LAHS English Teacher Ruth Silver
By Andy McBride
Los Alamos Daily Post
Ruth Silver, an English teacher at Los Alamos High School (LAHS), is a third-generation teacher – and not just any ordinary teacher. She is one of a kind to many people around her and an inspiration to her students.
Born in Las Cruces and raised in Albuquerque, she grew up in a home with a high focus on education, religion, and strict standards for behavioral expectations. She mentioned being a rather rebellious child for her parents.
From a young age, she questioned just about everything put before her and was always curious about what those mysteries could hold and the deeper reasons behind why and how things happen.
The natural curiosity she held as a child has stuck with her through life, and she now describes herself as a nerd who loves learning, reading, doing puzzles, and watching documentaries.
Silver held a wide variety of jobs in her 20s, including working in restaurants, the mental health field, and owning a small business. After she shut down her business, teaching was next on her list.
“I realized that teaching younger generations the lessons that I had to learn the hard way could make their lives better,” she said. “I worked as an Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) long-term substitute for two years, then spent one year teaching psychology, New Mexico history and world history. Then, I found out I was getting moved to a new school and teaching position due to budget cuts in APS. These unexpected changes led me to apply for multiple teaching positions in several New Mexico school districts.”
Silver said she did not expect to be offered a position at LAHS due to only being a first-year contract teacher, but she figured the interview would be good practice. Silver was offered multiple positions at other school districts and accepted a position outside of Los Alamos.
After realizing that this other position wasn’t for her, she reached out to Los Alamos Public Schools again.
Thankfully, it all worked out in the end and she joined LAHS in September 2022. She said that moving to Los Alamos from Albuquerque was a bit awkward, coming from such a big city to such a small town, but the way the people welcomed her is heartwarming. Now in her second year with LAHS, Silver has taught her students multiple lessons they can hold onto for their whole lives, and continues to inspire many students every day by teaching meaningful lessons.
One of the many lessons Silver learned through her life and enjoys teaching younger kids is, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth taking the time to do it right.”
Stephen Webster, a former student who took her class last year, liked her unique teaching style which incorporated hands-on learning and allowed students to be more engaged with English class.
“I enjoyed the quality of the class and the constructive debates she allowed the students to partake in,” Webster said, adding that he also appreciated how she took the time to address each student to assess their personal needs.