Paul A. Jaramillo/Courtesy Photo

BY PAUL A. JARAMILLO
Candidate for LAPS Board District 2

Hello, my name is Paul Anthony Jaramillo and I am running for a seat on the Los Alamos Public School Board district 2 (White Rock). I previously served as a One on One instructional assistant, as well as a teacher assistant and substitute teacher in the district. I am the pastor of Open Door Bible Ministries church and founder of “HOPE during hard times.” As a member of the Community engaging with the children in the classroom and the community as a minister, my running for the School Board will allow me to continue working and advocating for the education of all children in our community. Prior to my time at LAPS I served many years as a funeral director and Security Inspector at LANL. 

I am married to my wonderful wife Patricia Jaramillo who retired after 41 years of teaching public school most recently at Barranca Mesa Elementary School.  

I believe that a school board needs to be very transparent and must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community at large, encouraging an open dialog. The board must take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision. A Board member is a trustee of the community that elects him or her. That Trustee must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all members of the community that includes all District staff. Anyone that comes before the board has the right to be heard, not just to speak. A school board member must build public understanding, support and participation.

My efforts as a board member would center on serving all of the children in the community; one child is no more important than another. We are a diverse community and have to learn to co-habit. Our schools are here to serve the educational needs of all the children. All stakeholders; parents, all district personnel Certificated, Classified, and Management, as well as students must be partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful. I understand we all have our own beliefs and views but that should be something to build on and not turn into a negative issue.

A key issue for school boards is to create a long-term vision, mapping a course that provides the necessary opportunities students need to reach their full potential. The board is responsible for establishing and maintaining a structure that supports this vision, empowers the staff, and provides leadership. With my background and knowledge of the needs of our community I can help to provide the necessary leadership to keep the district on an even keel. I strongly believe that we have tremendous teachers and staff working with our children. We must re-establish morale amongst all district employees, and work to return harmony throughout the district. Education takes place not only in the classroom but also on the playground, in the vast halls of our district along side custodians and special need teachers, maintenance workers and the wonderful staff in the cafeterias. So the board’s efforts must focus on enhancing and enriching what goes on there.

With this ongoing pandemic we have no guarantees of what the future looks like. Staff shortages are at an all time high throughout the state. We need to have a plan in place that will attract the best and the brightest to the Los Alamos School District because they want to come here and be treated fairly and equally. Every community in New Mexico is competing for the same pool of available teachers and staff and the shortage of qualified staff grows daily.

By working together we can all share in the knowledge and satisfaction that we have provided for the educational needs of all children, and have built a district where students, parents, teachers, and staff feel they are welcome and that they belong. I ask for your support because IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE. I humbly and respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 2.