Aspen Elementary School 3rd grade teacher Shelby Gernon named 2021 Teacher of the Year. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS Security Officer Scott Reynolds named 2021 Certified Employee of the Year. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus announces this morning that Shelby Gernon has been named LAPS 2021 Classified Employee of the Year and Scott Reynolds has been named LAPS 2021 Certified Employee of the Year.

“Shelby, a 3rd Grade teacher at Aspen Elementary School, is the LAPS nominee for New Mexico Teacher of the Year,” Dr. Steinhaus said. “A parent recently said of Shelby, ‘She is an incredible teacher, and she figured out what kind of approach works with our son. Not every teacher reaches that kind of success with him’”.

Comments said of Shelby Gernon:

• Is a true professional with a never-ending smile.
• Is committed to her students and the teaching profession.
• Remains positive and demonstrates dedication, perseverance, and resilience. 
• Professionally, Gernon is pursuing classes and certification to learn about some of the most complex topics in primary education. She is fascinated by current research about how students learn to read as well as specialized instructional methods for dyslexia.

“Scott Reynolds has been with LAPS for nine years as a Security Officer. He knows and respects our students, and they feel the same way about him,” Dr. Steinhaus said. “Through the years, Scott has handled some of the most sensitive moments in students’ lives in a caring manner with the utmost discretion.”

Comments said of Scott Reynolds:

• Works tirelessly to make everything at the high school work smoothly.
• Tackled COVID-safe practices and helped prep every classroom for our return to face-to-face learning.
• Demonstrates outstanding skills in building trust with students and staff.
• He develops friendly, professional relationships with each student, and manages to be held in high regard, while still being able to work with students when they have discipline issues. Los Alamos High School would not be the same without Scott.