Maria Lourdes Luna, a Teacher Librarian for Burleson Elementary School in Odessa, Texas, succumbed to Covid-19 on December 24, 2020. She was 62 years old. (Photo credit: Dignity Memorial)

Sadly, we report that yet another beloved educator has died from Covid-19. Teacher Librarian Maria Lourdes Luna of Odessa, Texas, succumbed to the disease on December 24, 2020. She was 62 years old.

Maria was born on December 18, 1958, in Marfa, Texas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. In 1997, she earned her Master’s degree in Reading from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Later she earned her credential as a Library Media Specialist.

The career of this dedicated educator spanned a total of 39 years. At the time of her passing, she was employed by Odessa’s Ector County Independent School District. She worked for the school district for 37 years, all of which were spent at Burleson Elementary School. According to family members, Maria “believed in the power of reading, and she was passionate about her job. She wanted success for each one of her students. She took pride in her school and was always eager to help. She loved her job, she loved her colleagues, but most of all she loved her students.”

In addition to her responsibilities in the library, Maria was very active with her local Parent Teacher Association. She also organized spelling bees and Blue Bonnet programs for her school. The Texas Bluebonnet Award Program is a state-wide program for students in grades 3-6. Librarians nominate 20 new children’s books each year from different genres to be on the Bluebonnet list. The purpose of the program is to promote free-choice reading and expose students to a variety of quality literature.

To read more about Maria Lourdes Luna, click on this link to the obituary published by Dignity Memorial.