Lena Archuleta, Denver’s first Latina school principal, will have library named after her

DENVER — The Denver Public Library is getting ready to open a new location later this year in the city’s Westwood neighborhood. It’ll be named after Lena Archuleta, whose legacy includes trailblazing in education, work training and seniors’ rights.

Archuleta was “someone who just truly believed in giving everybody an opportunity to thrive and to succeed,” said Erika Martinez, who works with the Denver Public Library system.

Like many Latinas in Denver, Martinez was mentored by Archuleta. It was 2005 and “at that point, she was retired. But that didn’t stop her. She was incredibly feisty,” Martinez said.

Although Archuleta came from humble beginnings growing up in New Mexico, when she moved to Denver, she used education as a stepping stone to help others.

She was a teacher, school librarian, and administrator. She then became the first Latina principal in Denver Public Schools in 1976. She led bilingual education programs and was the first woman to serve as president of the Latin American Education Foundation.

She also loved to dance and perform many traditional Spanish and Mexican dances.

“Lena was incredibly proud of being Hispanic,” Martinez said. “And she wanted to inspire people to be their whole selves.”

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