LAPS News:

Los Alamos Public Schools announces several leadership changes for the 2026–2027 school year.

Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) Principal Jill Gonzales will become principal at Los Alamos High School. LAMS Assistant Principal Alicia Cardiel will take the helm as principal at LAMS.

Caron Inglis has accepted the position of assistant principal at Los Alamos High School for the upcoming school year. 

“Los Alamos is so fortunate to have these amazing leaders to lead our schools,” LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy said. “They all bring a great deal of experience to their new roles. They love the district and care about our students.”

Jill Gonzales

Jill Gonzales started her career in public education in 1995, one which has been marked by dedicated service as both an educator and administrator. A graduate of UCLA, Gonzales earned her teaching credential and master’s degree in educational administration from California State University. She began her career at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, Calif., serving as a history teacher, activities director, and school counselor before becoming an assistant principal at Bonita Vista High School in the San Diego area.

Gonzales joined LAPS in 2010 after relocating to Northern New Mexico with her husband and two young children. During her tenure with LAPS, she has served as principal of Piñon Elementary School, principal of Topper Freshman Academy at Los Alamos High School, and principal of Los Alamos Middle School. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, walking her chocolate lab, reading, hiking, volunteering, and traveling.

Alicia Cardiel

Alicia Cardiel brings extensive experience in education and leadership. A graduate of Larned High School in Kansas and a United States Air Force veteran, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from New Mexico State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.

She was a Science and ELA teacher and an assistant principal in Alamogordo, Española, and most recently at LAMS, where she has been assistant principal for the last four years.

Cardiel and her husband, Demetrio Cardiel of Los Alamos, have four children. She said she looks forward to continuing to serve the LAMS community and supporting student success.

Caron Inglis

Caron Inglis began working in special education as a teacher at the New England Center for Children in Framingham, Mass., in 1999, and has worked in a variety of educational settings, as both an educator and program supervisor, for the last 27 years.

She earned a graduate degree in school psychology from Syracuse University in 2006, and an administrator’s license in 2020.

In 2016, she relocated with her family to Los Alamos and a year later joined LAPS, first as the district Behavior Specialist, and then as a School Psychologist at Los Alamos High School, where she has worked for the last five years.

Outside of work, Inglis enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeremy, and three children, Finley, Amelia, and Norah. She can often be found outside landscaping, walking, and skiing, or driving her youngest daughter to and from dance classes.

“It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated team of educators, and a joy to watch our students learn and grow each year,” Inglis said. “I am a proud member of the Hilltopper community and look forward to welcoming everyone back to school in August in my new role.”