"FROM THE BARRIO TO WASHINTON"

By Lisa Lankins

Armando Rodriguez, 86 years old, is a little guy, 5’1”, but his energy fills a room and his heart is almost too big to sit at a table. His autobiography, “From the Barrio to Washington, An Educator’s Journey” was published last year, and is filled with true stories of a strong soul and how he helped so many people. His words ring true for any race, not only Mexican Americans and not only Immigrants. The book is full of life changing antidotes. He has a way of looking at things that make sense no matter where you were born. It is hard to put down. His father moved his entire family to San Diego, legally, when he was six years old. They worked hard, studied hard, and with so much love and family ethic they overcame the hard times and prejudice which surrounded them. Armando went on to be a teacher and coach and rose through he ranks of the American Education system to become the first Hispanic principal of a junior and senior high school in San Diego, The second Hispanic to be a college

president, and to serve in the administration of four U.S. presidents. He served in the U.S. Army. He received a Doctorate in bilingual education, and was instrumental in developing the field of bilingual education while serving as the Assistant Commissioner of Education for the nation. All the while carrying his childhood nickname with him, Shadow. Armando and the love of his life, his wife of 60 years, Beatriz, have been coming to Mazatlán since 1974, and still love coming here. When asked what points of his book he really wanted to get across in a short article, he said, “To focus on making life easier for immigrants. They need to develop what it is they want to do and not restrict themselves. The only limits are ones placed on oneself. They need to believe that what any person in the U.S. can do, they can do. He always felt like he had something to contribute to the U.S. You have to be realistic though, you cannot be a high jumper if you are only 5’1”.

 

 

 

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