46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RECOGNIZING ROBERTO LEVI GALLEGOS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN EDUCATOR AND HIS ADVANCEMENT OF BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL EDUCATION.

WHEREAS, Roberto Levi Gallegos, Ph.D, was born on August 19, 1932 and has been a lifelong resident of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, he graduated from Cuba high school in 1951, earned a bachelor of arts degree in government in 1957 and master of arts and doctorate degrees from the university of New Mexico in 1964 and 1974, respectively; and

WHEREAS, he served his country in the United States army, 717th AA battalion; and

WHEREAS, he has been a junior high school government teacher, an elementary bilingual bicultural teacher, a reading consultant to the peoples of Costa Rica, Honduras and Ecuador and a professor of elementary education at New Mexico state university and has focused on how best to convey the excitement of reading to his students over the last forty-four years; and

WHEREAS, he has provided leadership as an executive board member of the New Mexico association for bilingual education, has served as an editorial advisor to The Reading Teacher and has been a member of the Spanish language reading committee, the Nila Banton Smith reading award committee and the international reading association; and

WHEREAS, he has served as director of the bilingual education doctoral fellowship program at New Mexico state university and is a highly respected scholar and author of children's literacy series in New Mexico and Ecuador; and

WHEREAS, he has won many awards, including the professor of the quarter award from New Mexico Highlands university in 1974, the favorite professor award from New Mexico state university in 1982, the most outstanding professor award at New Mexico state university in 1984, the Donald C. Roush award for teaching excellence in 1985 and in 1990, the Joseph M. Montoya award for his national contributions to bilingual education and the Westhafer award for excellence in teaching in 1995; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Gallegos is a preeminent teacher and scholar who has shared his knowledge and commitment to children, students and colleagues who have learned from his tutelage and mentorship in biliteracy, bicultural and multicultural teacher preparation, education and curriculum theory and application;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that recognition be extended to Roberto Levi Gallegos, Ph.D., a distinguished educator, for his contributions to the advancement of bilingual and bicultural education and his commitment to the children and people of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Roberto Levi Gallegos.