Acting LAPS Supt. Jennifer Guy will take over as superintendent July 1 if the Public Education Department Secretary approves a settlement agreement between LAPS and Jose Delfin. Courtesy photo

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

The Los Alamos Public Schools Board voted unanimously Thursday evening following a closed session to appoint Jennifer Guy as LAPS superintendent effective July 1, The appointment is contingent on the Public Education Department Secretary accepting a settlement between LAPS and former superintendent Jose Delfin who has been on administrative leave.

The settlement agreement kept Delfin on the LAPS payroll until June 30 with benefits. State law requires that the settlement agreement be approved by a court for approval and then sent to the Secretary of Education for approval. LAPS went through the First Judicial District Court process and the agreement was approved by Judge Jason Lidyard at the end of February.

Prior to Delfin’s appointment, the LAPS board appointed Guy as Interim Superintendent following the retirement of former superintendent Kurt Steinhaus. Guy had been an Assistant Superintendent since 2018.

Guy has worked in education in New Mexico for more than 35 years. She holds Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from New Mexico State University, a Master’s degree in Pedagogy and Learning with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Eastern New Mexico University. She spend seven years teaching at Pinion Elementary School in White Rock before being appointed principal at Mountain Elementary School.

The board also voted to have Board President Antonio Jaurique to work with legal counsel to prepare a contract for Guy, which will be placed on a future agenda for approval.

There was loud applause when the announcement of Guy’s appointment was made at the end of Thursday’s meeting.

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