Excellence In Student Achievement Awards Program   

Achievements

The Excellence in Student Achievement Awards program seeks to promote student achievement in school districts and assist local school boards in recognizing school leaders, staff and other individuals who have played an important role in improving student achievement at the local level.

2026 Student Achievement Award Criteria, Timeline and Nomination Form

2025 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2024 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2023 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2022 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2021 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2020 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2019 Student Achievement Award Recipients

2018 Student Achievement Award Recipients 

2017 Student Achievement Award Recipients 

2025 Excellence In Student Achievement Award Recipients Announced

 

The New Mexico School Boards Association (NMSBA) announced recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Student Achievement Awards. The awards, sponsored by NMSBA, are presented to individuals selected by local boards of education throughout New Mexico who have played an important role in improving student achievement in their local school district. Sixty-four (64) New Mexico school boards participated in this year’s program and a record one hundred eighty-nine (189) award recipients were selected. Recipients are listed below and will be honored at local school board meetings throughout New Mexico over the next few weeks. For specific information about award recipients, please contact the local school district. For additional information on the Excellence in Student Achievement Award Program contact Joe Guillen, NMSBA Executive Director.

District                                  Recipient                                          Category

 

Alamogordo                          Alfred J. Rosales, Col, USAF        Past School Board Member

 

Albuquerque                         Jami Ramos                                      Staff Member

 

Artesia                                    Mitzi McCaleb                                   Administrator           

 

Belen                                     Carla Martinez                                  Principal

                                                Annette Torrez                                  Administrator

                                                Jim D. Danner                                  School Board Member

 

Bernalillo                               Christine Suina                                School Board Member

                                                Cordelia Chavez                              School Board Member

                                                John Gurule                                      School Board Member

                                                Michael Archibeque                        School Board Member

                                                Paul Madrid                                       School Board Member

 

Capitan                                  Capitan Municipal Schools            Staff Members

                                                Custodial Staff

 

Carrizozo                               Brittney LaMay                                 Staff Member

 

Central                                   Tim Kercher                                      Staff Member

                                                Newcomb Middle School                School Group

                                                UNITY Council

 

Chama                                   Wolfpack Booster Club                   Community Members

                                                Lily Lopez                                          Staff Member

                                                Mickey Jaramillo                              Volunteer

 

Cimarron                               Melissa Grassmick                           Staff Member

                                                Cheyenne Renfroe                          Staff Member

                                                Dr. April Yates                                  Staff Member

                                                Laura Eberhart                                 Staff Member

 

Clayton                                  Michael Mann                                   Staff Member

 

Cloudcroft                             Joni Watson                                      Staff Member

 

Clovis                                     Kathyrn Sacane                               Staff Member

                                                Donna Tivis                                       Staff Member

 

Cuba                                      John Hartley                                     Staff Member

                                                Daniel Delgado                                Staff Member

 

Deming                                  Ben Glickler                                      Administrator

                                                Melanie Rinehart                             Administrator

 

Des Moines                           Kathy Owensby                                Staff Member

 

Dexter                                    Emigdia Herrera Tello                     Staff Member

 

Dora                                       Clyde and Janie Phillips                 Community Members

 

Espanola                               Megan Rael                                      Staff Member

 

Estancia                                Kelley Gutierrez                                Staff Member

                                                Matthew Massey                              Staff Member

 

Farmington                           Stephanie Thompson                     School Board Member

 

Gadsden                                Sally Sepulveda-Flores                  Staff Member

                                                Rebecca Sainz                                 Staff Member

                                                Crystal Moraga                                 Staff Member

                                                Jesus Reyes                                     Staff Member

 

Gallup                                    Zia Mahagaytay                               Staff Member

 

Hagerman                             Rita Bartholomew                            Staff Member

 

Hobbs                                    United Way Lea County                 Community Organization

                                                WHI Hobbs                                       Community Organization

 

House                                    Jo Ellen Seick                                   Staff Member

 

Jemez Mountain                  Alicia Gallegos                                 Student

                                                Shawn Sanchez                              Staff Member

 

Jemez Valley                        Jason Low                                         Volunteer

                                                Dolores Garcia                                 Volunteer

 

Las Cruces                            Greater Las Cruces Chamber       Community Members

                                                of Commerce

                                                Amie Kraenzel                                  Staff Member

                                                Jessica Chavez                                Staff Member

                                                Michael Rodriguez                          Staff Member

                                                Carla Davila-Rosales                      Staff Member

                                                The Bridge of Southern New Mexico  Community Members

                                                Dona Ana County Student             Community Members

                                                Internship Program

                                                City of Las Cruces Student            Community Members

                                                Internship Program

                                                LCPS Student Internship Program Staff Members

                                                LCPS International Welcome        Staff Members

                                                Center Advisors

                                                LCPS Project UNIFY                       Staff Members

 

Las Vegas                             Melissa Vigil                                     Staff Member

                                                Gloria Lovato Pacheco                   Former Teacher

                                                Santana Aragon                               Staff Member

 

Logan                                     Crystal Terrell                                   Staff Member

 

Lordsburg                              Margaret Chavez                             Community Member

                                                Joni Kerr                                            Community Member

 

Los Alamos                           Jenae Shultz                                    Staff Member

                                                Meagan Selis                                    Staff Member

                                                Betsy Stauffer                                  Staff Member

 

Los Lunas                             Mark R. Garcia                                 Administrator

 

Lovington                              Janet Bruelhart                                Staff Member

 

Magdalena                            Dr. Glenn Haven                              Administrator

 

Maxwell                                 Carol Martinez                                  Staff Member

 

Melrose                                  Tiffany Dial                                        Staff Member

 

Mesa Vista                            Hannah Lopez                                 Student

                                                Leandro Lopez                                 Student

                                                Aubrey Maestas                               Student

                                                Kenneth Gallegos                            Student

                                                Victor Coronado                               Staff Member

 

Mora                                       Coach Aaron Vasquez                    Staff Member

                                                Angelica Vigil                                   Staff Member

                                                Steven Salinas                                 Staff Member

 

Moriarty-Edgewood             Linda Apodaca                                 Staff Member

                                                Howard Henderson                         Staff Member

                                                Jennifer Burson                               Staff Member

                                                Paul Tietjans                                     Staff Member

                                                Sean O’Donnell                               Staff Member

                                                Lucas Hibler                                      Staff Member

 

Mosquero                              Thomas Trujillo                                 Staff Member

                                                Margaret Green                                Staff Member

 

Pecos                                     Deven R. Gabaldon                         Staff Member

                                                Karla H. Espinoza                            Staff Member

                                                Gretchen Venkatesh                       Staff Member

                                                Crystal R. Ortiz                                 Staff Member

 

Penasco                                Stephanie Noll                                 Staff Member

                                                Maxine Abeyta                                  Staff Member

                                                Michelle Esquibel                            Staff Member

                                                Mary Beth Copeland                       Staff Member

                                                Mercella Cordova                             Staff Member

 

Pojoaque                               Dana Maes                                        Staff Member

                                                Deanna Vigil                                     Community Member

 

Portales                                 Lois McAlister                                   Staff Member

 

Quemado                              Jaedean Bugyong                           Staff Member

                                                Stuart Olson                                      Staff Member

 

Questa                                   Feliz Ortega                                       Staff Member                       

                                                Clara Adams                                     Staff Member

                                                Santana Santistevan                      Staff Member

 

Raton                                     Michelle Mata                                   Staff Member

                                                Channa Hester                                 Staff Member

 

Reserve                                 Nicole Sabo                                      Staff Member

 

Rio Rancho                           Julian Garza                                     Community Member

                                                Craig Brandt                                     State Senator

                                                Carl Leppelman                               Retired Administrator

 

Ruidoso                                 Ashley Beatty                                    Staff Member

                                                Elizabeth Montelongo                     Staff Member

                                                Angelina Romero Silva                   Staff Member

                                                Marsha Baca                                    Staff Member

                                                Stephanie Robinson                       Staff Member

                                                Aisela Magana                                 Staff Member

                                                Marin Goza                                       Staff Member

                                                Bruno Bruelhart                               Staff Member

Santa Fe                                Molly Lithgow                                   Staff Member

                                                Norah Kaltenbach                           Staff Member

                                                Dave Forrester                                  Staff Member

                                                Santa Fe HS Band Boosters          Booster Club

                                                Jonathan Davis                                Administrator

                                                Charlotte Ault                                   Administrator

                                                Josh Rhine                                       Administrator

                                                Valerie Apodaca                               Administrator

                                                John Sais                                          Administrator

                                                Alyssa Maestas                                Administrator

                                                Wendy Romero Pacheco               Staff Member

                                                Angelique Ortiz-Armijo                    Administrator

                                                Carolyn Salazar                               Staff Member

                                                Amy Thomas                                     Staff Member

                                                Felicia Sena                                      Administrator

                                                Mathew Baird                                   Staff Member

                                                Katherine Grunewald                      Staff Member

                                                Kathy Casaus                                   Administrator

                                                Jose Villareal                                    Administrator

                                                John Sais                                          Administrator

                                                Justin Hunter                                    Administrator

                                                Erica Martinez Maestas                  Administrator

 

Santa Rosa                           Sharon West                                     Administrator

 

Silver                                      Tamara Windsor                              Staff Member

                                                Janie Turrieta                                    Staff Member

                                                Jennifer Dooling                              Staff Member

                                                Starr Cruz                                          Principal

 

Socorro                                  Damian Ocampo                              Staff Member

                                                Samantha Vivian-Gonzales           Staff Member

                                                Charles “Chuck” Zimmerly             Coach

                                                Julie Romero                                    Administrator

                                                C.J. Gentile                                       Staff Member

                                                SCOPE Health Council                  Council

 

Springer                                 Craig Eppler                                      Community Member

 

Tatum                                     Sandy Benavides                            Staff Member

 

Truth or Consequences     CTE Teachers                                  Staff Members

                                                Special Education Teachers          Staff Members

                                                Staff of Arrey Elementary               Staff Members

 

Tularosa                                Chance Montes                                Staff Member

                                                Michael Felicetti                               Staff Member

                                                Rufina Felicetti                                 Staff Member

                                                Monica Corona                                 Administrator

                                                Rebecca Norris                                Staff Member

                                               Marian Wohlgemuth                        Staff Member

                                                Elizabeth Chavez                            Staff Member

                                                Yadira Padilla                                   Staff Member

                                                Alynn Hooper                                   Staff Member

                                                Corale Gililland                                Staff Member

                                                Manuel Brusuelas                           Staff Member

 

Vaughn                                  Rudy Martinez                                  School Board Member

                                                Christopher Perez                            Staff Member

                                                Florinda Gauna                                Staff Member

                                                Judy Byrd                                          Staff Member

                                                Michael Alarid                                   Staff Member

                                                Loretta Castillo                                 Staff Member

                                                Leslie Perez                                      Staff Member

                                                Eva Castillo                                       Staff Member

                                                Clinton Factora                                 Staff Member

                                                Julie Sanchez                                  Staff Member

 

Wagon Mound                      Josie Peralta                                     Staff Member           

 

West Las Vegas                   Anthony and Katherine Lopez       Staff Members

                                                Melanie Montoya                             Staff Member

                                                April Ortiz                                          Administrator

                                                Elizabeth Probst                               Staff Member

                                                Melvin Vigil                                       Staff Member

 

 

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