Julia Baker is seeking the District 4 Los Alamos School Board seat. Photo by Stephanie Jagielski Photography
SUBMITTED BY JULIA BAKER
Julia Baker has announced her intention to run for school board in the 4th district which includes the North Mesa and Barranca neighborhoods.
Baker and her family have lived in Los Alamos for 13 years. Having benefited from the hard work and volunteerism of others in our community, she feels that now is a good time to give back and that her skills can best be used on the Los Alamos School Board.
Baker has a degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University and taught 5th grade prior to moving to Los Alamos. She is also currently working toward a Masters of Counseling degree from Highlands University. She has served families, students, and teachers as President of the East Park Pool Board and Secretary of the Mountain Elementary PTA and currently serves as the Vice President of Barranca PTO.
In discussing why she is running for school board, she said: “My life is greatly impacted by our schools and I have an invested interest in making sure that Los Alamos Schools receive the support that they need to continue serving our students. My husband is a graduate from LAPS and 4 of my 5 children are currently attending (my youngest will start soon!). I am in the thick of it right now like so many other parents in our community. I am seeing the amazing things that our teachers do, I’m seeing the parents who volunteer in so many ways and I’m seeing our students working toward their goals. However, I’m also seeing how we can improve communication, increase the support and resources we give our staff, and better serve our students with their varying interests and abilities.”
Baker continued: “A school board’s first priorities must be knowing what the community needs and finding out what the district needs to make those things happen. Budget and curriculum are there to support our students and teachers and we can’t make good decisions about those items without listening to what the students and staff are telling us. Everyone wants to feel heard and as a school board member I would make sure that I was available to listen. I know what it’s like to be a parent in an IEP meeting. I know what it’s like to be a teacher who has good ideas and unique insight to share about helping children. I know what it’s like to be a student who wants to have more input in their own education. Each of these groups need to have a voice.
In Los Alamos we have a wealth of resources- Highly educated community members, skilled and caring school employees, smart and inventive students. If we can increase communication between these groups and support them in the things they need we can make informed choices that will help our schools continue to be some of the best.”
School Board candidates won’t officially declare until August and more information on her campaign will be forthcoming throughout the summer.