honor Samantha’s legacy by creating a Foundation that would develop a  youth’s confidence through hands-on experiences with simple tasks of  horse grooming and care, equine-assisted learning workshops for  communication skills, private equine-assisted psychotherapy for those  dealing with more severe needs, as well as workshops that help to create  healthy self-care habits for parents and caregivers.

Following the mission of SRD, Deborah has committed her board to  furthering the legacy of the Samantha Rocha-Dyer Straightening Reins  Foundation to provide every child a safe place to find the tools for  their own mental well-being.

Maritza de la Cruz has worked in the Santa Clarita Valley for over 30  years before retiring as a speech and language pathologist for the  Saugus Union School District. As a passionate educator for children with  special needs, Maritza focused much of her efforts on educating and  supporting the mental health and well-being of children and their  families.   Wanting to become active in her community, she researched  other means of volunteering in the area of mental health and was drawn  to the vision and mission of SRD Straightening Reins.

Maritza has since become a committed volunteer and is an executive  board member.  She mentions that has the privilege of working with  Deborah Rocha, who is a boundless force for positivity, as well as, many  other passionate and dedicated community members who have supported SRD  since their doors first opened. The purpose of SRD is clear and vital;  to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing place for children and youth  struggling with mental health concerns to find self-worth and  acceptance.

Janine Jones has been a resident of Santa Clarita Valley since 1972.  She received her Bachelors from the University of California, Santa Cruz  in Sociology and continued her graduate degree at California State  University, Northridge.

After teaching 4th grade for the Sulphur Springs School District, she  moved into the business of insurance and became an Attorney Negotiator  for State Farm, where she remained until her first child was born in  1993. After 18 years as an active, civic-minded, and community volunteer  and “Stay at Home Mom,” she enrolled in the Paul Mitchell Cosmetology  School. Janine now works as a licensed makeup artist and hair stylist in  Valencia.

Janine has been happily married to her husband, Daniel Jones, for 29  years, and together they have raised three amazing children.  She has  been an active volunteer for many not-for-profit organizations over the  past 46 years and has been a board member of the American Cancer  Society, American Diabetes Association, Betty Ferguson Foundation and  she is currently a proud member of the board of SRD Straigthening Reins.  Her love of animals keeps her busy with her pets at home and with the  herd at the Ranch.

A mother of three, Dana earned a BFA at The University of Florida,  and an MFA in theatre design from Penn State University. She worked as  the Charge Scenic Artist in Miami’s Coconut Grove Playhouse for 3, later  working as a scenic artist painting scenery for commercials, movies,  Opera, and residential murals in Miami and Georgia. A Jersey girl who  was born in the Bronx, NY, Dana, and her young family settled in Los  Angeles in 2003 to give her 6-year-old son the opportunity to express  his creativity through acting. When he was acting, her boy came alive  with creativity, something that was shut down after being teased in  school. When she was not painting murals or taking the kids to  auditions, Dana worked as a temp at the Art Directors Guild which  eventually earned her a full-time staff position where she oversees  accounts receivable and the membership database for over 2800 members.

“Our children are all different and special and when given the chance  to find their voice, they can learn to make positive choices here at  the ranch. I’m watching my 2 younger children grow as people and find  themselves. This is what SRD~Straightening Reins is all about.  Children  who have lost hope learn that they are unique, special, that they  matter and that they can contribute. We make a difference in young lives  so that they can be a vital part of our community.” Dana Bradford
 

In 2016, Dana and her family found SRD and Debbie Rocha, at the  suggestion of her family therapist who was looking for an alternative  approach for kids with ADHD, kids on the spectrum as well as for the  siblings of special needs kids. Her young children were diagnosed with  clinical depression and anxiety, to name a few, and SRD was a place  where they could be themselves and relax with the animals. Through the  programs at SRD, Dana learned how depression and anxiety manifest itself  in young children. Her younger children expressed suicidal thoughts at  the young ages of 5 and 7, which she did not fully understand.  One of  her children later actively engaged in suicidal ideation so Dana turned  to Debbie Rocha who guided her and her family with what to do and how to  get help. After this terrible experience and the critical help that her  family received, Dana wanted to get involved so she volunteered for  Saturday Ranch Crew. When the foundation was at risk of closing last  year, Dana became actively involved in community outreach to get the  word out about the critical services that SRD provides, and the need for  funding. This eventually led her to a position on the SRD Board of  Directors.

A graduate from the University of Southern California, Susan is an  enthusiastic and goal oriented individual with 26 years of experience  implementing and managing technology solutions, facilitating business  process improvements, executing change management, and achieving cost  savings initiatives for her customers. As Vice President, Susan directs  and oversees the day to day operations of the Business and Technology  Integration Department including all aspects of project management  activities and process improvement opportunities within Logix Federal  Credit Union.

Susan was drawn to SRD Straightening Reins when her son, Eric, began  visiting the Ranch. Eric experienced the benefits of the programs at the  Ranch and is currently attending college. She noted that he learned  teamwork and a strong work ethic which has helped him understand the  importance of making positive choices when faced with daily challenges.

Currently on the board, Susan is committed to carrying out the  mission and vision of SRD and she enjoys volunteering with everyone,  both young and not so young at the Ranch. A “foodie,” Susan enjoys  spending her days off trying new restaurants with her husband Carlos.

Landon Schobert currently attends College of the Canyons with plans  to transfer to CSUN to pursue a career in deaf studies and early  childhood education. This year she will be studying to obtain her EAGALA  certification to assist SRD Straightening Reins, Executive Director,  Deborah Rocha at the ranch with equine-assisted therapy. Her long-term  goals are to continue Ms. Rocha’s legacy at SRD upon her retirement.

Ms. Rocha became influential in Landon’s life when in sixth grade she  suggested she visit the ranch because she was showing symptoms of  anxiety. Landon had fully isolated herself from all that she loved, her  friends, school, and any extracurricular activities. Once she began  making regular visits to the ranch she began to manage her anxiety and  learned the importance that equine-assisted therapy had on her life.   Landon has since gained confidence, leadership skills and a purpose for  her life.

Landon Schobert will be forever grateful to Ms. Rocha and SRD  Straightening Reins for the support and tools she learned that have  provided her with the confidence and skills to pursue and enjoy her  life.

With a generous heart, Andrew Galvan Macias is the founder of Danny’s  Shoes Foundation on behalf of his father, Daniel Macias. Danny’s Shoes  makes the lives of orphaned, poor and foster children happier during the  Christmas season by providing presents for children who may not  otherwise have a Christmas.

A general contractor and owner of AMMA Construction and head of  construction and maintenance at the Roque and Mark Corp, Andrew quickly  responded to the needs of SRD Straightening Reins by volunteering to  make repairs on the ranch on his days off.

His commitment to the mission of SRD was strengthened as he witnessed  the benefits the ranch environment offered to the children who needed  support and that led him to recruit his two children, Stephanie and  Andy, to volunteer as well.

Andrew’s philanthropy also includes the Knights of Columbus, Catholic  Men’s Charitable Organization and he quickly became one of the regular  mentors on the ranch. He saw the unique way the children responded to  the supportive staff and the animals they cared for.

Andrew shares his home with his two children and his two dogs, Lola and Baloo.