Teacher of the Year, Educational Support Personnel of the Year, Principal of the Year selected to represent district
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- Courtesy of Campos School Portraits
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- Courtesy of Campos School Portraits
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- Courtesy of Campos School Portraits
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- Diane Barela holds her awards after being named the 2026 LCPS Principal of the Year. Courtesy of Samantha Lewis, Las Cruces Public Schools
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- Nancy Orta stands with Margie Salazar, CEO of First Light Federal Credit Union. First Light sponsored the $1,000 cash prize for this year’s LCPS Teacher of the Year. Courtesy of Samantha Lewis, Las Cruces Public Schools
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- Elizabeth Saenz is presented a check from Nick Campos of Campos School Portraits. Courtesy of Samantha Lewis, Las Cruces Public Schools
The Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation, in partnership with Las Cruces Public Schools, announced the winners of the 2026 Teacher of the Year, Educational Support Personnel of the Year and Principal of the year at the annual Celebration of Excellence dinner held Friday night, April 25, at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
Nancy Orta, a kindergarten teacher at East Picacho Elementary School, was named the Teacher of the Year. Elizabeth Saenz, who works as a bilingual educational assistant at Centennial High School, was named the Educational Support Personnel of the Year, and Diane Barela at Mesilla Park Community Elementary School was named the Principal of the Year.
Leading up to the announcement, three finalists in each category were named, culled from a larger group of semifinalists chosen from campus-level winners. The finalists for Teacher of the Year, in addition to Orta, were Kimberly Kaime from Picacho Middle School and Shawn Silva from Organ Mountain High School. Finalists for Educational Support Personnel of the Year, in addition to Saenz, were Sylvia Laborin from Zia Middle School and Alvaro Rivera-Parra from the LCPS Physical Plant Department. Principal finalists, along with Barela, were Cherie Love from Doña Ana Elementary School and Yong Vega from Sierra Middle School.
Finalists were each awarded a $500 cash prize and the winners in each category were given a $1,000 cash prize. First Light Federal Credit Union sponsored prizes for the finalist and winner in the Teacher of the Year category, Campos School Portraits sponsored prizes in the Educational Support Personnel of the Year category and Century Bank sponsored prizes for the Principal of the Year finalists and winner.
The top educators in the district spend the coming school year representing LCPS at various events, including the State of the District Address. The Teacher of the Year advances to a state-level consideration for New Mexico Teacher of the Year. Administered by the New Mexico Public Education Department, the New Mexico Teacher of the Year program recognizes outstanding educators who demonstrate exceptional teaching practices and leadership. Other factors include teaching experience, classroom effectiveness and contributions to the teaching profession.
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