Applicants sought for vacant seat on Alamogordo school board
The Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education is searching for someone to fill the vacant District 5 board seat.
Executive Assistant to Superintendent & Board of Education Lisa Patterson said that as of Jan. 29, two people submitted letters of interest for the position: Dana Lynn Burks and Ryal McMurry.
Burks is a lifelong Otero County resident and retired Alamogordo Public Schools educator and administrator. She served as Alamogordo Public Schools director of special education under Superintendent Philip Knight from 2015 through 2017.
"My qualifications for the position of School Board member include a B.S. in Secondary Education, M.A. in Educational Leadership from NMSU and NM PED licensure in School Administration and Supervision," Burks wrote in her letter of interest.
More APS news: Alamogordo Schools suspends Pam Renteria, names Michael Crabtree interim superintendent
McMurry is also an Otero County resident, having grown up in Alamogordo and a product of Alamogordo Public Schools, he became a teacher for the district before becoming the principal for two schools within the district.
"I have a B.A. degree from NMSU, an MA degree in Curriculum and Instruction from NMSU and an Administration Certification from ENMU," he wrote in his letter of interest.
McMurry was with Alamogordo Public Schools for 15 years before leaving in 2020 to become a teacher at a state charter school. During this time, he has also worked with the New Mexico Public Education Department as a contractor to visit and evaluate classrooms throughout the state.
School Board President Angela Cadwallader said there's not much to do but to wait and see if other applicants step forward. The last day for qualified electors to apply for appointment to the seat is Wednesday, Jan. 31. Individuals who live in the district and are interested can apply at the Alamogordo Public Schools website.
"We are still accepting applications for the seat," she said. "If I'm not mistaken, people still have until the (Jan.) 31st to apply and they should. We are taking all applications who qualify and live in the district, but they can send their qualifications to Lisa Patterson."
A look back at local elections: Otero County 2023 local election face recount for Tularosa and Cloudcroft school districts
Cadwallader said after all letters of interest have been received, the board has 45 days to select a new member.
"We are still looking for people in the district who are interested, once we find someone the applications and letters of interest will be sent to the board members individually so there is not chit chat about it," Alamogordo Public Schools Communications Coordinator Michelle Brideaux said. "I have not heard from the board what the plan is once they receive those inquires."
Those interested are asked to contact Executive Assistant to Superintendent & Board of Education Lisa Patterson at lisa.patterson@alamogordoschools.org.
Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.
This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Alamogordo School Board seeks applicant for vacant District 5 seat
