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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMr. Richard Carranza, Pueblo High School\u2019s principal from 2002 to 2004, visited his alma mater on Tuesday, Aug. 29, spending most of the morning with current mariachi teacher Mr. John Contreras and mariachi students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carranza graduated from PHS in 1984 and returned to Pueblo, becoming a social studies and mariachi teacher for many years before becoming an administrator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love Pueblo,\u201d Carranza said, \u201cand I\u2019m glad to be back to visit. I grew up a few blocks from Pueblo, so this wonderful place has always been my second home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Few know that Carranza created PHS\u2019s mariachi program\u2014at first, with just a few students and then dozens by the time he transitioned to administration, \u201cgraciously\u201d leaving his mariachi program to Contreras, one of Carranza\u2019s guitar students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI came up with the name \u2018Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School\u2019,\u201d Carranza said. \u201cBefore Southern Arizona became part of the United States, this region was known as \u2018Aztlan\u2019, so it made sense to name our mariachi group in honor of its original regional name. One of my colleagues, Ms. Estrella Gonzalez, agreed that would be a great name for PHS\u2019s mariachi program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[In 1853, the United States purchased more than 30,000 square miles from Mexico, courtesy of U.S. diplomat James Gadsden, to ensure a safe southern railroad path across Arizona to the Pacific Coast in California.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his visit to Pueblo, Carranza was interviewed by Ms. Sarah Wilson\u2019s radio students<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n