By STEPHEN BOERIGTER
Los Alamos

I am excited about to the opportunity to serve my community on the Los Alamos Public School Board for District 2. Our schools in Los Alamos are a strong attractor for new Laboratory employees, retirees and others who come to Los Alamos. We value education in Los Alamos and we want to continue strengthening our schools.

I believe that I’m well-qualified to serve on the LAPS Board. I have a long history of Board leadership for non-profit institutions and other organizations. I served as the chair of the Church Council at White Rock Baptist Church for a number of years. The Board has major responsibility to our community – in which I’m deeply involved. I am chair of the United Way of Northern New Mexico Board. In this role, I’ve met and developed relationships with many community, lab, and governmental leaders. I’ve seen needs and worked to help meet those needs.

I’m passionate about education. Evidence of this passion goes beyond my family, many of you know my wife and also know my educational background. All three of my daughters are pursuing advanced degrees. I’ve driven many changes at UNM-LA over the past several years as a member of the UNMLA Advisory Board, five of past six years at the board chair. I’ve helped seen the college through a difficult transition to a new CEO and helped transform the college into a strong Los Alamos asset. Today, more high-school students from Los Alamos are benefiting from UNM-LA than ever before.

I’m passionate about children. I taught 3-4th grade Sunday school at my church for many years. Along with my wife, I’ve worked in our Wednesday night children’s program called AWANA for many years. I often chit-chat afterward while cleaning up with a mom who was on my game circle as a 6th grader back in 1996. I participated in a weekly reading program for several years at both Aspen and Chamisa elementary schools.

I’ve spent time with children (and Los Alamos teens) in Puerto Penasco while on house building mission trips. I worked with the Chamisa principle and PTA to install the first audio system and sound deadening panels back when my kids attended. Maybe I’ve even seen your kids at VBS at White Rock Baptist Church where I have  taken a week off work every summer to teach since 2001. The kids know me as “Mr. B.”

I’m passionate about Los Alamos. Los Alamos is my home. My Los Alamos service started over a decade ago on the Parks and Recreation Board. I served on that board for four years (three years as chair). My time of the PRB led me to Leadership Los Alamos (a 2010 grad) and to my service on the Environmental Sustainability Board (four years, three as chair) and UNM-LA.

I have also served on the White Rock Implementation Committee and the Library Strategic Planning Committee. Maybe you’ve been to the big event on the 4th of July at Overlook Park. I’ve been the Kiwanis Club producer of that event since 2010.

I can represent District 2 well; all three of my daughters attended Chamisa and I’ve lived in the district for 24 years. I bring a background and knowledge of issues facing our students, parents, and teachers. I bring a willingness to listen, understand, and act. I bring leadership and compassion. I hope you will give me this opportunity to serve Los Alamos in this new and exciting manner.