RACHEL KNIGHT - raknight@lcps.net
Began career teaching science & agriculture at Picacho Middle School in 2006
B.S. in Animal Science, 2003; M.S in Animal Science -Reproductive Physiology, 2005
Level III-A Instructional Leader 7-12 Secondary Teaching License
Level III-A Instructional Leader 7-12 Secondary Vocational Technical License
Opened Centennial High School in 2012 and taught biology, agriculture, and animal science classes and founded the Centennial High School FFA Chapter
Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) National Professional Leadership Fellow- 2022
National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) National Teacher Mentor of the Year for Region II- 2021
New Mexico Association for Career & Technical Education (NMACTE) Educator of the Year – 2020
Las Cruces Public Schools Teacher of the Year - 2018
New Mexico Teacher of the Year Finalist – 2018
National Association of Agricultural Educators National Agriscience Teacher of the Year for Region II- 2016
Loves riding horses and has multiple AQHA All-Around horse show titles and Southwest Quarter Horse Futurity Championships, National Championships in Reining & Western Horsemanship for Intercollegiate Horse Show Association on the NMSU Equestrian Team
Married to Seth Knight for 18 years with two daughters, Lacey & Paisley
Favorite part of the job is teaching students to believe in themselves and seeing students have more success than they ever thought possible!
MICHAEL OGAS - mogas@lcps.net
Began career at Onate High School in 2016
BA in Biology, BS in Spanish, Currently working on Masters of Education in Educational Administration
Married to Leandra Ogas and has 3 children.
HOSA-Future Healthcare Professionals Board Chair state of New Mexico
NMACTE President
Focuses on Health science pathways and curriculum
Favorite part of the jobs: Enjoy pushing students to being better and stronger versions of themselves.
AMIE KRAENZEL - akraenze@lcps.net
Began career at Picacho MS in 2000
Opened Centennial HS (2012) in the 9th grade Academy, eventually moving to AES and Print Media/Podcast
B.A. English - Texas Tech University
Level 3-A Instructional Leader 7-12 Secondary Vocational Technical
Level 2 - 7-12 Secondary License in English and Gifted Education
Adobe Premier Pro Certified
Apple Teacher
NMSPA Past President
NMACTE Fellows Program (Cohort 1)
Favorite part of the job: Progress and success, no matter how big or small
Married 21 years to Myles Kraenzel and has two boys, Michael and Evan
BILL FOX - bfox@lcps.net
Began career in 1997
B.A. Journalism,; minors in Geography and History
Favorite part of the job: Seeing "the light" go on in students' eyes the first time they grasp a new or complex concept
MARINA GAMON - mgamon@lcps.net
Began career at Monte Vista Elementary in 2008
BS in Psychology, Minor in Counseling and Educational Psychology - NMSU
Educational Assistant with low incidence students for 6 years
Mayfield High School for 7 years
AES Facilitator
Student Government Advisor
Psychology Teacher
Teacher Academy - EdRising
Academic Tutorial Support
3rd year as a Career Specialist/WBL Teacher
NMACTE Fellows Program (Cohort 2)
Favorite part is watching students grow while meeting and exceeding expectations.
LOUANN WOMBLE - lwomble@lcps.net
Began in Education as the Finance Superintendent for Floyd Municipal Schools in 1997.
Degrees: B.S. in Finance & Business Administration, B.S. in Accounting, M.S. Curriculum & Instruction, Phd in Education
License: Level III Instructional Leader 7-12 Secondary Teaching License
Schools taught at: Gadsden High School, Dona Ana Community School, Las Cruces High School, Onate High School, Virtual Learning Academy, Work Based Learning
Courses taught: Accounting, Introduction to Business, Entrepreneurship, Computer Applications, Pre-Teaching, Diverse Occupations, Peer Mediation
Personal: Married to Monte Womble, 5 Children (4 girls 1 boy) all grown, 1 Son-in-law, 1 grandchild.
Interests: Church activities, family, learning, and gardening
Favorite Part of teaching: Helping kids understand that they can create their own destiny and mindset is everything, if you think you can do something, you can do it, just set your mind to it!
KATHLEEN GARDNER - egardner@lcps.net
25+ years in public education teaching:
English
Journalism
Public Speaking
Mock Trial
Creative Writing
Former high school assistant principal and middle school principal
Master's degree in curriculum and instruction
Married to Kevin for 32 years with two daughters, Julia and Madeleine
"The best part of the job is helping students make their learning relevant. Students cannot become what they cannot see, so it's my job to expose them to as many job opportunities as possible and then connect them to that career."