Rotary Inducts LAPS Superintendent José Delfin Into Club

Dr. José Delfin, center, the new Superintendent of Los Alamos Public Schools, was inducted Sept. 6 into the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Rotary Vice President Linda Hull, left, proposed Delfin for membership and Rotary District 5520 Assistant Governor Tom Simon of Santa Fe, right, conducted the ceremony. Photo by Nancy Cerutti

New LAPS Superintendent Dr. José Delfin spoke about his vision and goals for the school district during the Sept. 6 meeting of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Delfin is the Club’s newest member. Photo by Linda Hull

ROTARY News:

“I always wanted to be a Rotarian,” remarked Dr. José Delfin, the new Superintendent of Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS), as he was inducted Sept. 6 as the newest member of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos.

Following his induction and the Club’s warm welcome, Delfin spoke to the Club about his vision for the school district, stating, “All students will be enrolled, enlisted and-or employed by graduation.”  Expanding upon these three tenets, Delfin explained that enrolled means “our students may apply and gain acceptance in a post-secondary program like a trade school, community college and/or university,” enlisted highlights the opportunities students may find in military service and employed focuses upon students joining the work force.

“We will accomplish this vision,” Delfin continued, with three goals: “energize our students to find excitement in learning; empower our students to maintain a sense of well-being, safety and self-actualization; and engage them in a sense of belonging to each other, LAPS staff, and the community.”

Much like mathematical equations so familiar to our scientific community, the combination of these key words reflects Delfin’s vision and goals, each with a constant E to embody Enduring Educational Excellence.

Another E word, one that best describes Delfin himself, is enthusiasm.  He loves “to focus on pre-K to graduation and beyond” and has already begun working with leaders from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and UNM-Los Alamos. He is “pro-active about mental health,” especially after witnessing the nationwide toll that COVID-19 took on students, families, and educators.

Delfin was quick to thank the community for making him feel at home and for supporting him as he steps into a role he knows will be both challenging and rewarding and one he is already eagerly embracing.

Dr. José Delfin, who “hit the ground running” as the new LAPS Superintendent in April, grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland. He continued his studies at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada where he received both his master’s degree and educational doctorate. 

Delfin has served for more than 20 years at the school-site and district levels and has supervised principals and support staff. Before working in school administration, Delfin taught art, computer graphics, and web-design. He has “always been a student-centered educator” from the beginning of his career to the present. 

In his free time, Delfin enjoys cars, photography, fitness, and, most of all, spending time with his two adult children. 

Delfin was proposed for membership by Rotarian Linda Hull.

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos meets in person Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m., in the Community Room, Cottonwood on the Greens, at the golf course. A Zoom option is available by contacting Linda Hull, Rotary Club vice-president, 505.662.7950. Hull is also happy to provide information about the Club and its humanitarian service. The community is invited to become members.

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, through its Club Foundation, is a 501(c)3 non-profit and one of over 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary, which now has 1.5 million members, was founded in 1905; the local Club was chartered in 1966. Rotary areas of focus include promoting peace; fighting disease, particularly polio; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; supporting education; saving and enhancing the lives of mothers and children; growing economies; and protecting the environment.

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