Meet our VIP Award Recipients

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) presented the 2024-25 third quarter Vision, Integrity and Passion (VIP) award to staff members in the category of transportation, nutrition services and building engineers during the March 20, 2025, Alexandria City School Board meeting.

The award recipients include:

• Stephen Letsu, building engineer, George Washington Middle School
• Todd Moldenhaurer, building engineer, Early Childhood Center and John Adams Elementary School
• Wilberto Pena, building engineer, Charles Barrett Elementary School
• Joshua Rivera, operations supervisor, Alexandria City High School (ACHS)–King St. Campus

With three of the recipients serving as building engineers, the ACPS Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services Amanda Ou is especially proud, viewing it as a reflection of the department’s dedication. “These staff members are willing to go the extra mile to ensure their schools are safe and ready to accept staff and students every day,” Ou said.

Building engineer Stephen Letsu is celebrated for the commitment and excellence he brings to his work each day. His invaluable contributions and the essential role he plays in George Washington Middle School’s (GW) daily operations are brought to light as he receives this VIP Award. 

"Mr. Letsu is an invaluable member of the GW community, ensuring that our building is well-maintained so that top-notch learning can take place. We are proud to see his hard work recognized,” shared GW Principal Jeanette Vinson.

Letsu first joined Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in 2018 and exemplifies high standards of performance, teamwork, enthusiasm, resourcefulness and dedication. He is proactive and believes in the benefits of preventative maintenance. Letsu is known for performing his tasks diligently while adhering to protocols and safety guidelines. 

“He manages a large complex building with many different systems. He is not afraid to ask questions if he is not sure about something,” shared Ou.

Fellow staff members pointed out how Letsu has their health and welfare in mind, making sure building air quality is healthy and temperatures are comfortable. Exhibiting the qualities of a VIP, Letsu shows passion for his work by demonstrating a genuine dedication and a sense of pride in his contributions. His meticulous approach and unwavering commitment set a standard of excellence for all employees, regardless of their role. 

Letsu exhibits his integrity with his accountability, responsibility and dependability as he completes his tasks thoroughly. He is also willing to assist others, going the extra mile to support his colleagues. Letsu is an outstanding human being and a genuine asset to the ACPS school community.

Todd Moldenhaurer serves as the building engineer at the Early Childhood Center (ECC) and John Adams Elementary School (John Adams) and was nominated for a VIP Award due to his unwavering dedication, exceptional work ethic and positive impact on the school community. Moldenhaurer first came to ACPS in 2024 and is known for his problem-solving skills, friendly demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile, which makes him an invaluable team member. He always does his best to ensure a safe, clean and welcoming environment for students and staff.

“From day one, Mr. Todd has distinguished himself with his work ethic, initiative and clear and frequent communication. The impact this one person has on our school is far beyond what you would expect from only one person. He accomplishes all this while serving two school buildings and working with two administrative teams. We most appreciate his warmth, friendliness and the joy he brings to work daily,” said Dr. Alicia Kingcade and Heidi Haggerty Wagner, John Adams and ECC principals respectively.

Moldenhaurer has a commitment to mentoring students and has made the time to visit ECC classrooms to talk about his work with students as they were learning about buildings as part of a unit of study. “He is always willing to help with any requests from students and staff. We've witnessed his interaction with the students and it's a joy to experience. The kids love him,” shared Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services Amanda Ou. 

The consensus by fellow staff members who nominated Moldenhauer for a VIP Award is that he is one of the most effective, pleasant, competent and self-motivated employees and is most deserving of this recognition.

Building engineer Wilberto Peña is most appreciated for his take-charge approach. He first came to ACPS in 2024, joining the Charles Barrett Elementary School (Charles Barrett) team in the middle of the year, instantly taking ownership of the job at hand. “Mr. Peña is a dedicated and knowledgeable team member. He is responsive to questions and concerns, and he is always willing to lend a hand,” said Loren Brody, principal at Charles Barrett.

Peña is attentive to the needs of the building and how it impacts staff and students and strives to resolve issues as quickly as possible. For instance, he made certain that all of the fire alarm and fire extinguisher sight lines are visible, works tirelessly to resolve heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system issues in different rooms and even installed different magnetic boards around the building so teacher specialists who work with small groups have places to display their work. “He is a knowledgeable and proactive building engineer. He always shares pertinent information about his building systems and keeps his leadership team apprised of all major updates,” noted Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services Amanda Ou. 

Peña is a true VIP in that he has even developed a bond with the staff, families and students at Charles Barrett. It is heartwarming to see a Charles Barrett student who is deaf, signing to Peña every day, with his sign for him being "grandpa.” Peña is also a mentor for a fifth-grade student from El Salvador who was having difficulty connecting at school because he had never before been in a school. Peña even takes part in Lunch Bunch with students.

In nominating Peña for a VIP Award, the consensus is that Charles Barrett is fortunate to have him as a building engineer and that he is a valued member of the school community. Peña puts his all into Charles Barrett to make sure the school is the best it can be.

Joshua Rivera is an exceptional leader with tremendous dedication to Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) since joining the school division in 2012. As an operations supervisor, Rivera oversees eight cafeteria operations, manages 70+ team members and plays a key role in warehouse and transportation functions. 

"Joshua Rivera's operational acumen and commitment to excellence has reflected great credit upon himself and the Office of School Nutrition Services. His hard work in nourishing students directly impacts their ability to perform academically [with excellence] in the classroom,” said Dr. Eric K. Coleman, director of the ACPS Office of School Nutrition Services.

Among the nominations provided in support of Rivera’s VIP Award, his leadership in the William Ramsay Elementary School and John Adams Elementary School swing space project were cited as being nothing short of exemplary, ensuring smooth transitions and operational efficiency. Rivera received accolades for his proactive problem-solving ability, attention to compliance and customer-focused approach. He consistently prioritizes stakeholder needs, fosters collaboration and drives innovative solutions to improve efficiency. 

Rivera’s contributions to staff training and school engagement further demonstrate his commitment to professional growth and team development. His dedication continues to strengthen the ACPS mission of providing high-quality nutrition services to students. Rivera is a true VIP, exhibiting leadership and operational excellence.