CUSD Classified Employee of the Year!
Congratulations to Erik Lopez Anguiano, the Lead Custodian at Valley Middle School for being named Carlsbad Unified’s Classified Employee of the Year for 2024/25.
The beautifully landscaped central courtyard at VMS is spotless. Shady benches and inviting picnic tables are scattered about, and Erik Lopez Anguiano takes great pride in the newly-renovated campus. More than Lead Custodian, he is a pillar of support, a problem-solver, and a role model who consistently goes above and beyond for the entire school community. His dedication, positive attitude, and willingness to help in any situation make him an invaluable asset to Valley Middle School.
As Lead Custodian, Mr. Lopez Anguiano plays a crucial role in ensuring that the campus is safe, clean, and well-maintained. He leads by example, supporting and guiding the daytime custodial staff so that teachers and students can start each day in a clean and organized environment. His proactive leadership ensures that custodial operations run smoothly, efficiently, and with excellence.
Mr. Lopez Anguiano is committed to clear communication and follow-through. Whenever a request is made, he double checks the full breadth of the project, completes it in a timely way, and even follows up by sending pictures to confirm the work has been done to satisfaction. And he always anticipates needs and steps up to make a difference. Whether helping set up and break down for school events, or making sure the Multi-Use Room is ready after evening activities, he is always present, ready, and willing to help.
Beyond his custodial duties, Mr. Lopez Anguiano actively supports the well-being of staff and students. His friendly and approachable nature makes him a well-loved member of our community. He is someone who notices when people need help and offers it before they ask. He takes great pride in his job, in the relationships he builds, and in the school itself. His respect for teachers and admiration for their work is evident, and he has earned the respect and admiration of staff and students alike.
Mr. Lopez Anguiano came to work at VMS in 2023. A former VMS parent himself, he treats the school not just as a workplace but as a community he truly cares for. His 21-year-old son now attends MiraCosta College, and is studying to work for the fire department.
“I want the school to look the way I would like if my son were still a student here,” says Mr. Lopez Anguiano. “My aim is to make a difference everyday. Even if it's a small detail, it’s still important. I try to set an example of a job properly done.”
In his free time Mr. Lopez Anguiano likes to go hiking in the Calavera Hills with his beloved girlfriend Karina Martinez and his very energetic Samoyed named Oso.
“Erik Lopez Anguiano is the embodiment of dedication, kindness, and excellence,” says VMS principal Rose Flowers. “His unwavering commitment to Valley Middle School makes a difference in the lives of everyone on campus, and his hard work and positive attitude set a standard of excellence for all.”
Congratulations to all of our District Site nominated Classified Employees of the Year:
Jennifer Price, Instructional Assistant-Special Education, Aviara Oaks Elementary
Nel Hazelwood, School Administrative Assistant-Secondary, Aviara Oaks Middle
Daisy Cain, Instructional Assistant-Special Education, Buena Vista Elementary
Agnes Arquilla, Instructional Assistant-Special Education, Calavera Hills Elementary
Veni Subbiah, Instructional Assistant-Special Education, Calavera Hills Middle
Jared Miller, Campus Safety Assistant, Carlsbad High
Lori Grundler, Administrative Assistant, District Office
Sue Varchetto, School Office Assistant, Hope Elementary
Jennifer Ketterer, School Administrative Assistant-Elementary, Jefferson Elementary
Faith Benkovich, School Office Assistant, Kelly Elementary
Laura MacLellan, School Office Assistant, Magnolia Elementary
Aarti Totlani, School Office Assistant, Pacific Rim Elementary
Shelly Aguilera, School Office Assistant, Poinsettia Elementary
Golnessa Shali-Amini, Library Media Technician, Sage Creek High
CUSD Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to Maddie Menker, First Grade Teacher at Calavera Hills Elementary School, honored as Carlsbad Unified’s Teacher of the Year for 2024-25.
The first graders at Calavera Hills Elementary School are sitting cross-legged, white boards in their laps, waiting expectantly for Mrs. Maddie Menker’s next direction. They write the word “brother” on their boards in chunky letters, and then hands fly into the air when she asks what other words sound like “brother.” Students puzzle for a minute about why the “o” sounds like a “u.” Then, filing it away for the future, they buzz with excitement when Mrs. Menker tells them that it’s time to read.
Mrs. Menker places all members of the school community above herself as she works tirelessly to propel students and staff towards greater success. For her students, she creates a caring environment in which they thrive through her personalized attention, and high expectations. She also helps to improve student outcomes through her generous collaboration with her peers and her leadership both on campus and district-wide. For these reasons, Mrs. Menker has been named CUSD’s Teacher of the Year for 2024-25.
Ms. Menker is highly regarded for her innovative teaching practices. For instance, she was one of the first teachers in the district to adopt the “Building Fact Fluency” and “Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics” approaches as a way of helping students develop greater number sense and math proficiency. As she shares these strategies with colleagues, her classroom becomes a model for others.
Further, Mrs. Menker has worked as a site grade level lead teacher, promoting high quality math instruction at CHE. Also, she has served on the district’s Early Literacy Team. And she is currently a member of the Reading Difficulties Risk Screener pilot committee. Mrs. Menker is truly an exceptional teacher committed to improving the learning experience for ALL students at her school and throughout the district.
This is Mrs. Menker’s fourth year teaching at CUSD, and she has taught first grade at CHE for all four of those years. Previously she spent four years in Chicago working for Teach for America.
Mrs. Menker is a Carlsbad Unified graduate, having attended both Calavera Hills Elementary and Middle Schools and Carlsbad High School. Fun fact: Her current first-grade teammate, Sally O’Donnell, was Mrs. Menker’s fifth-grade teacher.
Married, and mom to a one-year-old daughter, Mrs. Menker loves to go to the beach, and enjoys her season tickets to cheer on the Padres. And, yes, her baby is a baseball fan, too.
“This is such an honor!” says Mrs. Menker. “I work with the most amazing people at CHE and across the district. I feel so fortunate to work in this special place with such talented colleagues.”
“What is most impressive is the way Mrs. Menker seamlessly balances the ability to create a safe, welcoming and encouraging environment for students, with high expectations and accountability,” says CHE principal Aaron Nelson. “Students feel supported and safe in Mrs. Menker’s class, and as a result are willing to take risks and be problem-solvers as they push their learning forward.”
Congratulations to all 15 Carlsbad Unified School District’s site Teachers of the Year!
Aviara Oaks Elementary– Barbara Carlson
Aviara Oaks Middle– Katie Browne
Buena Vista Elementary– Annette McFadden
Calavera Hills Elementary– Maddie Menker
Calavera Hills Middle– Jessie Bullock
Carlsbad High– Carol King
Carlsbad Village Academy– Joseph Dunn
Hope Elementary– Joy Jansen
Jefferson Elementary– Laurie Hansen
Kelly Elementary– Lauren Biggie
Magnolia Elementary– Jennie Vance
Pacific Rim Elementary– Kellie Dow
Poinsettia Elementary– Evelyn Sharifi
Sage Creek High– Valerie Tapia
Valley Middle– Amanda Burris
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Carlsbad Unified School District
Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.net
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000