With sadness, we report that New Mexico Special Education teacher Leo Lugo succumbed to  Covid-19 on  Oct. 6, 2020. Photo credit: El Paso Times.

With great sadness we announce that yet another educator has succumbed to Covid-19. Leo Lugo, a Special Education teacher in New Mexico, passed away on Oct. 6, 2020. He was 56 years old.

Leo worked at Chaparral High School in the Gadsden Independent School District. Chaparral is a small, unincorporated community near the Texas city of El Paso. The military installations of Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range are nearby.

Although his career as an educator spanned only one year, he made a positive impact on his students. Victoria Lopez, Principal of Chaparral High, recalled that he was a very kind and caring individual who truly wanted the best for his students.

Friend Jacqueline Bravo agreed. “He would always say, ‘echele ganas,’ which means keep going. He would always be like, ‘echele ganas’ Jackie, like you can, you can do it, like we’re almost done and stuff like that,” she remembered. ” think he would want to be remembered as someone–like a good representative of El Paso, and not only that, but a very strong motivating and uplifting man,” she continued.

Before his career as an educator, Leo worked for several Spanish language radio stations, including Estrella 103.1-FM. His career as a radio personality lasted for more than 20 years.

To read more about Leo Lugo, click on this link to his story published by the El Paso Times.