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Walking into Hug High School each day is not easy, and most people don’t realize the difficulties of working behind the scenes. However, Esther Valdez, our discipline secretary, makes it look effortless. She goes above and beyond to make sure every student’s voice is heard, even if it is one at a time.
Outside of school, Valdez is just as dedicated to her family. She is a proud sports mom who supports her children in various ways, like taking her son to football practice, soccer, basketball—whatever he is in the mood to play.
Esther often goes the extra mile by making support T-shirts, showcasing the same level of commitment she brings to her role at school. Even with a packed school schedule, she has found a way of balancing the chaos of home life and an academic environment. Although it took her a while to adjust, she keeps going by saying that it can be hard, but it’s manageable.
She started this mantra in middle school and because of this, it now plays a huge role in how she motivates students here on campus. Rather than enforcing rules, she makes students feel seen and understood even in the moments when mistakes are made.
Despite the unavoidable challenges and emotions that come with this job, Esther has no regrets, saying, “Actually, what motivates me are the kids.” You can see how she carries that motivation to build connections with students and push them toward becoming successful. Admittedly, she reveals that it can be emotionally challenging when students fail, as it feels like that reflects on her.
Even through these tough moments, Valdez continuously stays true to her values as she doesn’t just surveil behaviors, but invests in every student’s prosperity.
This doesn’t go unnoticed, as Michelle Jimenez, a senior at Hug High School, explained how Valdez is always there in and out of school. For example, she showed up at Hoops for Hope this year and was out repping our school to motivate and give her two cents. Compared to others, this motivation stood out to many students and as Michelle said, “I feel like other staff aren’t willing to do that, so I think that says a lot about her work ethic.”
In the end, Valdez demonstrates her willingness and dedication to go beyond what is expected—always watching, guiding and giving her all to students when they need it most. It is clear that her care and diligence leave a lasting impression.
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