LAPS Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus present Nambe to 40-year service award recipient Karla Crane. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

Even though the first day back to school for Los Alamos Public Schools staff was different this year, the tradition of honoring staff for their years of service continued as Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus announced each service award recipient during school site remote meetings.

Ninety employees were honored for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service. Student Services Director Karla Crane was recognized for 40 years of service to the district.

“I don’t remember the exact date but it was at the beginning of the 1980-81 school year that I applied for a part-time job with the school district,” Crane said.

She had worked as a first grade teacher in Connecticut before having her own children and moving to New Mexico.

“I interviewed with Peggy Jo Kruse who was the director of Student Services at the time and I started work immediately as a half-time special education instructional assistant,” Crane said. “My job was interesting because I went to a different elementary school each day and worked with the special education contact person to help with the documentation.”

The duties associated with the accountability and management of special education programs and federal funds increased as did Crane’s responsibilities. She became a technical assistant and then an assistant director. In 2010, she was named to her current position. 

“The most rewarding part of the job is always seeing the ways in which the work we do benefits the students,” Crane said. “Students come in as preschoolers with no language and receive the supports they need to progress through elementary school and on to graduation and then to college. Working with colleagues who are student-centered and share a common goal is equally rewarding.”

“We are honored to have such a dedicated and hard-working staff in the district,” Dr. Steinhaus said. “Congratulations to all of our service award recipients and thank you for all that you do to help our students thrive.”

Award recipients for 2020 (listed by school site):

Aspen Elementary

• 5 Year Awards: Aspen Oksana Draganic, Mark Guider and Jacqueline Salazar
• 10 Year Awards: Amy Gilbert and Pamela Miller
• 25 Year Award: Irene Porter

Barranca Mesa Elementary

• 5 Year Awards: Erin Manzanares, Kayoko Nettleton and Virginia Terrazas
• 10 Year Awards: Audrey Juliani and Nicole McGrane

Chamisa Elementary

• 5 Year Awards: Bridgid Brug and Craig Washnok
• 10 Year Award: Renee Mitsunaga
• 15 Year Awards: Justin Black, Robin Dinkel, Megan Lee, Teresa Mojica, Debra Snow and Deidre Thorn
• 20 Year Award: Kim Letellier

Mountain Elementary

• 5 Year Awards: Yasuko Singell and Jodi Smith
• 10 Year Awards: Brett Hawkins and Kris Martinez
• 15 Year Awards: Susan Bustos, Soledad Lopez and Sarah Schirato
• 20 Year Awards: Carissa Pittman and Donna Schaefer
• 25 Year Award: Bernadette Ziomek

Piñon Elementary

• 5 Year Award: Melissa Youssef
• 10 Year Awards: Ereyna Benelli and Suzette Williams
• 15 Year Awards: Renita George, Andrea Lynch, Carol Maestas and Sevetlana Martin
• 20 Year Award: Ivanna Austell

Los Alamos Middle School

• 5 Year Awards: Suzuko Halberg Brown, Lindsey Montoya, Gary Penny and Akiko Shiina
• 10 Year Awards: Sherri Bublitz, Kathleen Gonzales, Linda Harlow and Rebecca Smith
• 15 Year Awards: Denise Carson and Sandy Tobin
• 20 Year Award: Suzanne Lynne

Topper Freshman Academy/Los Alamos High School

• 5 Year Awards:, James Hatt, Melissa Laeser, Steven Montoya, Daryl Osden and Michelle Rosette
• 10 Year Awards: Melissa Goldman, Jill Gonzales, Mary Grace, Carter Payne, Rolenda Saunders, Shannon Seitz and Nikol Strother
• 15 Year Awards: Barbara Baker, Diana Bequette, Cindy Black, Charles Cotter, Kathy Hipwood, Stephanie Mitchell, Scott Newman and Svetlana Skurikhin
• 20 Year Awards: Louise Foliot, Mick Matuszak and Sigrid Wurthmann
• 25 Year Award: Michael Montano

Facilities

• 5 Year Awards: Kay Dunn, Daniel Sanchez and Tony Vigil
• 10 Year Awards: Susan Odegard-Fellows and Joseph Vigil
• 15 Year Awards: Herb McLean, Santos Pacheco and Chris Smith
• 25 Year Award: Roger Gonzales

Central Office

• 5 Year Awards: Kurt Steinhaus and Jennifer Washnock
• 10 Year Awards: Debbie Brown-Bell and Leslie Gallegos
• 15 Year Awards: Phyllis Foley and Maria Elena Salazar
• 40 Year Award: Karla Crane