N2MIS – Los Alamos, the Laboratory’s proforce contractor, in partnership with the LANL Foundation, created the Excellence in Teaching Award to honor teachers and bring encouragement and support to the education profession in Rio Arriba County and Pojoaque, where the majority of Centerra’s employees reside and raise their families.
Since 2016, the Excellence in Teaching Award, which includes $1000 and an engraved plaque, has been given to seven exemplary public, Tribal or charter school teachers who have been nominated by current or former students, administrators and colleagues.
N2MIS – Los Alamos is proud to partner with the LANL Foundation in creating an Excellence in Teaching Award. Outside of the family, teachers have the greatest impact on our next generation of citizens, which will lead this great Nation through its future challenges. Teachers do not receive enough recognition for their contributions. It is our honor to recognize just a few of the many outstanding teachers in our local communities.
Ted Spain, former Centerra-Los Alamos General Manager who initiated the award program
How to Nominate a Teacher
Nominations for SY2022-2023 Excellent Teacher awards are open until March 1st, 2023.
Winners will be announced in May
Awards will be given during teacher appreciation week.
Here are the requirements:
- Qualified teacher nominees must have taught at their current K–12 public, Tribal, or charter school in Rio Arriba County or Pojoaque for at least three years.
- Current and former students, teachers, administrators, and other colleagues may submit nominations.
- Relatives of the teacher may not nominate them.
- Invited community members and staff from both sponsoring organizations select the winners from information provided through an online form that will be posted.
- Each teacher’s impact on his or her school, students, and community; leadership qualities; cultivation of positive culture; and inspiration of lifelong learning in others will be considered.
2022 Award Winners
- Victor Coronado, 7th-12th grade teacher, Mesa Vista High School, Mesa Vista Consolidated School District
- Johnell Gonzales-Lujan, 9th-12th grade teacher, Pojoaque Valley High School, Pojoaque Valley School District
- April Grant-Torrez, 4th grade teacher, Pojoaque Valley High School, Pojoaque Valley School District
- Renee Jaramillo, 6th grade teacher, San Juan Elementary, Española Public School District
- Christine Kane, Special Education K-6th grade teacher, Dixon Elementary, Española Public School District
- Diane Katzenmeyer-Delgado, 2nd grade teacher, Kha’p’o Community School, Santa Clara Pueblo
- Laura LaRue, 2nd grade teacher, San Juan Elementary, Española Public School District
- Michelle Sanchez, 5th grade teacher, Pojoaque Valley Intermediate School, Pojoaque Valley School District
- Gena Quibal, 2nd grade teacher at Tony E. Quintana Elementary, Española Public School District
2020 Award Winners
- Cadie Carrillo, Kindergarten teacher at Tierra Amarilla Elementary, Chama Valley Schools
- Rebecca Marie Garcia, K-8 SPED teacher at Tierra Amarilla Elementary, Chama Valley Schools
- Paul LeFrancois, 6th grade teacher at Kha’p’o Community School, Santa Clara Pueblo
- Angela Martinez, 3rd grade teacher at Pablo Roybal Elementary, Pojoaque Valley Schools
- Gloria Martinez, 9-12 SPED teacher at Pojoaque Valley High School, Pojoaque Valley Schools
- Dr. Raymond Nanni, 10th-12th grade teacher at Espanola Valley High School, Espanola Public Schools
- Erika Vigil, 6th-8th grade teacher at Coronodo Mid-High, Jemez Mountain Schools
2019 Award Winners
- Richard Amora, 9-12 grade teacher at Escalante High School
- Tobe Bott-Lyons,12th grade teacher at Espanola High School
- Alicia Gonzales, 8th grade teacher at Pojoaque Valley Middle School
- Jolene Martin, 11th-12th grade teacher at Pojoaque Valley High School
- Hazel Linda Miller, K-6 teacher at Tony E. Quintana Elementary School
- Danita Quintana, K,5,6 grade teacher at Tony E. Quintana Elementary School
- Danielle Seaboy, 8th grade teacher at Pojoaque Valley Middle School
2018 Award Winners
- Loyola Bird, 11th–12th grade English teacher at Dulce High School
- Cyrus Dudgeon, 11th–12th grade language arts teacher at Española Valley High School
- Rachel Frank, 6th grade teacher at Pojoaque Sixth Grade Academy
- Nancy Martinez, 6th grade teacher at Tony E. Quintana Elementary School
- Susan Quintana, 9-12 teacher at Pojoaque Valley High School
- Katherine Salazar, 3rd grade teacher at Ohkay Owingeh Community School
- Carlos Villareal, Kindergarten teacher at San Juan Elementary
2017 Award Winners
- Becky Martinez, 6th–8th Grade Teacher at Dulce Middle School
- Tonya Gallegos, 2nd–3rd Grade Teacher at Gallina Elementary School
- Cecile Canete, Kindergarten Teacher at Tony E. Quintana (Sombrillo) Elementary School
- Kathleen Leyba, 5th–6th Grade Teacher at Chimayó Elementary School
- Alice Gonzales, 5th–6th Grade Head Teacher at Dixon Elementary School
- Mark Gonzales, 9th–12th Grade Teacher at Española Valley High School
2016 Award Winners
- Elias Allison, 2nd Grade Teacher at ETS Fairview Elementary School
- Javier Arellano, 4th–6th Grade Math & Science Teacher at Ojo Caliente Elementary School
- Yvette Bakken, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Carlos Vigil Middle School
- Lisa Bradley, 3rd Grade Teacher at Dulce Elementary School
- Belva Eversgerd, 5th Grade Teacher at Dulce Elementary School
- Crystal Gallegos, 9th–12th English Teacher at Coronado Middle & High School
- Jeanette Martinez, 6th Grade Teacher at ETS Fairview Elementary School