Los Alamos Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Guy speaking at the Aug, 16 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos. Photo by Morrie Pongratz

By BROOKE DAVIS
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos

Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy spoke at the Aug. 16 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos in Kelly Hall at Trinity-on-the-Hill Episcopal Church. She discussed her background, accomplishments and philosophy and goals in education.

Guy is a longtime resident of Los Alamos. She said her husband is from Los Alamos and she has been in the community for 34 years. Her husband and children have all attended or are attending local schools.

Sharing her thoughts on education, Guy said, “Los Alamos is near and dear to my heart … and the Los Alamos Public Schools are deep in my heart … I want to do good work and move our district forward … I want to make all students successful.”

Guy also spoke of “school PLUS one”, referring to activities such as music, robotics and physics (for everyone) – topics that build useful and enjoyable interests. She mentioned the state’s changes in education goals, including the decision to provide all New Mexico students both breakfast and lunch. She explained that there were repeated problems with state officials who resisted providing for Los Alamos students because they believed the community was too wealthy to need assistance.

Guy said that she and her associates finally got the state to agree that, “Yes, Los Alamos IS part of New Mexico.” Local schools are now focused on creative ways to avoid food waste, she said, including allowing parents in need to pick up unused items.

There are many ideas and plans to improve education in the community, Guy said, including offering technology and trade training, partnering with other school districts to give students opportunities to expand their options, moving the 6th grade to the middle school and facility replacements and renovations.

About Kiwanis:

The Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos was founded in January 1948. It is the oldest service organization in Los Alamos. The Club meets noon to 1 p.m. each Tuesday in Kelly Hall at Trinity-on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, 3900 Trinity Drive. The meetings are open to the public. To learn more, visit losalamoskiwanisone.org.