ACPS Announces First VIP Award Winners of 2022-23

The recipients of the first Vision, Integrity and Passion (VIP) employee recognition awards for the 2022-23 school year have been selected. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is proud to announce the award winners in the category of transportation, nutrition services and building engineers:

• Monya Baldwin, ACPS specialized transportation coordinator, who has been with ACPS since 2018.
• Laura Purdy, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (Lyles-Crouch) cafeteria food service manager, who has been with ACPS since 2015.
• Mario Yach, Alexandria City High School (ACHS) - King Street Campus building engineer, who has been with ACHS and ACPS since 2006.

ACPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt made a surprise visit to honor the VIP Award recipients at their worksites and personally invited them to the Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, Alexandria City School Board meeting where they were publicly recognized. Each award recipient received a specialized ACPS gift bag and a VIP award certificate.

“Ms. Baldwin deserves this VIP award for her expertise in specialized transportation, her kind heart that shows through in work, and for the incredible care she demonstrates to transporting all her students each day,” said Kimberly Carll, ACPS private placement specialist. She said Baldwin works tirelessly to ensure private day placed students are transported safely and on time to their schools. “Whenever we are faced with unique challenges, she is student-centered as we work toward a solution,” Carll added, noting that Baldwin makes time to problem solve as a team in partnership with families.

As the Lyles-Crouch cafeteria food service manager, Purdy was singled out for giving her all to make certain students have the best possible lunch experience. “We appreciate her exemplary service and love for Lyles-Crouch and the community,” said Lyles-Crouch PTA President Matias Palavecino. He noted Purdy has won numerous awards over the years and most recently was recognized at the state level as an honoree in the No Kid Hungry School Lunch Heroes Virginia Hall of Fame. Director of School Nutrition Services Cynthia Hormel added it was clear to her early on that “Laura had good leadership skills and would make a good manager.” 

Called an “invaluable” employee at ACHS, who always finds a way to get the job done, Yach drew accolades as a building engineer who is extremely knowledgeable and works above and beyond to ensure that the high school is functioning to meet staff and student needs. “Whether it's ensuring our HVAC is keeping up with the changes of the seasons, new signs helping students find their locations are put up or he is putting the finishing touches on individual projects throughout the building, Mr. Mario is always willing and able to support them with a smile,” said ACHS King Street Acting Campus Administrator Christopher Speich.