LANL Foundation Program Drives Success for Northern New Mexico Educators
February 25, 2025
The LANL Foundation proudly announces that 12 teachers from Northern New Mexico, supported through its initiatives, have achieved National Board Certification—a prestigious and nationally respected credential in K-12 education.
This milestone highlights the teachers’ dedication and the certification’s role in improving teaching quality, strengthening school communities, and supporting career growth.
The LANL Foundation’s National Board Certification for Local Teachers Program currently supports 64 teachers across Northern New Mexico. The program provides scholarships and pairs candidates with Professional Learning Facilitators to guide them through the certification process. It also assists teachers who already hold National Board Certification in renewing their credentials. This initiative is made possible through the support of TRIAD National Security, the Los Alamos National Laboratory Community Partnerships Office, and collaboration with the New Mexico Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) Network.
Among the teachers who submitted applications last year, the following 12 candidates achieved certification or recertification:
Stephanie Abney
Math, Los Alamos High School Initial Certification
Cadie Carillo
Literacy, Reading, & Language Arts, Administrator, Chama Valley Schools
Maintenance of Certification
Audrey Edinger
Science, Taos High School
Initial Certification
Celina Roybal
Physical Education
Española Public Schools Maintenance of Certification
Bethany Scott
Math, Los Alamos High School
Initial Certification
David Tolen
Physical Education
Salazar Elementary School
Initial Certification
Laura Smith
Career & Technical Education, Pojoaque High School
Initial Certification
Rhonda Crespo
The MASTERS Program, Santa Fe
Maintenance of Certification
Toni Wright
Social Studies, Taos High School
Maintenance of Certification
Click here to read full bios for the teachers above.
“The LANL Foundation is proud to coordinate support for many Northern New Mexico educators pursuing this advanced and prestigious credential,” said Paul Le François, K-12 Program Coordinator for the LANL Foundation. “Pursuing Board Certification requires perseverance and dedication to students. It’s a testament to the commitment of New Mexico’s educators. We are excited to celebrate the 12 educators who have achieved or maintained their certification.”
“Our Foundation is committed to uplifting educators. Students, families, and schools all benefit from excellence in the classroom. This investment recognizes teacher leadership, which is foundational to a strong public education system,” said Gwen Perea Warniment, President and CEO of the LANL Foundation.
In addition to scholarships and mentoring, the LANL Foundation provides candidates with opportunities such as attendance at the NM-NBCT Network Annual Conference, individualized coaching, virtual retreats, one-on-one consultations, and access to the New Mexico Public Education Department’s National Board Scholarship.
“I can’t imagine pursuing this great endeavor without the support from the LANL Foundation,” said Celina Roybal, a Physical Education Teacher for Española Public Schools, who originally achieved certification in 2020 through the Foundation’s program and earned recertification this year with assistance from the New Mexico Public Education Department’s scholarship. “It made me proud and grateful to be part of the LANL Foundation cohort when I encountered other candidates from across the state who didn’t have the same level of support. They would say things like, ‘You are so lucky to have that support,’ and ‘We want to go teach in Española.’”
The LANL Foundation was proud to celebrate these educators during a recognition ceremony at its Española office on February 7th.
The Foundation remains committed to collaborating with the New Mexico Public, Early Childhood, and Higher Education Departments to strengthen the state’s teacher workforce. It continues to advocate for funding initiatives such as the NBCT Scholarship Program to support the advancement of educators statewide.
