CARRIE HERNANDEZ - chernandez@lcps.net
Began career in 1998/99 School Year
BS/MA Agriculture Extension Education with Minors in Range Science and Counseling Education Psychology from NMSU (1994/1996)
K-12 Administrative Degree (2005)
Favorite part of the job: Working with innovative students, staff, and administrators to encourage life long learning
Passion is Agricultural Literacy/Hands-on Education/Plant and Animal Therapy
One Son, Russell
JEFF WAUGH - jwaugh@lcps.net
Began career student teaching at Zia Middle School in 1997
Coached Girls Basketball and Taught Business, Technoloyg, Graphics, and Computer Science at Oñate High School (now Organ Mountain High School)
Moved to EXCEL (now ACE) in 2017
Oñate Principals Award
NMACTE Educator of the Year
NMACTE President and Policy Representation (current)
B.A. in Secondary Education from NMSU
M.A. in CTE from ENMU
Has two children, both attendees/graduates of NMSU; one in Computer Science and one currently studying nursing
Loves watching and participating in sports
Favorite part of the job - Enjoys seeing students succeed by believing in themselves.; Every student can be as successful as they want to be
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 Elect
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
7-12 Secondary License in English, 800 Vocational License, and Gifted Certification
NMSPA President
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