Teachers 05.28.

11
of the
Year

20 2010 - 2011
VALENCIA
COUNTY
News-Bulletin
2 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011

A salute to the county’s Eric Brown

Teachers of the Year School of Dreams Academy
Each year, the Los Lunas and Belen school districts honor one of their
best by naming a district Teacher of the Year. In making their choice, they Grade or subject taught: Seventh-
select from among Teachers of the Year nominated by each school. through 10th-grade science, math and
Teachers often work with little recognition, so this News-Bulletin special pre-engineering.
section is designed to spotlight these outstanding teachers in an end-of- Education: Bachelor’s degree,
the-school-year tribute. Western New Mexico University,
The Teachers of the Year from the various schools are listed in alphabeti- 1994. Worked in the mining industry,
cal order by name, with the stories of the district honorees presented on and after an injury earned second
Pages 8 and 9. bachelor’s from WNMU, a B.S. in
New this year, the School of Dreams Academy charter school in Los Secondary Education with an emphasis
Lunas has also selected a Teacher of the Year. in biology.
We asked the sort of questions we think parents would, if given a chance Family: Son, Ethan, 9; daughter,
— about how these extraordinary teachers inspire our children, how they Bethany, 4; wife, Patricia, “who is a
decided to become teachers and what their most touching classroom mo- really cool lady.”
ments are. We hope you enjoy their stories. How long have you been teaching:
And to all you wonderful teachers out there, we offer our respect and 12 years.
gratitude. Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “Teaching was my first choice,
I was leaning towards teaching at
Western and some of my professors got
me passionate about biology. I really
those things. It is about the kid who is
having a hard time doing something
and I can actually talk to them and find
some way to make them understand
and see that light click. Teaching is
about the moments. When something
happens and you get this personal one-
on-one time with somebody and you
can teach them something about life.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I have lots of good memo-
ries. I don’t have just one favorite
classroom memory. I can’t pick out one
favorite one, they are all good. I’ve had
good memories where kids have risen
above their expectations and done phe-
nomenal things and then I have really
funny memories where kids have done
some really crazy things.”
What teaching aid or technique

Madeline Aragon
always wanted to be a teacher. My
grandmother was a teacher, so it was
just one of those things that I always
thought I wanted to do.”
What brings you the most joy in
Tomé Elementary School teaching? “Seeing kids succeed. It’s
not about the competitions or any of
do you use that seems to work the
best? “You know I really believe that
kids learn from different techniques. I
have kids who really gravitate towards
lecturing and others who really gravi-
n See Eric Brown, Page 3

Grade or subject taught: Fourth memory? “My son didn’t want to go to

grade, dual-language (English-Spanish).
Education: B.A. in Education, New
Mexico Highlands University; M.A. in
Curriculum and Instruction, University
of Colorado-Denver.
Family: One son, Nicholas Joaquin.
How long have you been teaching?
“32 years, 12 in New Mexico.”
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “Learning is life’s passion. My
sister’s learning disability motivated
me.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When the light goes on and
the student ‘gets it,’ and when they use
what they’ve learned.”
What is your favorite classroom
the second day of kindergarten, and he
hid under a sink. A teacher found him,
picked him up, and carried him to class
to show him he’s not special.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“Showing how important it is to ask
and answer questions.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “Expect children to learn,
and expect families to send children to
school for the purpose of learning.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “Being in a pediatri-
cian’s office, and having a former stu-
dent ask, ‘Do you remember me?’ The
former student was the pediatrician.”

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 May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 3

Angela Campbell
H.T. Jaramillo Community School
Grade or subject taught: First
grade.
Education: University of New
Mexico, B.S. in education; pursuing
National Board Certification.
Family: Daughter, Madison, 6, and
son, Mathayas, 2.
How long have you been teach-
ing? “Since I got my degree in 2004. I
started here teaching kindergarten for
two years and I’ve taught first grade for
five years.”
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “I’ve always wanted to work
with children. Kids are my passion. I
like seeing their progress from year to
year. They grow so much.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When that light bulb goes
on. When a student has been having
a hard time and they come to me and
tell me they understand the math or the
reading.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “When my students come
back and say things like, ‘I remember
when we had the ladybugs.’ When they
still remember things like that.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“We focus always on the positive, not
the negative. We give lots of high fives
and really work on respect. They learn
how to speak to each other.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “The best way is to get in
there with them. If they are working on
a project down on the floor, I get down
there with them. They like it when Ms.
Campbell gets silly.”
What is your most touching student
memory? “I had one girl who has had a
really rough year. She couldn’t focus and
I wanted to keep her back. Now she’s at
grade level and ready to move on to sec-
ond grade. She is special to me.”
Eric Brown
from PAGE 2
tate toward the hands-on. I really try
to do a lot of hands-on stuff. I don’t
know how you can teach science with-
out teaching some hands-on stuff. My
favorite technique is learning through
failures. If something doesn’t work,
we try something else. I think that is
what is so cool about this school, we
have the notion that there is no one set
way to do things.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I listen. I listen to what they
have to say and I try to help them to
make good decisions so that they can
do something with their education. I
think that is the most important thing,
just listening to them.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “Gosh, I have lots of
“My favorite technique is learning through failures. If
something doesn’t work, we try something else.”
students that come back and thank me
every year, and I have good memories
from all of them. Great things have
happened to a lot of these kids. My
most touching memories are those
times that kids come back after many
years and say, ‘Hey, thanks for doing
that and offering me this,’ I have prob-
ably had six or seven visits this year,
and that is always touching. I had a
student of mine who recently passed
away, and she was a great student.
Somebody who was really doing
what she wanted to do and going for
her dream, and I saw her the sum-
mer before she passed away and she
thanked me for doing all the dissec-
tions in class because it helped her to
want to become a neurosurgeon.”
ERIC BROWN
School of Dreams Academy

Bonnie Dodge
Grade or subject taught: Algebra I,
consumer math, biology, earth science
and physical science.
Education: Bachelor’s in math edu-
cation with a concentration in science;
master’s from New Mexico Tech; green
teacher certification, and numerous
other certifications.
Family: Two grown sons and three
grandchildren.
How long have you been teaching?
“About 15 years.”
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “I’ve always wanted to teach.
Some little girls played house, I played
teacher. I would get all the kids in the
neighborhood to play along, set up little
desks.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When a graduate goes on
to get their degree and then comes back
and says, ‘Hi Mrs. Dodge. You’re the
reason I’m in this field.’ I actually had
that happen.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “Every year, especially in
earth science, there are some students
who question and we get into these
great discussions. If you tell them what
something looks like, they ask, ‘How
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DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT
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good exchanges.” to become productive adults, deal effectively with change and
What teaching aid or technique have a positive impact on
do you use that seems to work the
best? “You have to keep it interactive their community.
and interesting. I use the Internet a lot.
Some of the text books come with a
CD. Anything to not just sit there with
them staring at a book. And I bring my
own experiences into the classroom. CONGRATULATIONS
That’s one of the reasons I’m always
taking classes. Last summer I got to BCS Teachers of the Year!
go on a zero-gravity simulator — the
‘Vomit Comet.’ I always try to intro-
duce new things, new experiences.”
“We applaud your
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I get excited and I’m not
afraid to show it.”
dedication,
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “At graduation, we have
outstanding
a tradition at our school. Each student
gets two roses and they give them to
the people who helped them the most
service, and
through school. There was a young lady
two or three years ago who had dropped
commitment.”
out and came back for her degree. She
needed help with math, so we met
before and after school. She gave me a
rose. I should have given her one. She
did all the work. She deserved it.” www.belen.schoolfusion.us • 505-966-1000
4 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011

Soledad Jennifer Gaerlan

Garcia-King
Ann Parish Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Bilingual
fourth-grade.
Education: Master’s in Spanish,
and a master’s in Elementary
Education. Currently working on a
doctorate in Education Technology.”
Family: “My family is originally
from Hatch. I’m married and have
two children. My daughter goes to
Los Lunas High School, she’s a fresh-
man. Her name is Nadine King. My
son is going into eighth-grade at Los
Lunas Middle School. His name is
Pablo King. My husband works for
the Los Lunas Police Department,
Otto King.
How long have you been teach-
ing? “I think I started in 2002 with
UNM, as a teaching assistant, teach-
ing Spanish, and when I graduated,
I started working for UNM-Valencia
Campus, and at CNM, again teaching
Spanish. Shortly after getting my sec-
ond master’s I started teaching elemen-
tary in 2007. I really like it.”
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “I think that I started off
teaching Spanish because I had lost
my Spanish, and I had to regain it. I
wanted to share my knowledge with
they’re learning the two languages
simultaneously. We really need bilin-
gual teachers, especially here in New
Mexico.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “I think just watching the
kids grow academically, mature. Just to
see how their eyes twinkle when they
learn a new concept. It’s just a good
feeling to see how their little brains are
working, and how they’re soaking up
the curriculum. Seeing them develop.
At the end of the year, when you
reflect on how much they’re grown,
that really does it for me.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I think one of my favorite
classroom memories was when I had
been out sick for a couple of days, and
I came out to recess duty in the morn-
ing. Just having all of my kids come up
to me, hug me, and let me know that
they missed me. It’s nice to see that we
have that relationship where they’re
excited to see me.”
What teaching aid or technique
do you use that seems to work the
best? “The science-bilingual tech-
nique. I’ve learned through my four
years of teaching here, and the years
I’ve taught at college, that treating
Raymond Gabaldon Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Academic
coach for kindergarten to sixth grade.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in
Elementary Education and master’s in
Language Literacy and Sociocultural
Studies from the University of New
Mexico.
Family: Husband, Art, and three
children.
How long have you been teaching?
11 years.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “I always wanted to be a
teacher since I was young. School was
hard for me. But I have had a lot of
good teachers. I wanted to give back
what they gave me.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “To be able to inspire stu-
“School was hard for me. But I had a lot of good teachers.”
Congratulations
to ALL
dents.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I had a girl that never spoke
in kindergarten and first grade. This
year, she had the courage to raise her
hand and read for me in English.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“I use a lot of techniques. But you have
to have classroom management in order
to have success.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “Modifying my teaching
techniques to continue to meet their
needs.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “(This year) students
didn’t know who I was, and I had to
gain their trust.”
JENNIFER GAERLAN
Raymond Gabaldon Elementary School

people. I started volunteering at the
elementary, here actually, when my
kids started here, and I got to see how
much teachers are needed, and that
really inspired me. Especially bilin-
gual. I did see there was a lot of need
for bilingual teachers. I think I under-
stand these children a lot, because I
Teachers
people with respect really brings about
good results. I’ve had some really
tough kids turn around and really sur-
prise me, but I try to hear them when
they’re frustrated. I try to be patient,
and always model respect. I would say,
99 percent of the time, I get respect
of the Year!
Family
back. I try to teach respect above Owned S

RANCHERO
grew up that way; at home we spoke everything.” ince 196
3
Spanish, at school we spoke English.

I faced a lot of the challenges the kids
do here. If there’s material that goes
home in English, or higher level math,
my parents had a hard time helping me.
I try to work with my kids here in the
classroom as much as I can, and even
talk to the parents and let them know
what kind of work we’re doing in the
classroom, and how it’s taught, so they
can help at home.
“You have some of those kids who
excel in both Spanish and English, and
you see some of those kids who were
taken out of the program and then
brought back in, or went to Mexico and
then came back, where they get a lan-
guage confusion. They really struggle
a lot. So, the bilingual program is real-
ly a great program for them, because
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How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I like to tell kids to believe
in themselves, especially the kids that
have low self-esteem. You just have to
convince them that they are smarter
than they think they are.” BUY ONE,
What is your most touching stu-
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 May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 5

Peggy Hayes Susan Hayes

Sundance Elementary School Belen Family School

Grade or subject taught: Third
grade.
Education: B.A. in Elementary
Education, University of Northern
Iowa; minor in German.
Family: Husband, Mike; one daugh-
ter, Barbara; one son, Zachary.
How long have you been teaching?
27 years.
Why did you choose teaching
as a career? “I adored my fifth- and
sixth-grade teacher, who was strict but
inspiring.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “That ‘aha’ moment students
have, and the way they are all special
and unique.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “A student who was so
pleased with a fourth-grade test the
year after being my student, who
brought the results to show me. It made
me cry.”
What teaching aid or technique
do you use that seems to work the
best? “Infuse a little humor, vary the
teaching methods, and be hands-on
when needed.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I try to model the fact that I
love to learn. I try to connect lessons to
the real world.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “Whenever a former
student invites me to a high school
graduation.”
Grade or subject taught: First and
second grades.
Education: B.S. in Education,
University of New Mexico; M.A. in
Biblical Studies.
Family: Married, five children, nine
grandchildren.
How long have you been teaching?
“This is my 17th year.”
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “I’ve always wanted to teach,
from the moment I taught my dolls and
family dogs when I was a young child.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “There are so many things.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “Moving our school to Rio
Communities. The classrooms are bright-
er, and the noisy heaters and air condi-
tioning at the old building weren’t nearly
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“Keeping on a very tight schedule, so
the kids know what’s coming. Kids like
routine. It’s what makes a special day
so exciting for them.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “Find what interests them,
especially in reading and writing, and
what genres they’re really into at the
time.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “During an out-loud
reading exercise, a student was asked
to point to each word on the page. I
noticed the child was trying to contort
their fingers to touch all the page’s
words at the same time. It was an
electrifying lesson to me in really con-
sidering what we say when talking to

Lena Herrera as conducive as this environment.” children.”

“I taught my dolls and family dogs when I was a young child.”

La Promesa Elementary School SUSAN HAYES
Belen Family School

Grade or subject taught: Academic the phenomenal scores we had at the

support teacher for reading and math.
Education: Masters in Education
Family: Husband, Bud, son, daughter.
How long have you been teaching?
16 years.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “One of my decisions to
become a teacher stemmed from teach-
ing at a vacation Bible school. One of
the parents said, ‘Where do you teach?’
I hadn’t even thought about being a
teacher yet, but I think God gave me
talents to be a teacher somewhere
along the way. And when I decided to
become a teacher, it became very easy.
I believe I fell into the career, I don’t
think I actually chose it.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “I believe in giving it all so
that a child can grow, and I mean every
child. I do believe in the presence of No
Child Left Behind. In that aspect I think
that it’s imperative to find whatever ave-
nue it takes to help every child grow.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “My most memorable class-
room moment stems from a year when
I taught with another fourth-grade
teacher. We team taught. We combined
our fourth-grade classes into one great
big class of 40 children. We had two
classrooms right next to each other.
When one of us was out, those kids
never missed a beat. They were on it
every single time. That credits a lot to
end of the year. I would say that year
was my most memorable time.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“There’s a phenomenal strategy called
Baldridge. You give students the power.
‘Here’s the goal, how are we going to
reach the goal.’ I believe in building
classroom routine that way, classroom
rules. Students have their own say so
in how they learn. They live for that. I
can’t say enough about how Baldridge
has changed the way I think about set-
ting up a classroom.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “When you give them owner-
ship of their own learning. Children sign
a mission statement at the beginning
of the year that they helped create. It Ricardo, Kassia, Vanessa, Amanda, Mike (Mgr.)
stays up in the classroom all year long.
So if something happens, if someone
breaks the mission statement, a type of
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What is your most touching stu- Proudly Serving Valencia County
dent memory? “I don’t know if I can
choose one. If I talk about this special
memory, then I’m leaving out that one.
Since 1990!
Every teacher has students that they
will never forget. I just wish every child
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6 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011
Adrienne Jaramillo
Gil Sanchez Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Fifth-
and sixth-grade loop (Fifth in 2010-11;
will follow class to sixth for 2011-12).
Education: B.A. in Education,
University of New Mexico.
Family: Married, two sons, Jacob
and Luc.
How long have you been teach-
ing? “This was my 17th year.”
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “My grandmother and oth-
ers in my family were teachers, so I
just sort of fell into it.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When the students ‘get it’,
and feel good about it.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? ”When former students got
to go to the New Mexico Legislature
Tabitha Kline
Daniel Fernandez Elementary School
Grade of subject taught: Third grade.
Education: LLHS, 1984. College of
Santa Fe in Albuquerque, 2000.
Family: Father, Orlando Tapia of
Tome; mother, Dorothy Tapia-Otero
of Belen; daughter, Alexis Perea,
and grandson, Noah Abril; and sons,
Derek and Damian Perea.
How long have you been teach-
ing? 12 years. Ann Parish for 10 years
and Daniel Fernandez for two.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “When my kids were little I
started working for the schools so that
I could be working when they were in
school and off when they were off. Once
I got into the schools, I worked with some
really great teachers and they inspired me
to go on and get my degree.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When I’m just having fun
with the kids, I like to have fun with
them, and when they’re learning and
having fun that brings me joy.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I think it would have to
be when I was in kindergarten and I
remember always having pets, so my
favorite memory of school is being a
little small child in kindergarten and
always being the one that was able to
take care of the pets.”
What teaching aid or technique
do you use that seems to work the
best? “We do a lot of hands-on stuff,
get in there and do. Moving and feel-
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How do you inspire your stu-
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What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? ”Whenever I’m invit-
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How do you inspire your students Ms. VanHavermaat, Ms. Silva, Ms. Oshiro,
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ways to connect what they’re learning of the School of Dreams Academy.
in the classroom to other things that If we are to be recognized as a beacon of
they might know and things that might
be outside of the classroom.” educational successes, student achievement,
What is your most touching stu- and character, shining across New Mexico
dent memory? “I had this one student from the heart of the Rio Grande Valley,
and he was very serious and we had
field day. We were going to have a it will be because of your knowledge and
water fight and he said, ‘You know, dedication. You are appreciated.
Mrs. Kline, I don’t really like to get
wet.’ So I told him he could stay on the Thank You,
outskirts. Then the battle started and
before you know it, I was in the middle Mike Ogas
getting everybody because they all Principal/Co-Founder
wanted to get me. ... I turn around and
there he is, standing right there and he’s
soaked from head to toe. And I told
him, ‘Wait a minute. What happened?’
and he was like ‘I don’t know.’ He was Daring to dream.
worse than everybody, right in the
middle of it all. I will never forget him
Preparing for
because he was so cute. It was really success.
touching that he just couldn’t resist
when he saw us all having fun, he was
in it 120 percent. It was the funniest
thing.”

Patsy Lambert
La Merced Elementary School
Grade or subject taught:
Kindergarten.
Education: Bachelor’s in French,;
master’s in Multicultural Education;
specialist in administration; certificate
in early childhood; bilingual certifica-
tion.
Family: Married 27 years. Husband,
John, one daughter and a grandson.
How long have you been teaching?
35 years.
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “I was an instructional assis-
tant in a school in California, and up
to that point I wanted to teach French
at the high school. But I was working
with first-graders, and I just fell in love
with the process and the enthusiasm
that little kids have with learning.”
What brings you the most joy
in teaching? “It’s those teaching
moments. That’s what turns me on.
It’s like you practice with them, you
introduce a concept, and you work with
them and all of a sudden — ‘I can do
this.’ They get so excited.
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “Jacob was a student I had
maybe 26 years ago. He said, ‘Mrs.
Lambert, I have been waiting for this
moment all year long.’ And I looked at
him and I said, ‘Exactly what do you
mean?’ And he says, ‘I’ve been wait-
ing to learn to read.’ A little 5-year-old.
He had been told that by coming to
school he would learn to read. And that
moment finally arrived. He had been
Josephine Maez
Los Lunas Middle School
Grade or subject taught: Special
Education Inclusion Teacher at the
middle school level. Co-teach with a
regular education teacher in seventh-
and eighth-grade math classes.
Education: Bachelors of science
in education and masters of arts in
education from the University of New
Mexico. Certified as a regular and spe-
cial education teacher.
Family: Married 35 years. Husband,
Charlie. Four daughters.
How long have you been teaching?
Working on year 30. Retired in 2000
after 26 years; returned 2008.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “I was inspired to become a
May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 7
A Big Woo Hoo to Our Teachers!
waiting for it all year long.“
What teaching aid or technique
do you use that seems to work the
best? “I use everything if it works.
And I love the new technology. This
new technology that they got us three Greater Belen
years ago has a computer, overhead
document camera and the projector. Chamber of Commerce
If the kids are doing a worksheet, you
can do it with them, get them to give
you the answers, and they can come up
and write them. They not only get to
hear it, but get to see it. This would be
after you do some instruction to explain
what is going to be happening.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “A lot of students in kinder-
garten come in and say,’I can’t.’ From
the day they walk in, I keep telling
them why they are here, to learn to read
and write. And I ask them, ‘What does
your dad do?’ And they tell me, and I
explain to them how their parents use
their reading in their occupations. We
bring that up many, many times during
the first part of the year so they under-
stand why they need to learn to read
and write.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “It happens every year
when you teach kindergarten at the
very end of the year, the last month of
the year, when you have a whole group
of kids and they’re all reading. I want
to cry because it’s just like a miracle.
It’s been what you’ve been working for
all year long.”
We appreciate all you do.
@VCNewsBulletin
special education teacher when I was in
middle school. I had the opportunity to
assist college students who were work-
ing with special education students. twitter.com/VCNewsBulletin
It appeared to me to be a rewarding
and challenging career choice. I have
worked in both regular and special
education classrooms. Each has its own
Find us on
unique challenges and rewards. Having Facebook
worn both hats gives me a helpful per- facebook.com/ValenciaCountyNewsBulletin
spective to my teaching.”
What brings you the most joy in
News-Bulletin
teaching? “Those moments when you
VALENCIA
see students interested and excited
with a particular lesson or activity you COUNTY
n See Josephine Maez, Page 10
8 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011
Belen Teacher of the Year
Rebecca Rivera
Belen High School
By Brent Ruffner
News-Bulletin Staff Writer
bruffner@news-bulletin.com
Rebecca Rivera likes helping kids.
This week, Rivera was honored
for her work as director of the Belen
High School Graduation Reality And
Dual-Role Skills as she was named
2010-11 Belen district Teacher of the
Year.
Rivera has worked with teen par-
ents as part of the GRADS Program
and says her goal is to teach teens
how to care for their children and
balance the day-to-day pressures of
being a high school student. GRADS
is part of a statewide program that
teaches child development classes to
teens at the school and is funded by a
renewable grant.
The New Mexico State University
graduate helped start the program
almost 20 years ago after it was dis-
covered there was a growing need to
help teen parents.
“At the time, Valencia County
was number three in the state in teen
pregnancy,” Rivera said.
Now, Rivera said, teen parents
have a place to go for help. She said
enrollment numbers have remained
steady over the years because most
students realize the importance of
graduation. She said she helps take
care of babies six weeks to two years,
and said she hopes to teach students
how to overcome obstacles.
She said some teens handle a jug-
gling act that includes being a parent,
holding a job and going to school.
“We teach them better skills,”
Rivera said. “Not only for caring for
them, but when they get older they
will be a better parent. The most
important thing is that they learn
what to do for their child.”
Rivera said the program allows
students to be in a teacher role while
they are going to school. She said
she wants students to overcome their
problems to be able to walk the line
with a cap and gown.
“Some kids drop out and there’s no
need to drop out,” Rivera said. “We
want to guide them to graduation day.”
The director said she has had sup-
port from other teachers and admin-
istrators throughout her time at the
school. She currently works with two
educational assistants.
In March, the school hosted three
assemblies with the help of the New
Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition
to educate teens on the risks of pre-
marital sex, and to help curb the
growing problem of teen pregnancy.
The assemblies were for sophomore,
junior and senior classes.
Rivera said she plays a mentor-
ship role rather than beating home the
point over and over again. She said
she teaches students to move on with
their lives after the pregnancy ― not
to treat it as a stumbling block.
“I’m a parent,” Rivera said.
“Preaching doesn’t work. They have
to know they have someone to come
to. We have to show them options.
They have to make the choices.”
Rivera said she is “humbled” by
her award and said she owes a lot of
gratitude to her family and the school
staff for supporting her and her stu-
dents for nearly two decades.
She said she hopes to expand her
program to a permanent building to
serve more students, and says she
plans to continue to help students
overcome obstacles.
“It’s a roller coaster job,” Rivera Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo
said. “But it’s an awesome job. But
BELEN HIGH SCHOOL teacher Rebecca Rivera stands in front of the school’s logo
when (students) are successful, you on a recent school day. Rivera, director of the Belen High School Graduation Reality
feel really good.” And Dual-Role Skills, was named the 2011 district Teacher of the Year.
 May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 9

Los Lunas Teacher of the Year

Catherine Moya
Desert View Elementary
By Julia M. Dendinger
News-Bulletin Staff Writer
jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

Catherine Moya’s brothers and

sister often found themselves trapped
inside on summer days, humoring
the sibling who always knew she was
going to be a teacher.
“I always knew,” Moya said. “I
love learning and I like learning with
my students. As a teacher you have to
be excited so the kids will follow.”
Moya’s love of learning has kept
her in the teaching profession for
close to 20 years now. And on top of
her many other accolades, she was
named the 2010-11 district Teacher of
the Year for Los Lunas Schools.
Before she became a teacher, Moya
worked as an instructor at several
museums, putting her anthropology
degree to good use.
Moya attended the University of
New Mexico, where she earned a
bachelor of arts degree in anthropol-
ogy, a post-bachelor’s in elementary
education and a master’s, with a focus
in science and math education. Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo
Through a Los Lunas School LOS LUNAS TEACHER OF THE YEAR Catherine Moya is able to bring her love of science and learning into her fourth-grade
District program, Moya was able classroom thanks to two stuffed birds.
to earn her Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages, or She has been teaching at Desert With so many years of experience, Science Teachers Association, the
TESOL, endorsement. View for eight years. Moya said she has many wonderful University of New Mexico and the
“And that doesn’t mean just “These last eight years here have memories of her time in the class- National Science Foundation.
Spanish speaking students. It’s for been the most inspiring and fulfilling room. And with that time, she has She was also awarded a Horace
students who speak everything from of my career,” Moya said. She spoke learned what make for a good learn- Mann Crystal Apple Award. In 1999,
Korean to Arabic,” she said. highly of her fourth-grade learning ing environment. she was recognized as the New
Moya teaches fourth grade at team teacher, Tonja Otero. “We work in groups together. The Mexico and National Presidential
Desert View Elementary School, but “This has been a time of professional more they talk, the more ideas and Awardee for Excellence in Science
she has taught kindergarten, first, challenge and growth, a time of learn- thoughts are generated,” Moya said. Teaching.
second, fifth and sixth grades. ing and gaining a new perspective on “I do a lot of hands-on, manipulative, Moya was invited to Washington,
“I really like fourth grade. They learning and teaching,” she said. problem-solving work.” D.C., in the summer of 2000 for a
are young enough they want to please Her greatest joy comes from just Moya has been happily married week’s participation at the National
all their teachers and they are really being in the classroom, Moya said. for 34 years to John, a member of the Science Foundation Awards
into learning,” she said. “You have these great teaching nursing staff at the VA hospital in Celebration, along with 125 other
Moya started teaching for the dis- moments that just develop into some- Albuquerque. They have two children, awardees from around the United
trict in 1992, at Raymond Gabaldon thing you didn’t plan,” she said. “And a son, Aaron and a daughter, Lauren. States and U.S. Territories.
Elementary. She has also taught at that is wonderful. What they learn Moya has been honored with cita- “It was a great privilege to be asso-
Los Lunas Elementary School before about, what they talk about, the look tions from the New Mexico Public ciated with such a prestigious group
coming to Desert View Elementary. in their eyes.” Education Board, New Mexico of educators,” she said.
10 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011

Josephine Maez
from PAGE 7
have planned for them. I love those
times when students are involved and
working collaboratively to complete
a task. Students learn when they have
to explain their thinking when they
are helping each other. It is then that
students have taken ownership of their
learning and the teacher’s role is to
facilitate.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “One of my favorites is the
hectic fun and hard work of putting
on musical Christmas plays with other
third-grade teachers. For several years
it was a much anticipated event. You
can imagine that organizing 100 8- and
9-year olds into a musical production
would lead to many hilarious, frantic,
and touching moments. I remember
staying late one night sewing and
decorating about 40 poodle skirts. The
sewing machine was going non-stop,
we were ironing on appliqués, and glu-
ing on pom poms to poodle tails when
our iron shorted out with a pop. We had
to finish the job with a tiny laminating
iron. The proud looks on the parent’s
faces as they watched their child per-
form made the hard work worthwhile.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“In my work as a special ed inclusion
teacher I am tasked with making the
grade level content accessible to my
students. I use various strategies or
techniques. I break down big concepts
into smaller bits and scaffold instruc-
tions to facilitate learning. It gives
intense support at the start of learning
a new concept in the form of graphic
organizers, modeling, reference sheets,
and activating prior knowledge. The
intensity of the support lessens as the
student gains skills and confidence. All
students learn differently and at differ-
ent rates so the level of support varies
from student to student.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “By always striving to pro-
vide well-thought-out lessons based
on the research of best practices. I let
students know that I believe in their
ability to learn. I try to remain positive
and to provide structure and support
as needed and try to instill a sense of
responsibility in my students.”
Kenda Meathenia
Grade or subject taught: Seventh-
grade science and eighth-grade talented
and gifted students.
Education: Bachelor’s in
Elementary Education and master’s in
Reading from the University of New
Mexico.
How long have you been teaching?
14 years.
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “I had an interest in science.
Through my studies and coursework, I
kind of leaned toward teaching.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “I like to see kids make
their own path and see where they are
going.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “This year, one of my stu-
dents came back ... He had graduated
and was about to deploy and had come
to tell me would use the G.I. Bill to
study biology.”
What teaching aid or technique
Belen Middle School
them in.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “What I am interested in is
(students) learning to think. Because
when you become your own thinker,
you are in charge of your own experi-
ences and in charge of your own learn-
ing.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “Every year you have
some kids that will stick out or they
have that accomplishment or that
moment where they kind of step up and
take ownership of (their education).”
“... when you become your
own thinker, you are in
charge of your own experi-
ences ...”

Staci March
do you use that seems to work the KENDA MEATHENIA
best? “You have to spark their interest Belen Middle School
and find that thing that is going to pull

Grade or subject taught: Special

Education/Language Arts, and IEP
Facilitator.
Education: UNM, B.A. in
Education-Special Ed K-12, B.A. in
Education-Regular Ed K-8.
Family: Husband, Joe Perkins; son
J.J. March, 18; daughter, Zoi Perkins, 4.
How long have you been teach-
ing? 11 years.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “I wanted to help people.
Teaching isn’t a career, it’s an adven-
ture, and I love it.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “Everyday is a joyful sur-
prise. I have 15-20 students walk into
my classroom, and with them they
bring different personalities, behav-
iors, and life experiences.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “When I was teaching a
Special Ed math class at the high
school level. I had stayed up the night
before trying to figure out how to get
the kids to understand factoring. The
next day, after we had been working
for 50 minutes, one of them stands up
and shouts out, ‘I got it! I got it!’ The
Century High School
next time this student tested on the
Teachers!
MAP test he was so excited that he
could answer the factoring questions.” Always An Important
What teaching aid or technique
do you use that seems to work the resource for Everyone
best? “I think what works most with
high school kids is listening to them.
They need a safe place to vent and
Support Our Teachers
have their voices heard. The kids tell
me, ‘Ms. March, you listen to what
From the Council
we say. You may not be able to help
us but you at least let us talk.’” And Staff Of the
How do you inspire your stu-
dents to learn? “Kids want to please
people they respect and enjoy spend-
ing time with. Kids aren’t bad, they
Village of
make bad choices. Reminding stu-
dents that they can do anything that
they put their minds to is the best
motivation for bettering themselves.”
Los Lunas
Robert Vialpando Mayor
Councilors
What is your most touching
student memory? “The one student Cecilia CC Castillo Charles Griego
memory I hold close to my heart is Richard Lovato Gerard Saiz
when one of my students asked me Village Administrator Chief of Police
to attend the senior robing ceremony
and sit with he and his parents. When Peter Fernandez Roy E. Melnick
it came time for the parents to stand Municipal Judge Fire Chief
and robe the student, this student and Jeff Aragon Atiliano “Lito” Chavez
Mom asked me if I would robe him.
This was a special day and a very Remember to Shop in Valencia County!
special moment.”

Barbara Moreno
Manzano Vista Middle School
Grade or subject taught: Seventh-
grade life science.
Education: University of New
Mexico, college of education.
Family: Married, three grown chil-
dren and seven grandchildren.
How long have you been teach-
ing? Two years.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “I didn’t choose teaching, it
chose me. It was one of those things
where I felt I never made a decision. It
was like it grabbed me and everything
fell into place. It just happened. It was
just amazing. I made a career change.
I was an administrative assistant and
retired from that to take care of my
pregnant daughter. When my grand-
daughter started school, I started vol-
unteering. I saw the tremendous work
the teacher did. At the insistence of a
school secretary, I started subbing. I
did a couple of long-term stints and
didn’t want to give the children back.
I was standing on the playground one
day talking with one of the teachers
and I said, ‘If I was younger I’d go
The Los Lunas Schools Board of Education
“Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.”
back to school because I love this.’
And she said, ‘You’re not too old, go.’”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “Seeing their eyes light up
when they get it. That is worth every-
thing. When it happens, it’s very excit-
ing because it surprises them how excit-
ed they get. When they grasp a concept,
it’s like, Wow. And I love that.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “One of my funniest class-
room memories was when I was long-
term subbing for a first-second (grade)
combo. I would eat with the kids. We
all went to the cafeteria and ate, and
when we went back to the classroom,
within an hour seven of the kids had
thrown up. I was horrified. It was
funny and horrific and I didn’t know
what to do. Nobody wanted to go to
the nurse, they wanted to stay in the
classroom. When I see those kids in
that class, we always talk about it —
do you remember that day?”
What teaching aid or technique
do you use that seems to work the
n See Barbara Moreno, Page 12
http://www.llschools.net/
Congratulates
Cathi Moya
Teacher of the Year
2010-2011
~Author Unknown
May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 11
Joanne Page
Bosque Farms Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Fourth
grade, all subjects.
Education: Bachelor’s in Education,
with a minor in science, and an ESL
endorsement.
Family: Husband, Lochlin Page,
an engineer who just got his associ-
ates degree and was valedictorian at
UNM-VC this year. Son, Chris, 26, and
daughter, Colleen, 25.
How long have you been teaching?
Fourth year at Bosque Farms, after
eight years at Ann Parish Elementary.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “My kids were going to
Bosque Farms Elementary, and I was
PTC president, and I used to go to my
kids classroom and help out. I started
thinking, if I’m going to do this, I
might as well go back to school. At that
point they asked me to sub one day. I
thought this isn’t bad, and I decided to
go back to school.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When you see somebody
struggling with something, and you
work with them, and you work with
them, and then that light goes on. I
struggled in elementary school, so
it’s nice to see you can help someone.
There’s something about that smile
when they finally get it. There’s noth-
ing better.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “When we became a Blue
Ribbon school. That was quite an
honor. Staff and students worked very
hard for it. It was earned. It took the
whole school.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“All kinds. There is no one strategy,
because every kid learns differently.
You have to try all different ways.
Some times you can use kids to help
other kids. Some times they can explain
a strategy to each other. There’s just
multiple ways.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “Every day inspires me,
because every day I learn something
from these kids. You have to allow kids
to experience their learning, and try
n See Joanne Page, Page 12
12 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011
Karen Rupp
Rio Grande Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Third grade.
Education: Graduated from UNM,
summa cum laude, B.S. in Education.
Family: “Husband, Douglas, is my
best fan..”
How long have you been teaching?
16 years.
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “Because I wanted to make a
difference in my community, and I felt
teaching would be the best avenue through
which I could accomplish that goal.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “When I see the growth
through the year in my students.
Another joy is when I hear a student say,
‘I want to be a teacher when I grow up.’”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “My mother-in-law would
come in and help students in my class-
room several times a week. One day one
of my little boys was mesmerized with
the skin on her neck and completely
oblivious to what she was teaching him.
Finally, with childish candor he said,
‘Ms. Hansen, why doesn’t your skin stick
to your bones?’ To which she replied,
‘Sonny, when you get to be my age, your
skin won’t stick to your bones either.’ I
Stephanie
Salazar-Gutierrez
Los Lunas Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Fourth grade..
Education: Bachelor’s degree in
Elementary Education and master’s
degree in Education, UNM.
Family: Two sons, a seventh-grader
and a second-grader next school year.
How long have you been teaching?
21 years, 6 in Los Lunas.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “It had a lot to do with my
own schooling. I felt I could reach kids
at a deeper level.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “Working with kids who
come from difficult backgrounds, back-
grounds that make learning harder for
them. I get to watch them grow, not just
academically, but personally, and get a
sense of themselves.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “My (students) this year
became very close. They encouraged
each other when preparing for (the state
required assessment test) ... Usually it’s
the teacher’s job to work on encourag-
ing them and building up their confi-
had to turn away to conceal my laughter.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“There is really not just one technique
that works best with students as they
come with a variety of learning styles.
However, whenever I can make learn-
ing fun, magic happens.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I encourage and recognize
them for their accomplishments. For
students who are reticent, I quietly
encourage and acknowledge even the
smallest of accomplishments.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “The first year I was
teaching kindergarten, one of my stu-
dents looked up to me and asked, ‘Ms.
Rupp, is your husband in prison?’ I said,
‘No, why?’ To which he replied, ‘My
dad is.’ I went home that night and wept.
This taught me to always look at my stu-
dents with compassion as I do not know
what they may be going home to at the
end of each day. It also taught me that
my classroom must be one place where a
child feels secure and loved, as then and
only then, can I ‘teach.’”
dence, but these students took over and
did that themselves, helping build each
other’s confidence.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best? “I
always try to notice the things that kids
have as a strength, not necessarily aca-
demic, and encourage those strengths.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I tell them what a particular
topic means for the future, how learn-
ing it now will help them later in life. I
use real-life examples of how that will
help them, even as an adult.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “I had a little boy who
for almost all the first semester didn’t
talk to the other kids or socialize with
them. He’d barely talk in class. After
a lot of development on my part —
working on his strengths again — one
day I suddenly found him playing with
the most popular kid in the class. They
were playing quietly and just talking
to each other, and he just grew from
there.”
Barbara Moreno
from PAGE 11
best? “I think that there’s a number of
different strategies. The goal is to have
dent memory? I had a student last
year who had so many issues, so many
100 percent of your kids engaged at
one time, and if you can figure out a
problems. She was a challenge. You
could never predict her behavior. She
strategy to do that it’s just wonderful. would have all kinds of bizarre behav-
One of them is using individual white iors. I tried to make her work, and she
boards and markers for the kids. And blew up on me. She was suspended
when we review, each one writes the for a while. She was just such a chal-
answer down and then holds them up. lenge. One day she came to school
And you get 100 percent participation. and she was sick. She had a cold. I
The kids love that.” gave her a lozenge and I said, ‘See if
How do you inspire your students this will help.’ That small thing that I
to learn? I don’t know. I like my kids. did was all it took. From then on, she
I heard (another teacher) saying once, really started trying. Just that little bitty
‘They don’t care how much you know gesture of kindness changed her. She
until they know that you care.’ I con- wrote me this letter at Christmas say-
nect with my kids. I think they know I ing, ‘I’m sorry I’ve caused you so many
care. I have their respect.” problems, I hope you have a wonderful
What is your most touching stu- Christmas.’ I’ve still got that letter.”
Joanne Page
from PAGE 11
to make it fun. Some of these kids are out of foster care, and he was in and
very, very sharp. You learn something out of our school. But in third grade, he
all the time. They’re amazing, and came back, and he was with one of my
that’s what gets me. Some times kids co-workers. He told her that he wished
put teachers on pedestals. It’s good I was his mom. We made some kind of
when they see you’re human, and see personal connection, and he wished I
that we make mistakes, too.” was his mom. That little guy still holds
What is your most touching stu- a place in my heart, and I hope that
dent memory? “My first year teach- he’s okay.”
ing, I had this little boy who was in and
Congratulations to all
our outstanding teachers
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Anna Sanchez
Dennis Chavez Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: K-6 music.
Education: B.A. in Music Education
from Highlands University.
Family: Husband, Bob Montoya,
owns Long’s Saddlery. Son, Sam, 4.
How long have you been teaching?
Taught several years in Espanola and
Albuquerque. Out of teaching 10 years.
Returned the past three years.
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “As long as I can remember,
I wanted to be a teacher. I think that
was instilled in me by my grandfather,
because he was such a great teacher
... and I just wanted to emulate that. It
wasn’t until high school that I knew I
wanted to teach music.”
What brings you the most joy
in teaching? “Students’ faces.
Whenever they’re making music,
whenever they have their hands on
an instrument, it doesn’t matter the
sound that’s coming out, just to see
the utter joy on their faces.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“The classroom itself is a reward for
most of them. ... there’s only 12 (music)
Claudine Sanchez
Katherine Gallegos Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Sixth grade.
Education: LLHS graduate. UNM,
bachelor’s degree in Elementary
Education with a minor in Math; mas-
ters’ in Language and History.
Family: Husband, David M. Sanchez.
How long have you been teaching?
“This is my 11th year teaching. I have
been at Daniel Fernandez Intermediate
for seven years and at Katherine
Gallegos Elementary before that.”
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “As a young child, I remember
I always wanted to be a teacher. I think
I decided to be a teacher in second
grade.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “Seeing students down the
road, succeeding. When you reach
someone and don’t realize it until much
later.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I remember one day when
stations, and there’s always about 24
kids in each class, but man, when
those kids know their behavior (in the
outer classroom) is going to determine
whether they get to come in here (music
station), they’re like angels.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I discuss with them, at every
level, what the traits are for success.
So, if they’re good listeners, if they’re
following directions, these are going to
carry them through their whole life.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “The first graders have
been learning songs about different ani-
mals. I had them dramatize ‘Six Little
Ducks.’ ... each riser (two-tiered stands
in the classroom) performed as a team
and gets the floor while the other kids
stand up and sing. And this one little
boy just was so into it. He really looked
like a duck. You could just imagine
his feathers ruffling up. He was just
so involved in being a duck, and for
his own enjoyment. He wasn’t being a
clown, he wasn’t trying to make any-
body laugh. He was just in his own
world as that little duck.”
everyone was just in synch during a
lesson. It was almost like time stopped.
You could just see the switches flip-
ping. And what made it even more
gratifying is an adult overheard the
lesson and asked if he could have the
handouts I’d used.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“Group work is really helpful. They
can do their reading and talk about the
book. They rely on each other and work
together.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “By being present myself.
If I’m excited, they get excited. If I
come in saying, ‘You’re going to love
this,’ then it’s much easier to get them
excited.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “The first-grade class I
had when I started teaching, I had 11 of
them in my-sixth grade class. Just seeing
the progress, we had that camaraderie.
And knowing how far they’d come.”
May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 13
Gino Santistevan
Grade or subject taught: Ninth
through 12th grade physics, AP physics
and forensic science.
Education: 1989 LLHS graduate.
B.S. in astrophysics and math, UNM.
Family: Married 18 years. Wife,
Melissa. Son, Josh, 18.
How long have you been teaching?
Five years, all at LLHS.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “I didn’t originally. I started
off in computers, which led to a net-
working position at Sud Chemie. At the
same time, I was working on degrees in
astrophysics and math. After I gradu-
ated, I was trying to figure out what to
do with the astrophysics degree when
I saw an ad for a physics teacher at
Los Lunas High. I applied and got the
job. I went through the Transition to
Teaching program and got my license.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “Making a difference in
kids’ lives and promoting an interest
in the sciences. I get great satisfaction
Congratulations to the
outstanding teachers of
Belen and Los Lunas
Public Schools
Dreams start here!
The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus
280 La Entrada • Los Lunas, NM 87031 • 925-8560
Los Lunas High School
every time I hear a student say they
didn’t like science, but now they do.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “Most of my memories are
good memories. There are so many
good ones, I can’t pick one that stands
above all others.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“I’m very dynamic in the classroom.
I’m not afraid of making a fool of
myself, and students seem to respond to
that. I also inflate technology. I make
heavy use of technology.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I try to keep lessons inter-
esting and relevant. I try to use real-
world examples they can identify with.
And, of course, for forensic science I
have millions of TV shows to help me.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “I’ve had several stu-
dents tell me that after taking my class
they want to pursue a career in physics.
I find that touching. I take that as a
serious compliment.”
Could anything be
more important
than guiding the
next generation?
UNM-Valencia
applauds you for a
job well done!
14 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011

Peter Scherer Elizabeth von Toll

Valencia High School Central Elementary School

Grade or subject taught: Counselor,
ninth and 10th grade; assist with AVID
program; advanced placement teacher.
Education: B.S. in Child Psychology;
master’s degree in Secondary School
Counseling, University of Minnesota.
How long have you been a coun-
selor? 20 years, third At VHS
Why did you choose counseling as a
career? “Both my parents were teachers
and I’ve always been interested in edu-
cation. My grandmothers on both sides
taught in one-room schools, and my great-
grandfather was a superintendent, People
told me I would be good at counseling
since I’m more of a listener than a talker.”
What brings you the most joy in
counseling? “I have had a tremendous
amount of (joy) with the students. In
any community, and it’s especially true
in schools, there is a real sense of col-
laboration. It’s the part I like most.”
What is your favorite memory?
“Probably working with students as a
counselor. There can be some pretty
down times for them, but seeing them
turn things around, come through to the
other side and be happy and healthy.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best? “I
do a lot of work with the Next Step Plan
and AVID to help them set goals and come
up with a plan. I have a lot of meetings
that involve students, parents and teachers,
and we all come together to set goals and
help the student figure out what they really
want. It is always a team effort.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “I help them look at what they
are going to do after high school. New
Mexico has some great opportunities,
like the lottery scholarships. And if they
don’t want to go to college, then there
are always programs like Job Corps. I
encourage them to learn as much as they
can. Having the right skills will make
everything so much easier.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “I had a student use
my name on an application for a schol-
arship once as the person who had
‘helped them the most.’ All I did was
listen to him. Sometimes, that’s all it
takes.”
Grade or subject taught: Fourth-,
fifth- and sixth-grade Reading and
Language Arts.
Education: “I have a Ph.D. in
Curriculum and Instruction, special-
izing in learning technologies ­— that’s
out of New Mexico State —­which
helps explain the name of the program I
teach here called TEL, which stands for
Technology Enhanced Learning. And I
provide what’s called a Tier 2 reading
intervention for struggling readers.”
Family: “My (late) husband’s fam-
ily brought me to Belen in ‘96 ... His
grandfather and great-grandfather
were both physicians in this town, and
I stayed since then ... My present hus-
band works at Los Lunas High School.”
How long have you been teach-
ing? 16 years, 14 of those at Central
Elementary.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “My undergraduate degree
was in human services, social work
and counseling, that kind of thing, and
I worked with some troubled kids. I
realized, really it was a matter of edu-
cation, and that kind of got me in that
direction, why I went back to school,
and got a post-graduate teaching cre-
dential, when I thought, really what I’m
doing is teaching, so why not teach in
the largest institution in the country.”
What brings you the most joy
in teaching? “Seeing the ‘aha’ with
students. When they get it, but I really
love to see them feel inspired, when
the creativity kicks in, and they do
their own thing with it. That’s what I
find most rewarding, not when they’re
just reciting answers, but when they do
something with it, the skills and knowl-
edge. When they can own it.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I was teaching fifth-grade,
and we were having a class discussion,
and a student grabbed his head and
raises his hand, and he goes, ‘Ow, ow,
ow, I’ve got an idea.’ The act of think-
ing and having an idea, ‘Ow my head;
I have an idea.’ That just struck me as
funny. He had a new thought.”
n See Elizabeth von Toll, Page 15

Gina Sproule congratulations

Valencia Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: All sub-
jects in first and second-grade combo
classes, plus math intervention. “Mostly
math.”
Education: Bachelor’s of science in
Elementary Education.”
Family: Originally from Arizona.
Moved here about six years ago.
Husband, Michael. Blended family
with three seniors who graduated from
Belen High School this year, Dean,
Marrina and Saxton. She has a 19-year-
to all the
teacher of the
year participants!
between letters and numbers.” She gave
him crayons to teach him letters and
math.
“I gave him four crayons, and I
gave him a paper that said, ‘Color
the short ones blue and the long ones
orange.’ It took him 15 minutes, but he
found, out of those four crayons with
World Finance Corp.
the brand names, little letters and little 203-D Main Street • Belen
words ... He had been really behind,
but he found it was something he could
do.” When he had his eureka moment
Call 864-3777

old son, Jonathon, who just finished his
first year of college, and a 14-year-old
son, Marcus.
How long have you been teaching?
11 years, four at Valencia Elementary.
Why did you choose teaching as
a career? “Children are easy to help,
easy to care about, and they’re fun,
After my first year teaching, I couldn’t
believe I was getting paid to do it.”
What brings you the most joy in
teaching? “Their progress.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “I had one student this
year who didn’t know the difference
LOANS
with the color orange, he called out in
excitement. His excitement caught up
the other students, who became excited
with him. “The other kids were saying,
‘Oh wow, good job. Good for you.’ Just
those little moments, this is what brings
$200.00 up to $1,090.00
me joy.” All loans are subject to our most liberal lending policies.
What teaching aid or technique do All loans are set up on easy monthly payment plan. Licensed by
you use that seems to work the best? the State of New Mexico Department of Consumer Credit.
“Peer pressure, in a positive way, You
know, like, ‘I like the way so-and-so Branch Manager - Jodi Chavez
is doing such-and-such. Using positive Hours of Operation:
student behavior to inspire and acknowl- Mon & Fri 8:30am-6pm
Tues, Wed, Thurs 8:30am-5:30pm
n See Gina Sproule, Page 15

Ronita Wood
Peralta Elementary School
Grade or subject taught: Physical
Education..
Education: Bachelor’s degree
in Physical Education and a master’s
degree in Elementary Education.
Family: Married for 30 years to her
husband, Spencer.
How long have you been teaching?
“Since 1985.”
Why did you choose teaching as a
career? “I just love working with kids.
My mom was a P.E. teacher for 23 years
in the district.”
What brings you the most joy in
Gina Sproule
from PAGE 14
edge positive behaviors in others.”
How do you inspire your stu-
dents to learn? “I get excited about it.
Sometimes I’ll tell them, ‘This is some-
thing the big kids do, multiplication.
Let me show you.’ Just something to
get them excited about it.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “Every month I teach
the kids about someone who has made
the world a better place. This little
girl, it was February, and I was teach-
ing about Dr. (Martin Luther) King
(Jr.), and she said something that just
made me realize that she understood
it on a deeper level. There was a
Valentine with a picture of cupid on it,
and she asked, ‘What is that cupid?’ I
Elizabeth von Toll
from PAGE 14
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“Multi-media. It lets students see it, do
it, touch it, and that’s the technology
enhancement.”
How do you inspire your students
to learn? “By being a learner myself.
I love to learn. That’s why I went on
to get a Ph.D. I want to learn as much
as I can, and all I really learned is that,
as much as you know, you realize the
more you don’t know!”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “I have one student in
mind who I worked with as a fourth-
grader (through sixth-grade), and I
can distinctly remember at a parent
conference talking with the parent, and
them voicing their concerns about her
reading. That it was just a struggle,
May 28, 2011 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • 2011 Teacher Awards • 15
Teachers of the Year by school
Belen High School — Rebecca Rivera (District Teacher of the Year)
teaching? “Being a part of the com-
munity and seeing the kids I teach
everyday.”
What is your favorite classroom
memory? “Getting my gym. It used to
be a tractor shop until the district pur-
chased it in 1988.”
What teaching aid or technique do
you use that seems to work the best?
“I have my whistle.”
How do you inspire your students
Desert View Elementary — Catherine Moya (District Teacher of the Year)
to learn? “I like to keep kids active.”
What is your most touching stu-
dent memory? “Teaching a student
who became a well-respected teacher
and member of the community.”
told her, a long time ago in the olden
days, there were people who believed
he could make people love each other.
He would just shoot people with his
arrows, and then they would fall in
love. She thought about it for a minute,
and then she said, ’Well, but you can’t
do that. Remember that Mr. King, he
couldn’t make people love each other,
because you can’t make people love
you. You just have to teach them how
to act right, and hope that they’ll be
good and act right. Then they’ll love
each other because they’ve got kind-
ness in their hearts.’ And I thought,
‘Oh wow, you are so right.’ That was
about three years ago, and it has stuck
with me.”
that she was just not getting it, that it
was difficult, there was no fluency,
she can’t sound out the words. It’s just
a painful struggle. It wasn’t that the
parents weren’t involved. The parents
were very involved. They read together.
It was just difficult for them, and they
were very worried. The test grades
were below grade level. I remember
this kid being so exceptional, just
knowing it was going to come together.
It was a little nerve-wracking because
these parents were really trusting me.
Each year there was a little improve-
ment, and when she finished sixth-
grade and went into seventh grade, she
was reading above grade level, and was
able to express that on assessments. So
that was really rewarding. It was really
wonderful to see her blossom.”
BELEN
Belen Middle School — Kenda Meathenia
Central Elementary — Elizabeth von Toll
Dennis Chavez Elementary — Anna Julia Sanchez
Family School — Susan Hayes
Gil Sanchez Elementary — Adrienne Jaramillo
H.T. Jaramillo Community School — Angela A. Campbell
Infinity High School — Bonnie Dodge
La Merced Elementary — Patsy Lambert
La Promesa Elementary — Lena Herrera
Rio Grande Elementary — Karen Rupp
LOS LUNAS
Ann Parish Elementary — Soledad Garcia-King
Bosque Farms Elementary — Joanne Page
Valencia Elementary — Gina Sproule
Century High School — Staci March
Daniel Fernandez Elementary — Tabitha Kline
Katherine Gallegos Elementary — Claudine Sanchez
Los Lunas Elementary — Stephanie Salazar-Gutierrez
Los Lunas High School — Gino Santistevan
Los Lunas Middle School — Josephine Maez
Manzano Vista Middle School — Barbara Moreno
Peralta Elementary — Ronita Wood
Raymond Gabaldon Elementary — Jennifer Gaerlan
Sundance Elementary — Peggy Hayes
Tomé Elementary — Madeline L. Aragon
Valencia High School — Peter Scherer
CHARTER SCHOOL
School of Dreams Academy — Eric Brown
Congratulations to
Outstanding Educators!
Catherine Moya Rebecca Rivera
Desert View Elementary Belen High School
Certified Employee of the Year District Teacher of the Year
Los Lunas Belen
Sherri Fleischer Eric Brown
Ann Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year
Computer Lab Assistant School of Dreams Academy
Classified Employee of the Year Los Lunas
We’re proud of your accomplishments and join you in your
commitment to educational excellence in Valencia County...
that’s the Power of WE®.
16 locations including 320 Main at Luna, Los Lunas
www.nmefcu.org • 889-7755
Member NCUA • Equal Opportunity Lender
16 • 2011 Teacher Awards• Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 28, 2011

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