Brimming with excitement to get to know students, Millie Delgado Gonzalez stepped foot into SHS six years after graduating.
When she graduated in 2017, the population of EL students wasn’t nearly as large as it is now. Coming back, Delgado felt overwhelmed by how heavily populated the Spanish-speaking community had become.
As she pursued a new role as a Spanish interpreter, Delgado hoped to help students and bring a sense of inclusivity despite the language barrier that might have been limiting.
However, after about a year of being an interpreter, Delgado has now stepped into the new and different environment of being a teacher.
“I felt really proud of myself and excited,” Delgado said. “But then also nervous because it’s very different environments.”
After a teacher and close friend of hers left her position, a teaching role opened up, and Delgado took the chance. Now, she is figuring out how to be a better teacher for her students and hoping to get them to engage and voice their opinions.
Delgado’s initial position at SHS was as a Spanish tutor interpreter beginning in March of 2023.
When Delgado needed a stable job for her daughter’s school and schedule that year, Delgado applied for the open interpreter position after a good friend of hers reached out.
From a young age, Delgado had to translate for her friends and parents. She wanted to become an interpreter because she wanted Spanish-speaking students to have someone that they could relate to.
“I wanted to build a community here within our Hispanic population,” Delgado said. “And I wanted them to have someone who was watching out for them and making sure they were submitting assignments, taking tests, taking quizzes, like just doing the work, despite the language barrier.”
Delgado’s time at SHS as an interpreter was enjoyable for her.
She was also an assistant coach of the SHS girls soccer team, where she made close connections with students.
Sophomore Erika Torres, a soccer player for the team, is one student close to Delgado who feels proud of Delgado teaching.
“She deserves it,” Torres said.
Spanish-speaking students felt comfortable with Delgado because she kept them on task, had fun with them and talked to them as people, not just as students.
Junior Reymundo Abarca, a student Delgado interpreted for, says Delgado has stayed consistent with her helpful character now that she’s a teacher.
“I don’t think she’s changed anything besides the way she teaches now that she’s a teacher,” Abarca said. “But she remains the kind teacher.”
When a new position opened up in SHS, Delgado thought she was capable of doing it and had all the abilities to do the job.
The teacher Delgado replaced this year was her good friend Emily Chambers.
Delgado says when Chambers found out she was leaving, she talked to Delgado about the opportunity and encouraged her to apply.
“She helped me realize that, ‘Oh, I could do this,’” Delgado said.
After having conversations with various people, she applied for the position and went through the process of transitioning into teaching.
Delgado is grateful for this opportunity. She has always wanted to teach in a capacity.
Now, Delgado is a teacher for the subjects Understanding Diversity and Relationships and Emotions.
Delgado is adjusting to this new career path with a lot of support from her co-workers. Anytime she has an issue or question, she asks them for help.
Delgado also sees a future in continuing to be a teacher.
“I definitely do think that I will continue on this career path,” Delgado said. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.”
From being a student at SHS, Delgado now stands as a teacher in the same building, learning how to become a better teacher for her students.
