Outstanding Employees Announced

The first group of employees honored by the APS Employee Recognition Program includes an activities director, leadership instructor, redirector and specialist.

Congratulations to the first group of employees recognized by the District's newly launched Employee Recognition Program. The Peer Praise Task Force reviewed hundreds of nominees and selected for the month of January:

• Joseph Cordova, Activities Director at West Mesa High School
• Chuck Cogburn, Leadership Instructor at Wilson Middle School
• Skye Holly, Redirector at Sombra del Monte Elementary School
• Jennifer Neumann, Specialist for Board Services

The first recipients of the honor are being featured on the APS electronic billboards around town and had an opportunity recently to lunch with Superintendent Reedy. They were recognized by the APS Board of Education and receive a lasting memento of the honor.

Learn More about January's Nominees

Joseph Cordova, Activities Director at West Mesa High School

From the moment Joseph joined the staff at West Mesa High School in January 2018, he made it a point to meet his coworkers and let them know he was available for them. He has started several initiatives on campus and works to get everyone involved. For example, he began the Pennies for Patients campaign, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He launched the Bears and Braids against Bullies campaign. He coordinated a donation drive for the homeless. He made the Teacher of the Month initiative more inclusive, giving students, staff, and administrators an opportunity to cast their votes. He set up a homecoming tailgate, a turkey trot and more. Joseph not only is a member of the West Mes staff but also of the National Guard.

Chuck Cogburn, Leadership Instructor at Wilson Middle School

Officer Cogburn has worked at Wilson Middle School for over a dozen years. He has served as a campus security guard and also the Leadership Instructor. During his time at Wilson, he has gone over and beyond what his job duties entail. He always puts kids first. The positive impact he has had on the students from the Wilson neighborhood is astounding. They often come back and thank him for his support and encouragement. Officer Cogburn works endless hours with little appreciation of the extra he does. He exemplifies putting other first, going above and beyond, excelling as a team player, carrying out each day with a positive and welcoming attitude and elevating the image of public education.

Skye Holly, Redirector at Sombra del Monte Elementary School

Skye is an educational assistant who helps teachers with discipline by providing students an opportunity to reset their behavior. She opens up her office at recess and lunch for students who want to see her. This means she has students in her office at any given time of day, even sharing her lunchtime with them. She also goes above and beyond for any extra-curricular activities at the school. She donates her time and money for decorations every holiday season and does the same throughout the year. She is always the first to volunteer to help out with lunch and recess duties or to help out in a classroom and give up her free time during the day. She also is president of the Sombra del Monte PTA. She is not always recognized for all the work she does and the long hours she puts in but she is almost constantly helping out student through the day.

Jennifer Neumann, Specialist for Board Services

Jennifer has a gift for hospitality and it shows in everything she does, from the way she handles phone calls and in-person interruptions to the care she takes to ensure the accessibility of documents for Board of Education meetings. She makes sure travel details are in place for the Board and staff so they can focus on learning from the conferences they attend. She goes the extra mile in making sure APS is in compliance with the legal aspects of the Open Meetings Act transparency. And much more. No two days are alike. Jennifer's constant vigilance and graciousness help to make sure critical details don't accidentally fall through the cracks. She is a huge asset to the Board office and to the district.

It’s very likely you know a deserving APS employee who makes us all proud. Someone who goes above and beyond, elevates their profession and demonstrates daily why the people who make public education possible are valued in our schools and homes.

Any individual who has been employed by Albuquerque Public Schools for six months or longer is eligible to be nominated for the Employee Recognition.

How to nominate an employee

You can nominate an employee by filling out an online application. The nomination must be completed by someone other than the nominee (i.e., no self-nominations are eligible for consideration).

 Award recipients will be selected monthly by a Peer Praise Task Force.