In 1992, one of those future teachers was still toiling in the
orchards and fields of Central Washington, struggling to
learn English, and dreaming of a return to teaching. Alfonso
Lopez was born in a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico. By the
time he arrived in Wenatchee in his mid-20s, he had already
struggled through more adversity than many people face in a
lifetime. The son of poor farmers, he managed to attend col-
lege and earn his teaching degree and later a master’s degree
in social science. Lopez taught for five years in rural schools
in Oaxaca. Often, he served as principal as well as teacher and
was also...