Braulio Alonso
teacher
- December 16, 1916 · Ybor City
- June 5, 2010
- 93 years
About Braulio Alonso
Braulio Alonso, 93, American educator.
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Full Biography
|Braulio Alonso (December 16, 1916 – June 5, 2010) was an American high school and junior high school teacher and principal. He served as the first Hispanic president of the National Education Association.
Early life
Alonso was born in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida on December 16, 1916. His parents were both cigar makers in Ybor City and members of the Centro Asturiano social club. His first language was Spanish.
Braulio went to work at the age of 10 in order to help support his family. He graduated from Hillsborough High School as valedictorian in 1935. He graduated from the University of Tampa, also as valedictorian, in 1939.
Braulio married Adelfa (Bebe) Diaz, an elementary school educator, in August 1941. They had two children.
Military service
Braulio entered the US Army in October 1941. He entered as a private and was immediately sent to Officer Candidate School. Dr. Alonso served with the 85th infantry Division in North Africa and the Italian Campaign as Battery Commander in the 328th Artillery Battalion. He was in the first group of allied officers to enter Rome. Major Alonso was discharged in November 1945. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart with Cluster.
Career in education
Alonso began his teaching career as a chemistry and physics teacher at Henry B. Plant High School before the war. After the war, Alonso returned to public education as director of Adult Education and On the Job Training for Veterans. He pioneered the present-day Adult High School. He served as Director of this office from 1946 to 1953. During the summers he attended the University of Florida where he earned a Master's and Ph.D. At the time, he was providing also for the college education of his two sisters, as well as supporting his family.
His next assignments were as principal of West Tampa Junior High School (1952–1958), Jefferson High School (1958–1962) and C. Leon King High School (1962–1968). All three schools grew in excellence under his tenure.
One of Alonso's lifelong passions had been to improve the schools and champion the teachers. In pursuit of that mission, he served as president of the Hillsborough Education Association (1951–1956) and then as President of the Florida Education Association in 1957. He was especially proud of his role as one of the educators who contributed toward desegregating the FEA.
Braulio was elected president of the National Education Association and took office in July 1967. In 1968 masses of Florida teachers resigned in protest over budget cuts. Braulio ended his teaching career by resigning as principal of King High School in solidarity with the teachers. The county refused to rehire him after the protest. Braulio later became the NEA's director of international relations and traveled the world representing the NEA. He retired his post at the NEA in 1983.
In 2001, Braulio Alonso High School was opened in honor of Dr. Alonso.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
16 Verified Trivia Questions About Braulio Alonso
Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Braulio Alonso's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.
1.In what year did Braulio Alonso retire from his post at the National Education Association?
- A.2001
- B.1983Correct
- C.1975
- D.1968
Braulio Alonso retired his post at the NEA in 1983.
Source: Career in education section
2.When did Braulio Alonso pass away?
- A.August 12, 1999
- B.July 4, 2005
- C.December 16, 2001
- D.June 5, 2010Correct
Braulio Alonso died on June 5, 2010.
Source: Introduction
3.What school was named in honor of Braulio Alonso in 2001?
- A.Braulio Alonso Technical College
- B.Braulio Alonso Middle School
- C.Braulio Alonso Elementary School
- D.Braulio Alonso High SchoolCorrect
In 2001, Braulio Alonso High School was opened in honor of Dr. Alonso.
Source: Career in education section
4.Why did Braulio Alonso resign as the principal of C. Leon King High School in 1968?
- A.He resigned in solidarity with teachers protesting budget cuts.Correct
- B.He was offered a position with the federal government.
- C.He retired due to health issues.
- D.He was fired by the county school board.
Braulio Alonso resigned as principal of King High School in 1968 in solidarity with teachers protesting budget cuts.
Source: Career in education section
5.After resigning from his principalship, what role did Braulio Alonso take within the NEA?
- A.President of the Teachers' Union
- B.Director of International RelationsCorrect
- C.Director of Adult Education
- D.Lobbyist for Florida Schools
Braulio Alonso became the NEA's director of international relations after leaving his principal position.
Source: Career in education section
6.In what city was Braulio Alonso born?
- A.Miami, Florida
- B.Jacksonville, Florida
- C.Orlando, Florida
- D.Tampa, FloridaCorrect
Braulio Alonso was born in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida on December 16, 1916.
Source: Early life section
7.What was the occupation of Braulio Alonso's parents?
- A.Cigar makersCorrect
- B.Military officers
- C.University professors
- D.School teachers
Braulio Alonso's parents were both cigar makers in Ybor City.
Source: Early life section
8.In what year did Braulio Alonso graduate from Hillsborough High School?
- A.1935Correct
- B.1939
- C.1941
- D.1930
Braulio Alonso graduated from Hillsborough High School as valedictorian in 1935.
Source: Early life section
9.What was Braulio Alonso's first language?
- A.Italian
- B.SpanishCorrect
- C.English
- D.French
Braulio Alonso's first language was Spanish.
Source: Early life section
10.Braulio Alonso served as a Battery Commander in which military unit during World War II?
- A.101st Airborne Division
- B.85th Infantry Division
- C.42nd Tank Battalion
- D.328th Artillery BattalionCorrect
Braulio Alonso served as Battery Commander in the 328th Artillery Battalion.
Source: Military service section
11.Which military awards did Braulio Alonso receive?
- A.Medal of Honor and Silver Star
- B.Purple Heart and Legion of Merit
- C.Distinguished Service Cross and Bronze Star
- D.Bronze Star and Purple Heart with ClusterCorrect
Braulio Alonso received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart with Cluster.
Source: Military service section
12.At which institution did Braulio Alonso earn his Master's and Ph.D. degrees?
- A.University of Miami
- B.University of FloridaCorrect
- C.University of Tampa
- D.Florida State University
Braulio Alonso earned a Master's and Ph.D. during the summers at the University of Florida.
Source: Career in education section
13.Before serving as a principal, what subjects did Braulio Alonso teach at Henry B. Plant High School?
- A.English and Spanish
- B.Biology and Mathematics
- C.Mathematics and History
- D.Chemistry and PhysicsCorrect
Braulio Alonso began his teaching career as a chemistry and physics teacher at Henry B. Plant High School.
Source: Career in education section
14.Braulio Alonso served as principal of which junior high school?
- A.West Tampa Junior High SchoolCorrect
- B.East Tampa Junior High School
- C.South Tampa Junior High School
- D.North Tampa Junior High School
Braulio Alonso served as principal of West Tampa Junior High School from 1952 to 1958.
Source: Career in education section
15.Braulio Alonso held the position of president of which state-level education association in 1957?
- A.Tampa Teachers Union
- B.Florida Education AssociationCorrect
- C.National Education Association
- D.Hillsborough Education Association
Braulio Alonso served as President of the Florida Education Association in 1957.
Source: Career in education section
16.What historic milestone did Braulio Alonso achieve as a leader of the National Education Association?
- A.He founded the organization's international branch.
- B.He was the first Hispanic president of the organization.Correct
- C.He served the longest term in the organization's history.
- D.He was the first principal to ever hold the office.
Braulio Alonso served as the first Hispanic president of the National Education Association.
Source: Introduction
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braulio_Alonso
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
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