Members of the Los Alamos Public Schools Facilities Department gather after receiving the 2025 Ben Lujan Maintenance Team Award. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS Director of Facilities/Operations Tommy Castillo, center, with Facilities Secretary Amber Miera and Custodial Supervisor Herman Salazar with their Facilities Master Certificate from CES/PSFA. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) announces that the LAPS maintenance team has been honored with the Ben Lujan Maintenance Team Award for 2025.
“We are honored to receive this award recognizing our department’s dedication, professionalism and continued commitment to serving our district,” Director of Facilities/Operations Tommy Castillo said.
Members of the Facilities Department attended this year’s Cooperative Educational Services (CES) conference, where they participated in a range of sessions focused on facility operations, maintenance planning, funding processes, and compliance standards.
In addition, Facilities Secretary Amber Miera and Custodial Supervisor Herman Salazar received their Facilities Master Certificate from CES and the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA).
“This is a notable achievement demonstrating their commitment to professional development and operational excellence,” Castillo said. “Through this certification, they gained advanced knowledge in facility management, funding strategies, and inspection-based best practices. “Their accomplishment exemplifies the district’s dedication to cultivating skilled, knowledgeable staff who ensure our facilities remain safe, reliable, and well-maintained for students and staff alike.”
The Ben Lujan Maintenance Achievement Awards, in its 19th year, was created to recognize New Mexico Public School maintenance and operations staff and teams dedicated to maintaining quality facility conditions supporting their educational environments and the success of teachers, students and communities. The award is named in honor of the late New Mexico Speaker of the House, Ben R. Lujan and continues his passion for the students of the state in acknowledging the hard work maintenance custodial staff perform on a daily basis to provide for educational facilities that are outstanding in form and function.