Lena Lovato Archuleta Elementary School will be formally dedicated in a ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4.

The Board of Education, Denver Public Schools administrative staff, parents, students and community members will all take place in the ceremony, marking the opening of one of four new schools that debuted in the district this school year.

Archuleta Elementary School is located at 16000 E. Maxwell Pl. in Montbello.

A former teacher and administrator, Lena Lovato Archuleta taught in the classrooms of New Mexico and Colorado for 17 years and served as an administrator for 14 years. She was the first Hispanic woman to be named a principal in Denver Public Schools. Among other “firsts” she lists being the first Latina president of Denver Classroom Teachers’ Association, the Colorado Library Association and the Latin American Educational Foundation.

Ms. Archuleta is a past officer of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). She served as a member of the national board for six years and as a member of the Trustees of the AARP Andrus Foundation.

Within the community, Lena is currently a board member of Denver Public Schools Credit Union, Brothers Redevelopment, Inc., and Rude Park Community Nursery. Since retirement she has served on the boards of Mi Casa Resource Center, Mile High Child Care Association, and Denver Public Library Commission.

Among the honors which have been presented to Lena since retirement are the following: Bernie Valdez Award for Community Service, Hispanic Annual Salute Award, Women’s Bank Education Award, and National Alumni Achievement Award from Mortar Board, Inc. In 1986, she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Colorado University at Denver conferred upon her its Distinguished Service Award in May 1999.

The three other new schools this year are Rachel Noel Middle School (just south of Archuleta Elementary School), Bruce Randolph Middle School and Lowry Elementary School. All four are among 10 new schools built with the $305 million bond approved by voters in 1998.

Archuleta Elementary School’s telephone number is 303-371-6363. To reach Archuleta Elementary School, exit Interstate 70 at Chambers Road, go north on Chambers Road to Maxwell Place and head east on Maxwell Place to the school.