By KARYL ANN ARMBRUSTER
Los Alamos

As a retired teacher from Los Alamos Public Schools, where I taught for 17 years (after teaching for 22 years in CA) and was Union president for 7 years, I want to offer my endorsement for two candidates: Margie Serrato (District 1) and Antonio Jaurigue (District 2). It is important that we consider candidates who have demonstrated integrity in what they do, and who have set a precedent for constructively engaging in relationships with people who have ideas and experiences that differ from theirs. After all, we want a School Board comprised of members who can work together in support of our schools and set an example of respect for others that our kids can learn from. 

Antonio Jaurigue is a man of integrity.  Not only is he a Navy veteran, but he resigned from his previous term as a School Board member to uphold ethical standards. As president of the School Board, for which he was chosen by his colleagues, he made the challenging choice to ensure that there was no favoritism or conflict of interest when his wife was applying for a job at LAPS. Antonio put his wife’s career above himself. He has supported measures to strengthen communication and empathy with our students.  He is trusted and admired in our community and has already proved himself to be a leader.

It is important and usually rare to have a person with diverse experience in different states and countries who would bring new ideas to Los Alamos. Margie Serrato has a PhD in Anthropology, has taught and consulted for major universities and public schools, attended school in both the United States (where she was born) and Colombia, and speaks fluent Spanish. She has been part of different cultures, values strong interpersonal communication, and is experienced in leadership development.  She has enhanced the WR Farmer’s Market by selling baked goods with her children and promoting entrepreneurship, she volunteers at Piñon Elementary School, and is committed to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. In Los Alamos alone, she has trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, the ABC Suicide Prevention, and Forest Therapy. Previously, she worked extensively in mental health awareness as a social media influencer, has given talks on the subject, written about it, and she is a trained facilitator in the Positive Intelligence program, something Los Alamos needs desperately. 

These two candidates, Antonio and Margie, who have also been endorsed by LAFSE (the teachers’ Union), are the ones we want to help direct Los Alamos Public Schools to protect and not change our district’s current values.