John Mondragon often ended lectures about New Mexico education by mentioning how “fascinating” it all was.
That’s the word his friends and colleagues used to describe Mondragon, a longtime public education advocate, administrator and author who died Tuesday. He was 81.
Mondragon was a governing board member of Central New Mexico Community College and college professor. Mondragon, a native New Mexican, left behind a son, a daughter, two grandchildren and extended family.
His longtime collaborator and co-author, Ernie Stapleton, said he also left behind an illustrious legacy in the world of New Mexico public education.
“His career is really a remarkable thing,” Stapleton said. “He really made so many contributions in so many areas in education. … He had a vision, and he saw the positives in education for people.”
Stapleton said he met Mondragon about 50 years ago. The duo wrote “Public Education in New Mexico,” a book that closely examines policies and trends that shaped the state’s education system.
The topic was a lifelong passion for Mondragon, who began his career at Albuquerque Public Schools as an elementary school teacher. He later became a school principal, and, eventually, a superintendent, according to his résumé.
“He was one of our finest administrators in the Albuquerque public schools,” Stapleton said. “He was a very diligent administrator.”
It was during his tenure as an APS superintendent that Mondragon hired Veronica Garcia as principal of Rio Grande High School.
Garcia, who went on to become a state Education Secretary, said Mondragon mentored her through her career and was a big influence on her. She called Mondragon an “extraordinary role model and education leader who had a great love of our state and a real understanding of the role education plays in public policy.”
The two were writing a book on educational reform policies. “I’m committed to continuing that work in his honor,” she said.
Mondragon’s own education began in Mora and Holman, in Northern New Mexico, daughter Tina Johnston said.
“I think maybe part of that passion (for education) was born from the fact that he came from a small community and early on acknowledged or was able to see the need for an education, and for an education to be made available to children and young people,” Stapleton said.
Mondragon received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., and his doctorate at UNM, where he went on to teach education leadership classes. A longtime advocate for bilingual education, Mondragon also led research on the subject at UNM. He also founded New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement, which fosters minority middle and high school students in those fields.
“He was very much part of the fabric of education throughout New Mexico,” CNM president Katharine W. Winograd said. “He was a mentor to many people who are currently educators.”
Winograd, who had known Mondragon since she came to New Mexico in the mid-1990s, said it was Mondragon’s critical thinking and thoughtfulness that made him the go-to guy for all things education.
“I think John was always one of those very thoughtful individuals. He wasn’t always the one that spoke up. He listened very, very well and, as a result, his comments were always so wise and thoughtful, which made him such a wonderful (CNM) board member because he didn’t jump to decisions. He was so thoughtful, and we’re going to miss his wise counsel,” Winograd said.
For daughter Tina Johnston, a third-grade teacher in Abilene, Texas, Mondragon will be remembered as a dedicated father who took his family on adventurous vacations and instilled in them a love for education.
“He was very loving and kind, and always trying to meet our needs. And he was fun to be with, and loved family,” Johnston said.
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