Rich Garland, whose volunteer service at the Cleveland High Concert Hall benefits students, staff, and community organizations in Rio Rancho and beyond, is this year’s Rio Rancho Public Schools Volunteer of the Year. The announcement was made during the district’s annual awards ceremony honoring volunteers, teachers, and staff. 

 

In assisting Concert Hall Manager Keith Abrahamson, Garland has played a vital role in bringing dozens of school and community productions to the Cleveland stage. Schools throughout the district that use the Concert Hall for student productions benefit from Garland’s efforts. The Concert Hall also hosts prestigious performing arts groups such as the New Mexico Philharmonic. Garland has donated many hours assisting with the complex technical aspects of staging performances as well as helping to supervise and mentor students who learn theatre arts through assisting with productions. 

 

The district also announced the grade-level Volunteer of the Year winners. Shown with Garland at right are Dr. Brenda Wolfe from Rio Rancho High School, the High School Volunteer of the Year; Pat Thieme, Mountain View Middle School, the middle school Volunteer of the Year; and Anna Mayberry, Puesta del Sol Elementary School, the Elementary Volunteer of the Year. 

 

Each school and the district office nominate a Volunteer of the Year. A committee then reviews the nominations and chooses an Elementary, Middle School, and High School Volunteer of the Year, and an overall winner district-wide. 

 

Other nominees, who are their schools’ Volunteers of the Year, are: Anne Walker, Shining Stars Preschool; Tim Sena, Cielo Azul Elementary; Meghan Lyman, Colinas del Norte Elementary; Melissa Pacheco, Enchanted Hills Elementary; Bill Smith, Ernest Stapleton Elementary; Irma Pallas, Maggie Cordova Elementary; Patty Rudolph, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary; Cheryle Daniels, Rio Rancho Elementary; Sonya Rios, Sandia Vista Elementary; Nini Lujan, Vista Grande Elementary; Nikki Santino, Eagle Ridge Middle School; Rhonda Sena, Lincoln Middle School; Jessica Yesh, Rio Rancho Middle School; Shayne Sawyer Abrahamson, Cleveland High; Adele Currans, Independence High; and Dannie Harper, Rio Rancho Cyber Academy.

 

Staff members from each school chosen for special recognition include: Julie Ackron, Lincoln Middle School; Margheritte Apodaca, Rio Rancho Cyber Academy; Debbie Berger, Vista Grande Elementary; Christy Bollman, Independence High School; Tamara Chavez, Rio Rancho High School; Coral Cordova, Colinas del Norte Elementary; Carol Garmon, Cleveland High School; Cari Higgins, Eagle Ridge Middle School; Davina Hill, RRPS District Office; Leslie Kingston, Maggie Cordova Elementary; Mary Jane Ledbetter, Rio Rancho Middle School; Arturo Olivas, Puesta del Sol Elementary; Judy Reynolds, Enchanted Hills Elementary; Rowdy Ringsak, Sandia Vista Elementary; Janice Spratte, Rio Rancho Elementary; Ben Steiner, Cielo Azul Elementary; Peggy Stielow, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary; Elmer Trujillo, Shining Stars Preschool; Helen Vukobratovich, Ernest Stapleton Elementary; and Ellee Weaks, Mountain View Middle School.

 

Substitute Teachers of the Year (pictured at left) are: Andre Holten, High School, Kanice Koehler, Middle School; and Seretha Crider, Elementary.  

Teachers Kimberly Agrusa, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary; Justin Baiardo, Rio Rancho High (not present); Marissa Bannerman, Rio Rancho High; Kathleen Sanchez, Ernest Stapleton Elementary; and Janine Shafer, Colinas del Norte Elementary were recognized for achieving National Board Certification (at right). 

Other honorees include employees with 10 years of service and employees retiring from the district.  

 

Dinner for all of the attendees was donated by Sodexo Food Services.