Los Alamos Middle School staff enjoying the celebration of district employees last week. Photo by Joyce Haven

LAPS 2026 Classified Employee of the Year Claire Schappert is congratulated by LAPS Foundation representative Suzanne Lynne. Photo Courtesy LAPS

LAPS 2026 Teacher of the Year Beth Combs receives her award from LAPS Foundation representative Suzanne Lynne. Also pictured is Analicia Leyba. Anesia Cope presented gift certificates for Glisten Skin and Beauty Bar to award recipients. Photo Courtesy LAPS

LAPS NEWS RELEASE

Los Alamos Public Schools is pleased to announce that Beth Combs has been selected 2026 LAPS Teacher of the Year. Claire Schappert has been selected as the 2026 LAPS Classified
Employee of the Year.

Ms. Combs is a 3rd grade teacher at Aspen Elementary School, and has been teaching for LAPS for nine years. Ms. Schappert is an educational assistant at Piñon Elementary School.

LAPS would like to thank the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation and Glisten Skin and Beauty Bar. who presented the employees of the year with awards and gift certificates.

This year’s Classified Staff of the Year nominees included:

• Bella Kim, Aspen Elementary School
• Megan Parton, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
• Nancy Willis, Chamisa Elementary School
• Alex Pittman, Mountain Elementary School
• Claire Schappert, Piñon Elementary School
• Erlynda “Linda” Martinez, Los Alamos Middle School
• Stormy “Blue” McDaniel, Los Alamos High School
• Carlos Martinez, District Office Services
  
  Certified Staff of the Year nominees included:
  
• Beth Combs, Aspen Elementary School
• Christa Saenz, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
• Analicia Leyba, Chamisa Elementary School
• Mary Alice Hawkins, Mountain Elementary School
• Haley Gayner, Piñon Elementary School
• Michelle Bane, Los Alamos Middle School
• Santina Shije, Los Alamos High School
• Bob Hollman, District Office Services
  
  LAPS hosted a jubilation celebration last week during which the nominees and winners were announced. In addition, 87 staff members representing all school sites, and departments received service awards recognizing five, ten, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service.
  
  Staff members retiring during the 2025:2026 school year were also honored. They include
  
  Luci Best,
  Brent Collom
  Robyn Collom
  Don Davis
  Andrea Determan,
  Phyllis Foley
  Louise Foliot
  Santiago Martinez
  Stephanie Martinez
  Lindsey Montoya
  Whitney Pomeroy
  Heidi Schembri
  Albert Spungen
  James Steritz.