BY TAMMY HINCKLEY
Candidate for District 2
Los Alamos School Board

Many people have asked me why I am running for the LAPS District 2 school board position. My main reason, the one from my heart, is that Los Alamos is my home and LAPS is my family. I have lived in Los Alamos since I was two years old. I went through the school district: Chamisa Elementary, Cumbres Junior High, and Los Alamos High School. I was a teacher in the district for 23 years; first at Barranca and then at Chamisa. Finally, I have worked in the LAPS business department for four years. Perhaps I should say, “LAPS is my life”.

 I am also running for the LAPS District 2 school board position because I believe that my life experiences give me a full, well rounded understanding of the district. I understand what it is like to be a teacher in the district, the struggles that teachers face, as well as the benefits and gifts teachers receive. I am not talking about presents or gifts that teachers may receive from their students. I am talking about the joy from past students returning to visit, invitations to graduations, weddings, even military commissioning of past students, and letters of thanks.

Moving to the business department after teaching for many years may seem like a weird career path, however, my bachelor’s degree is in accounting and I also have a masters degree in management. I was working at Los Alamos National Laboratory before I decided to go into education. The past four years working in the business department has given me valuable insights into the business operations of the school district. I understand how funding is received from different entities; state, federal, and private organizations; and the various requirements tied to the funds. As I have been responsible for tracking the district’s fixed assets and construction projects, I have an understanding of how the district determines its construction needs and the involvement of PSFA (Public Schools Facilities Authority).

As I said, I believe that I have a well rounded knowledge and understanding of the working of LAPS.

 I am also running for the LAPS District 2 school board position because I am concerned, not only about the declining academic scores, but also the emotional and mental health of our students. I do not have the answers to these concerns, so I’m not coming with any predetermined solutions. Instead, I would like to partner with administration, teachers, students, and parents of the district so that ALL of our students are successful in achieving THEIR goals for their lives. For some students, success may be a college education, others it might be enlistment in one of the armed forces, and others could be a trade school. However success is defined, the school district should help students to be successful.

For me, I see the student population of the LAPS as the future, their future as well as mine. Who I am and the life I have lived is directly tied to the education that I received while attending LAPS. As a board member I feel that I would be giving back to the district that gave to me, while also giving back to your children, grandchildren, or children to come. Each and every one of them is an extremely valuable person, and a vital part of the future. I encourage you to vote for me so we can work to help our children to be successful in achieving their goals and to give them the future they deserve. I can be contacted at electtammy2025@gmail.com or via Facebook ElectTammy2025