Mary Jean Habermann López has been a key player in uplifting the field of bilingual education in New Mexico. Her experience as a bilingual classroom teacher, school administrator, college professor, and director of bilingual education for New Mexico at the state and federal levels connected her to the prime movers of our unique and crucial bilingual programs. ​

 

She talks about her collaboration with Dr. Rebecca Blum Martínez and a luminous group of contributing writers to publish The Shoulders We Stand On: A History of Bilingual Education in New Mexico. This landmark book lifts the voices of indigenous and Spanish-speaking educators who have done the critical work of fostering bilingualism and biculturalism in New Mexico. She also talks about the continued relevance of bilingual education and its role in honoring and upholding students' diverse cultures.