La Doctora María Dolores Gonzáles

The school that carries her name in Barelas made her work its method the year she died. Dolores Gonzáles died on March 18, 1975, and that year the elementary school adopted a dual-language model, the first in Albuquerque: half of each day taught in English and half in Spanish, down to dance, physical education and library. Nearly sixty schools in the district now run some form of dual-language program, reaching more than ten thousand students. The school marked its fiftieth year in November 2025 with mariachi music and papel picado.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker La Doctora María Dolores Gonzáles (1917-1975) Dr. Gonzáles was a pioneer in bilingual and bicultural education. She developed educational materials for students in New Mexico and Latin America and trained teachers in the curriculum. Born in Pecos, "Lola" taught in the area for many years and at the University of New Mexico. She held a master's degree from Columbia University and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. Dolores Gonzáles Elementary School in Albuquerque is named in her honor.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Petroglyph National Monument — 6.5 mi
  Some 24,000 images pecked into the dark basalt of Albuquerque's West Mesa, protected in 1990 and then crossed by a city boulevard.

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