Board of Directors

Loretta Booker is an elementary school principal within the Santa Fe Public School District.  She has served students and families within this community since 2005, both as a bilingual teacher and now as an instructional leader.  She is a graduate of St. Michael’s High School, Santa Fe Community College (Associate of Arts in Teacher Education) and New Mexico Highlands University (Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education-Cum Laude/Master of Arts in Educational Leadership). When she first began her career, she was fairly monolingual with limited bilingual education knowledge. With the help of her students, their families, and various colleagues, she is now a testament to the power of immersion.  Her passion for dual language education has grown exponentially since then. She has served on Dual Language Education of New Mexico’s Board of Directors since August 2012, and since May 2015 has served as Co-Chair. Loretta was born and raised in Santa Fe where she now resides with her husband and three children.

Viridiana Cisneros is an educator for Albuquerque Public Schools with experience in bilingual education, including English language development. She received a Bachelor of Science in Bilingual Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership as a Ben Lujan Fellow from New Mexico Highlands University. She is a member of the Bilingual Multicultural Education Advisory Council, where she serves as co-chair advocating for students and educators in bilingual programs across New Mexico, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Dual Language Education of New Mexico. In recent years, Viridiana has had the opportunity to rebuild an elementary dual language program and coach bilingual and TESOL-endorsed teachers. She has also collaborated with the New Mexico Public Education Department, the Center for the Education and Study of Diverse Populations, and Regions 13 in providing strategies for educators and parents to support English learners. As a multilingual, Viridiana understands the importance and empowerment of teaching students in their heritage language and giving them the tools to acquire higher levels of English proficiency.

Louie García is a native of New Mexico of Pueblo Indian and Chicano heritage with experience in the bilingual classroom since 2003.  He has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish as well as a Master’s in Language Literacy and Sociocultural Studies from the University of New Mexico.  Also a talented traditional Pueblo fiber artist, Louie has published several articles both on language revitalization as well as the history and practice of the Pueblo fiber arts tradition in New Mexico. A product of and life long proponent of bilingual education, Louie understands the importance of maintaining language and culture first hand.  As a Tiwa/Piro Pueblo individual, Louie forms part of a team dedicated to revitalizing the Tiwa/Piro language in an effort to reclaim a vital part of their Pueblo heritage from southern New Mexico. Both Louie and his wife, Paula are raising their two daughters multilingually and both girls attend dual language schools.  Additionally, Louie has served as bilingual coordinator at his school since 2012.  Since his tenure at Ernie Pyle Middle School, Louie and his team of dual language teachers have grown their program from 22 to just under 200 students and continually expand their program each year.  Lastly, Louie is a member of the planning committee for La Cosecha Dual Language Conference, an international conference that showcases dual language programs and provides professional development for teachers and administrators alike in the development and maintenance of their respective dual language and multicultural education programs across the nation and beyond.

Dr. Gabriel Antonio Gonzales is a native of the Peñasco Valley of Northern New Mexico.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, and a Doctorate of Education in Teacher Education, Educational Leadership and Policy, all from the University of New Mexico. He started his career at Washington High School as a mentor and tutor. His passion for teaching and learning is what took him to Albuquerque High School, where he served as a bilingual social studies teacher, activities director, and assistant principal.  In 2012, he was named principal of Atrisco Heritage Academy High School where he led during a time of extraordinary growth and change. Currently, Dr. Gonzales serves Albuquerque Public Schools as the Associate Superintendent for Albuquerque Public Schools.  Throughout his career, Dr. Gonzales has been an advocate and proponent for bilingual programs and dual language pathways.  Dr. Gonzales and his wife, Nicole, are currently raising their children bilingually and they are currently attending dual language schools.

Hilda N. Pérez-Vargas was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. She migrated with her family in the 90s to Santa Fe, where she was raised. After graduating from Capital High School, Hilda attended the Santa Fe Community College and earned an Associates Degree in Human Services.  Hilda then attended Highlands University and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and her Master’s Degree in Bilingual Bicultural Social Work. 

In 2019, Hilda became a coordinator with the Santa Fe Public Schools for César Chávez Community School. She is working to make the school a community hub—opening the doors to local community organizations, clubs, groups, and community members to insure that the children, families, and community as a whole are surrounded by support, equity of engagement, and inclusion. The hope is that the school and community can grow together. “When we are able to plant seeds of love, hope, and faith we are able to nurture the life that we all deserve para cosechar un futuro nuevo donde nuestros niños celebren su cultura y lenguaje en una comunidad unida que celebra las diferencias y aprenden unos de otros.” 

In addition to this work, Hilda is also a Board Member of Earth Care, which promotes  community, self-sustainability, and parent leadership through the education of families with a national curriculum, “Abriendo Puertas”.  She works closely with Gerard’s House, Nuestra Jornada Program, which works with children and families experiencing loss due to the death of, or separation from a loved one. 

“Helping families to keep their dignity, unity, language and find their voice to stand tall and proud, is a real privilege” says Hilda.

Adrián Avila is a gifted math middle school educator within the Albuquerque Public School District. He has worked directly with diverse populations around the world since 2010. He has served on the Dual Language Education of New Mexico’s Board of Directors since May 2020. He is a graduate of Valley High School, University of New Mexico (Bachelor of Arts in History and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology—Summa Cum Laude), University of Edinburgh (Masters of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance—Distinction), and Central New Mexico Community College (Alternative Teaching Licensure). He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Dominican Republic) and continuously serves on various leadership committees for the Sigma Chi International Fraternity. Adrián was born and raised in Albuquerque as a first-generation American who grew up bilingual. In his adult life, Adrián actively seeks out opportunities to empower, collaborate, advocate and innovate for diverse populations and their respective communities.

Al Gurulé is a native New Mexican. He obtained his formal education through the Albuquerque Public School system and graduated from the University of Albuquerque with a degree in accounting. Al learned to play the vihuela as a boy, eventually playing professionally with Maricahi Del Norte, Mariachi Nuevo Tapatío de Pedro Sepúlveda, and Mariachi Tenampa, where he serves as director. As a strong supporter of youth musical education, Al currently acts as director and head instructor for school-based mariachi programs at East San José Elementary, Washington Middle, Albuquerque High School, and the University of New Mexico. He has led the development of these successful programs which educate our youth to properly interpret mariachi music and on the importance of preseriving our culture for future generations.

Jesse is a thirteen -year veteran ELA and ELD teacher who currently teaches in the Dual Language Program at Truman Middle School, the largest middle school in New Mexico. With a BA in Comparative Literature and Spanish and an MA in Bilingual Education from UNM, Jesse works with bilingual children who are developing their English. Currently, Jesse serves on the Board of Directors of Dual Language Education of New Mexico; in addition, he represents DLeNM on the Board of Directors of New Mexico Association of Bilingual Education. He is also a Project GLAD key trainer which enables him to train other teachers working with emerging bilingual learners. Jesse lives in Albuquerque where he is raising two bilingual children.