• Castro Academy of Fine Arts Opens
    Posted on 08/27/2020
     
    Ribbon cuttingPrensa Hispana, Telemundo, 12News and other media outlets covered the ribbon cutting ceremony at our newly renamed middle school, the Raul H. Castro Academy of Fine Arts last Friday August 21st. Superintendent Dr. LeeAnn Aguilar-Lawlor and Board President Marissa Hernandez joined in via Zoom as well as the staff members from Castro. Principal Theresa Trujillo, was interviewed as well as other dignitaries who were present for the event. Raul H. Castro is the first and only Latino Governor to serve Arizona.

    “This rededication is about opportunity, about a place where scholars can come to explore and dream and leave our district with talents that will help change the world," said Dr. Aguilar-Lawlor. “Governor Castro opened the door for all of us so that we could dream big and believe we could accomplish anything we set our minds on, as long as we worked hard and always took the high road.

    Castro was born in Cananea, Sonora in 1916. He came to the United States from Mexico undocumented with his parents and siblings two years later. The family arrived during the Mexican Revolution and amid the 1918 global Spanish flu pandemic. Castro graduated from Douglas High School, Arizona State Teachers College (now called Northern Arizona University), and the University of Arizona College of Law (now called the James E. Rogers College of Law).

    “This ceremony will allow us to learn about the man who inspired us and opened the door to a new future of opportunity in our community,” said Principal Trujillo. “Our team of teachers and educational support professionals are excited to offer courses that will ignite the creativity and ingenuity that our scholars will carry into high school, college, career and beyond.”

    A few of the guests who attended the event were Beth Castro, daughter of the late Governor, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Vice Mayor Betty Guardado, Representative Cesar Chavez, Consul Enríque Melendez and many others while maintaining social distancing.