This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here.
When Ms. Jimenez steps into her Spanish classroom at Soquel High School, she does more than just teach a language — she builds bridges between cultures. Having immigrated from El Salvador at the age of 15, she understands personally the struggles that students face of not feeling like they belong. It was the support of one caring teacher that changed the course of her life, inspiring her to become an educator herself. Now, through her teaching and the creation of a multicultural club, she dedicates her life to ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and valued.
At 15, Ms. Jimenez arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador. She struggled to learn a new language and culture. Ms. Jimenez didn’t know much about the American school system, but one teacher guided her through it. Ms. Jimenez said “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my one ELD teacher who helped me when I felt lost,” she says. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in education, to be able to help her students just like she was helped. She has now been a teacher for almost 31 years.
As a teacher, Ms. Jimenez saw that many students, particularly Latino boys, were getting pulled into gang activity due to a lack of guidance and support. Determined to make a difference, she started a small club aimed at giving them a positive outlet. “At first, it was just for boys — so many were at risk of going down the wrong path, and I wanted to give them a safe space,” she recalls. Over time, this club grew into the Multicultural Club, a place where all students could come together to celebrate and learn about different cultures. For 11 years, Ms. Jimenez and the multicultural club have organized a multicultural graduation where students earn their Seal of Biliteracy and receive recognition through AVID, a program for students to take to help them throughout their career as students. This celebration has become a beautiful celebration of diversity and academic achievement that unites our community.
For Ms. Jimenez, teaching Spanish is more than just conjugating verbs; it’s about understanding and appreciating different ways of life. “I want my students to see that language and culture go hand in hand. We live in a diverse world, and understanding each other’s different backgrounds is so important,” she explains.
One of her former students and last year’s Multicultural president, Hannah, shared how Ms. Jimenez’s club and Spanish class helped her in so many ways. “Having the ability to be confident in all aspects of the Spanish language also meant being able to connect better with my Mexican family,” she said. “And as for the Multicultural Club, being such a big part of it taught me valuable life skills such as leadership. Through having known Ms. Jimenez since my sophomore year, I was able to witness multiple times how she transformed students’ lives.” In my personal experience, I can say that I have also seen the amazing class environment Ms. Jimenez brings her students. When I was going through a hard time, Ms. Jimenez would always make me feel seen by asking how I was constantly, and even now when I don’t have her as a teacher she shows me kindness every time I encounter her. After just a semester in her class, my Spanish had improved immensely and I could have in-depth conversations in Spanish with family and friends like never before.
Ms. Jimenez’s efforts have created a ripple effect in the Soquel High School community. Her club has helped students build friendships, and her mentorship has guided many away from negative influences.
In every community, there are unsung heroes. People who dedicate themselves to making a difference without seeking recognition. Ms. Jimenez is one of those people. Through her teaching and community work, she is not just educating students; she is shaping futures.
Ms. Jimenez’s journey from a struggling immigrant student to an amazing proactive teacher is the result of the power of education and community. She reminds us all that one person’s kindness can change the course of someone’s life. Her story and her current actions encourage us to recognize the teachers and mentors who work tirelessly to pave the way for us to have a successful future.