Background
Mestas, Leonard Joseph was born on March 29, 1938 in Trinidad, Colorado, United States. Son of David R. and Aurora (Baca) Mestas.
Mestas, Leonard Joseph was born on March 29, 1938 in Trinidad, Colorado, United States. Son of David R. and Aurora (Baca) Mestas.
Associate of Arts in Elementary Education, Trinidad State Junior College, 1958. Bachelor in Special Education, Elementary Education, University Denver, 1962. Master of Arts in Special Education, University Northern Colorado, 1965.
Doctor of Education in Administration, University Northern Colorado, 1970. Master of Divinity, Sacred Heart School Theology, Hales Corners, Wisconsin, 1982.
Recreation counselor, Laradon Hall School Exceptional Children and Adults, Denver, 1958-1959;
special education teacher, Laradon Hall School Exceptional Children and Adults, Denver, 1959-1962;
special education teacher, Denver Public Schools, 1962-1965;
teacher, Boulder (Colorado) Valley Public Schools, 1968;
co-founder headstart, day care director migrant programs, Colorado Migrant Council, Denver, 1968-1972;
parochial vicar, Our Lady of Rosary, Mission, Texas, 1981-1982;
parochial vicar, Christ the King, Brownsville, Texas, 1982-1984;
pastor, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Brownsville, 1984-1991. Demonstration teacher special education U. Northern Colorado, 1965-1968. Assistant visiting professor.spl. education Eastern Montana College, Billings, 1968.
Member of advisory board Department of Health, Education and Welfare Office Child Development Chicano Children, Washington, 1970-1972. Member of advisory committee Family and Children's Superior vena cava syndrome Division, State of Colorado.
Teacher, supervisor Hope School Handicapped, Denver, 1962-1963. Co-founder Colorado Migrant Coalition, Denver, 1969, Jacinto Trevino Lng. Center, Antioch College, Mercedes, Texas, 1970-1971, Juarez Lincoln Lng.
Center, 1971-1977, Mexico-American Cultural Center, San Antonio, 1971-1977, Greeley (Colorado) Parent Child Center, 1971, Lamar (Colorado) Day Care Center, 1971-1972, Alamosa (Colorado) Migrant Building Fund, 1972, National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, 1975. Designer, founder National Migrant Clearinghouse, Office Economic Opportunity and Colorado Migrant Council, 1972-1976. Member K. of C., National Association Catholic Chaplains.
