The Santa Fe school board on Thursday unanimously selected a public school tutor and learning specialist for the Institute of American Indian Arts as its new member for District 5.
The first item on Lynn Gardner Heffron’s to-do list: learning. She said she plans to familiarize herself with the schools in her district, which encompasses much of midtown Santa Fe between St. Michael’s Drive and N.M. 14., including Nye Early Childhood Center, Kearny, Nava, Piñon and Salazar elementary schools, Milagro Middle School and Santa Fe High School.
“What are their issues, specifically? What are their parents’ concerns? Are they complaining? About what? Are the teachers happy? What about the students?” Heffron said in an interview following her appointment.
“Getting to know the schools more closely is the key initiative for me right now,” she added.
Heffron started her career as a secondary school teacher before moving to the private sector. There, she worked for Lockheed and NBC Universal before co-founding and serving as CEO for Diversity Spectrum, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and minorities in business, education and government.
She has spoken about diversity and inclusion with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Guard, World Bank and Fortune 500 companies, according to application materials obtained by The New Mexican via a public records request.
This business experience, she said, could come in handy as a school board member.
“I find it imperative that I — perhaps even as a board member — lay out a strategic plan for my district, after I have talked with the leadership and figured out what the core issues are that need attention,” Heffron said.
Since moving to Santa Fe more than a decade ago, Heffron has also served as an adjunct professor and learning specialist for the Institute of American Indian Arts and an AVID tutoring specialist for Santa Fe Public Schools, her application materials state.
Heffron is also the retiring co-president of the New Mexico affiliate of the American Association of University Women and former president of the organization’s Santa Fe chapter.
She holds master’s degrees in business administration and drama from Pepperdine University and the Catholic University of America, respectively, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English, drama and speech in secondary education and a certificate in teaching English as a second language.
“I continue to fight for equal pay for women,” Heffron said. “I’m an advocate. Through the American Association of University [Women], I will continue to be an advocate for equal pay for women and equal rights.”
She will replace former school board President Sascha Anderson, who announced in June she would leave Santa Fe to pursue ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
Heffron was one of two candidates who applied to fill the empty school board seat. The other was Kevin A. Bowen, business owner and executive director of the Human Rights Alliance, which coordinates Santa Fe’s Pride events.
“Public service is not easy. It’s sometimes not for the faint of heart, and we really appreciate both of you making the effort and being willing to serve on the school board,” board Vice President Kate Noble said to the candidates.
Heffron assumed the District 5 position immediately upon the board’s approval Thursday night, with a swearing-in ceremony to be announced at a later date.
