好色先生

Mary Esther Bernal (BA 1956, MEd 1973) was an early champion of bilingual education, a fierce advocate of dual language instruction when speaking Spanish in Texas schools was against the law.

A gifted pianist, Bernal taught choir in San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and did so with a creative flair for her Mexican American students.

鈥淪he would use tunes that were common in Hispanic culture, but she would use English words to teach (the students) music,鈥� her son, Patrick Bernal, told the San Antonio Express-News. 鈥淪o she wasn鈥檛 allowed to use Spanish. But she could relate to them in the form of music.鈥�

Bernal died of natural causes at her home on March 10. 

While pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music at Our Lady of the Lake College, she met her future husband, Joe Bernal (MEd 1954). As a state Senator, Joe authored the first Texas bilingual education act in 1969.

鈥淚n every step of the way, there were people who tried to stop it,鈥� he once told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 鈥淵ou could be spanked or taken out of the classroom for speaking in Spanish.鈥� 

Mary Esther served two terms on the SAISD Board of Trustees. She received numerous honors for her work as an educator and civic leader, including: induction into the San Antonio Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame and the National Hispanic Heritage Hall of Honor.