Judge swears in two new LCPS board members

Two new members of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education were sworn in today.

District 4 Board Member Bonnie Votaw and District 5 Member Connie Phillips will participate in their first meeting as board members on Tuesday. Votaw replaces John Schwebke, who did not seek re-election, and Phillips replaces Sharon Wooden, who she defeated in last month’s election.

The two were sworn in by District Judge Robert E. Robles at the LCPS administration building. Before swearing them in, Robles told the new board members that “the work they begin is of the highest importance. It must not be forgotten that school board members hold perhaps the most important public trust – our children.”

“I know they are keenly aware of this awesome responsibility, and I wish them well,” Robles said.

Votaw, 63, is a retired educator and school administrator. She has bachelors and masters degrees in English and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction, all from New Mexico State University.

Votaw taught at Mayfield High School beginning in 1969 and later served in a number of administrative positions for LCPS, including staff development, reading coordinator, advanced educational services facilitator and director of secondary curriculum. She was director of curriculum assessment and instruction in Lewiston, Idaho from 1995 to 2002.

Phillips, 49, is an engineer. She has bachelors and masters degrees in mathematics from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. and a doctorate in engineering from NMSU. She has been a member of the Desert Hills Elementary School Advisory Council and the LCPS District Advisory Council.

She has worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation for past 15 years as a software and systems engineer.