By JOSE DELFIN
Superintendent
Los Alamos Public Schools
Dear Los Alamos Students, Staff and Families,
Recent events have given me a bit of time to reflect on my next steps as the leader of our school district. As a person of color, it pains me to hear about any behaviors that have racist overtones personally and professionally.
I will elaborate more in my next newsletter. I sincerely apologize for the thoughtlessness of individuals’ actions that have marginalized any of our students, staff and families – we are better than this Los Alamos!
LAPS does not condone any racist or exclusionary behaviors from students, staff, and our community partners. Furthermore, LAPS is committed to becoming a more welcoming district that is responsive to and inclusive of people that represent all backgrounds and identities. We recognize that when students feel unsafe and unwelcome, learning is unlikely to occur.
Our district has made a multi-year commitment to adopting the Safe and Civil Schools framework. This model is designed to support positive school environments through developing personal connections, clear expectations, and inclusive practices. In addition, we will continue to empower students and staff with strategies to intervene and speak up when they encounter behavior that negatively impacts the climate and culture of their school community.
Finally, we are dedicated to expanding our skills for holding crucial conversations and creating safe spaces for dialogue about inherent bias and racism. At this point in our society, we need to bind together in turbulent times and not fragment the delicate interdependence we have for each other.
Resources for parents:
- https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-honestly-with-children-about-racism
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/talk-about-race.html
- https://www.unicef.org/parenting/talking-to-your-kids-about-racism
Resource for students/schools:
