Heffron sworn in as newest school board member

Sep. 12—Lynn Gardner Heffron was sworn in as the Santa Fe school board's newest member Thursday evening.

Her fellow board members appointed her unanimously at the board's Aug. 29 meeting to fill the District 5 vacancy created when former board member Sacha Anderson left to become an Episcopal priest.

Heffron, who serves as co-president of the American Association of University Women New Mexico, is an adjunct professor and learning specialist at the Institute for American Indian Art and a tutoring specialist for the school district.

"I'm thrilled to step into the role," Heffron said. "It was so eye-opening to visit our schools and see all that we're doing. And we're not necessarily behind because we're making so much progress to bring these kids up." Data to be released in November, Heffron said, will prove her point.

As District 5 board member, Heffron will represent Nye Early Childhood Center, and Kearney, Nava, Piñon, and Salazar elementary schools, in addition to Milagro Middle School and Santa Fe High School.

She was sworn in on a copy of the Bible published in 1822 which has been passed down through her family for 200 years. and, Heffron said, is her last link to her mother's side of the family. Merideth Machen, a longtime colleague of Heffron's and head of public policy for the American Association of University Women, swore her in.