Kirsten Riccatone, Centauri Middle School art teacher

Kirsten Riccatone describes her art students at Centauri Middle School as expressive, experimental, and uninhibited. Why? Because they tend to be freer thinkers and creators, she says.

Her work with Centauri Middle School art students earned Riccatone the Educator Highlight Award presented by the Adams State School of Education during an end-of-school year celebration in May.

“She makes students rise to their best selves. She impresses on her students the beauty of taking their time on projects and putting their best effort forth,” read the nomination for the award. “They will walk away from her class with a treasure that they themselves created. This is evident by her class’s numerous best-of-show awards, 1st-place ribbons, and large school awards at the IML art show each year.”

It was during an art exhibition at the SLV Health ARTrium in 2022 that Riccatone noted the specialness in middle school art. Her students had been invited by SLV Health to show off their art and Riccatone had assigned her students to study the work of Epifania “Eppie” Archuleta, the master weaver of the San Luis Valley, as inspiration.

“Learning about our local artists who have impacted the art world globally is important to our students as they may see how they themselves can achieve recognition for their talents and have the opportunity to leave their mark on the art world,” Riccatone noted at the time.

Riccatone is the 41st educator in the San Luis Valley to be recognized with the Educator Highlight Award. The Adams State School of Education under the leadership of Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., recognizes outstanding educators each month and will continue to do so through the summer and the 2026-2027 school year.

Nominate an educator for the Adams State Educator Highlight Award.

Past EHA Winners

Presley Garcia, Monte Vista special education teacher
Nick Dionisio, Alamosa High English teacher
Aaron Miltenberger, Boys & Girls Club executive director
Anna Bishop, Center High School CLD teacher
Phyllis Vigil, Sierra Grande first-grade teacher
AlexAndria Moore-Guenter, Moffat Schools secondary counselor
Omar Gonzalez, Alamosa Elementary visual art and music teacher
Leanna Brazel, Alamosa Elementary kindergarten teacher
Freddy Lawrence, Alamosa Elementary custodian
Joe Guenther, South Conejos School District
Katie Turner, Del Norte math teacher
Edwin Mondragon, Monte Vista High School agriculture teacher
Aaron Williams, GOAL High School English teacher
Miriam Baines, Alamosa High School biology and math teacher
Rachel Kellum, Moffat Schools art teacher
Darlene Pinales, Sargent School District, food service staff member
Upward Bound summer faculty, Adams State University
Erika Henderson, chemistry teacher Alamosa High School
Jay Sarason, aviation teacher, Sargent High School
Domingo Estrada, director, Semillas de la Tierra
Lisa Lucero, preschool teacher, Moffat School District
Scott Honeycutt, ASD’s transportation director and chief safety officer
Annette Sisneros, fifth-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary
Taylor Hubbard, K-12 art teacher, Centennial School District
Lauren McKinney, science teacher, Sangre de Cristo Schools
Amanda Stagner, business teacher, Alamosa High School
Laura Hegey, third-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary
College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) staff, Adams State University
Student Support Services, Adams State University
Kelly Reynolds, second-grade teacher, Sanford Elementary
Pat Naranjo, literacy and math lab instructor, Centauri Middle School
Nikol Kelley, language arts teacher, Centauri Middle School
Elona Medina, technology and media teacher, Alamosa High School
Elena Sopala, first-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary School
Cheri Jones, MTSS coordinator, Ortega Middle School
Bonnie Schweizer, fourth-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary School
Kristie Duran, counselor at Sanford Schools
Elisamaria Heredia, multilingual teacher, Alamosa Elementary

ABOUT THE EDUCATOR HIGHLIGHT AWARD:

This monthly award recognizes Adams State University School of Education alumni, prominent local teachers, and other educators working within or hailing from the San Luis Valley. In so doing, Adams State University hopes to build familiarity with the community as a serious destination for future educators.