By ANTONIO R. JAURIGUE
Board President
Los Alamos Public Schools

In this upcoming board meeting Thursday, I will be resigning my position on the school board in District 2. This is not an easy decision for me to make, and I would hope my explanation sheds light on why I’m making this decision now.

I would like to offer some background on why I value education, and the institution of public education. I come from a home where my father dropped out of high school his freshman year. I was the product of a teenage pregnancy, and although my father had dropped out, he supported my mom finishing high school, while they both worked to make ends meet. He would take side jobs to supplement the household income when needed. It didn’t stop there. My mother went on to get her bachelors, masters, and then her PhD. 

Eventually, in my teenage years, my father did go on to get his GED. I say this because there are a few core memories that I would like to share.  I remember complaining about school when I was a kid, asking if I could skip, but my mom would energetically tell me “No”. I remember her saying things like “School is so fun!. I LOVE learning new things.” Trying to convince us to repeat it by asking us about cool things we’ve learned.

I remember not being able to do my homework one night because I forgot my backpack at school. This wasn’t a good enough excuse for my dad, who was able to drive me to the school, find the afterhours custodian, and get my backpack for me. Although he didn’t vocally state how important education was in the way my mom had, that action showed me that he valued education.  

Stepping down from the school board is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I don’t tender my resignation because this job is too stressful, or because I feel that I have let you down. Not because I have lost faith in any board member, or the staff, or think we have lost our vision or direction. Rather, the passion that this role has sparked in me did not stop at me. For the last year, my wife has worked towards her certification and wishes to help our students from the frontlines of Special Education. State law mandates that she cannot be hired while I am an acting board member, but I wish to take that a step further. I wish to resign before she applies for the position.

Should the opportunity arise, I would gladly fill this role again and serve the district, but I am also happy to give anyone else a chance to experience the energizing joy and passion that I have seen here. In the meantime, I’m still willing and hopeful that I may serve the schools and community in any way I can. What I have learned from being on the board is that it is ok to be in disagreement. I have been a people-pleaser most of my life, and I have learned through our discussions that I can disagree with people, and it doesn’t mean they will hate me. I have learned that people can attack me online or in emails and it doesn’t diminish my value as a human. I’ve learned the nuances that go into running a school district beyond what the average parent sees. I would love to give others that opportunity learn as well.

As hard as this is for me, I know that our district is in good hands. I’ve seen how strongly our staff advocates for what’s best for our students. I’ve seen parents step up and help their kids, provide checks on the district when we need to improve, or volunteer in the class. I’ve seen students self-advocate, help each other when they struggle, and thrive in the face of their personal struggles. I know this system is so much bigger than me, and more stable than I can imagine, but it still hurts to have to step back.

This school board still has four amazing people who have experienced public education from many valued perspectives, and I know that whoever fills my seat will bring added value in their own way. I wasn’t on the board for long when the nature of this role reminded me of a quote from Vincent Van Gogh: “…one doesn’t expect out of life what one has already learned that it cannot give, but rather one begins to see more and more clearly that life is only a kind of sowing time, and the harvest is not here.”

I learned that some of the things I want may not come to fruition in my time on the board. They may not come in our children’s time in the schools, but that’s not why we are here. Instead, this board is sowing the seeds for a brighter future for our youth, and the harvest is not yet here. This applies to all of the staff here as well. Many of them do not get to see the child they connect with succeed in life in that short year they have them. Instead, they know that the seed they are planting will grow into a passion that will give them a life we can’t experience.

To the teachers, know that the average parent feels like me, profoundly appreciative of what you do for our children. We just aren’t as good at showing appreciation as we should be.

With that, should anyone wish to fill this role, don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions on what it is like or seeking advice. I would happily help you along with any of the hard lessons I have had to learn.

Editor’s note: LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy shared the following statement:

“It had been an honor to have Mr. Jaurigue on the school board. He is passionate about improving education and making learning engaging for all students. In every conversation we have had about our school district, he always ask how students and teachers are impacted by the decisions the board makes. I wish him the best and know that he will continue to be a strong advocate for our school district.”