Full Circle from Student to Staff Member

Former Izzi (then-IHSD) Head Start student Denise Cifuentes shares how she has come full circle now as Izzi staff and a career in education. Interview and written by Marketing and Communications Manager, Angel Chang. Photos provided by Denise.

Izzi: Hi! Pleasure to meet you. Why don’t you introduce yourself?

Denise: My name is Denise Cifuentes. I started in August of last year (2021), and I’m a home based visitor [with Izzi Early Education]. I’m fairly new to the program. It's a lot of fun getting to know the different families, and I work along the coastside.

What we do here with Izzi for the kids, I know later on in life it’ll mean something to them, because it did for me.

Izzi: Awesome! So I’m told you’re also a former Izzi (then-IHSD) student too?

Denise: Yea, I was born in Daly City, and I previously attended the center in Serramonte! I was in the half-day program. I still remember lots of it, shockingly. When I started the program, I only spoke Spanish, and there was only one Spanish-speaking teacher there. [Teacher Maria Portillo.] Thanks to her, I started learning English! I appreciate that, because that was my first exposure to English. I remember that school would also have a full-day program, and I would ask my mom why can’t we stay all day. I remember how much fun we would have. I really enjoyed it from what I remember. We were low-income at the time, and we didn’t have very much to do or activities. Preschool was our way to get out of the house.

Izzi: So cool that you were a former student! What is your favorite preschool memory?

Denise: I do remember I had a favorite book at school. [Good night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann] It was about a zookeeper. My mom invited one of my preschool teachers to my birthday party, and the teacher brought me a copy for myself. That was really special for me! I never knew that a book would make somebody so happy. It was such a small gesture, but I carried that book with me everywhere.

What I’m providing them is what once was provided to my family. It’s great to give back to the community.

Izzi: Was there anything else that sticks out?

Denise: I remember playing in the play structure. What I do remember from the classroom is that we built this really big sculpture out of toilet paper rolls and boxes based on a character from Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger. That really stuck with me, because it was something I had never seen before and was so cool.

Izzi: Thanks for sharing, and so how did you come around and have an interest in education as a career?

Denise: I’ve always babysat children and had a gift around children. I have more patience with kids than adults. Kids don’t know anything, and adults should know better! (Laughs) I’ve always enjoyed working with kids. I’m taking classes to see if I want to become a teacher. I’m still deciding and seeing where this journey goes.

Izzi: How do you feel about the work you’re doing now in early education?

Denise: I do feel the work I do as a home based visitor is really important, especially at this age. There are kids that I work with that have delays in speech and motor skills. The activities that we bring to them are really important to helping them develop. Some parents don’t have that knowledge or experience to expose their children to these types of activities. I work along the coastside and most of them are Hispanic and don’t speak any English. What I’m providing them is what once was provided to my family. It’s great to give back to the community.

Izzi: What does your day look like as a home based visitor?

Denise: I have to plan out my week and find different activities and resources for the families. So what a day will look like for me starts out with going to the office. Printing out information and handouts from our Parents as Teachers curriculum that we use. We start off a home visit by reading a book together, which is parent led. I’m just there as a guide for the family. Then, we’ll get into an activity, which is different every single week. Then, we’ll go over additional resources that Izzi might provide or that I look up for the family before the meeting ends. I have about 2 or 3 of these home visits each day and return back to our home based office to fill out paperwork. Then it’s the same thing with different families the next day.

Izzi: Thank you for what you do! Love that your story has come full circle. And so what would you say to your preschool teacher if you saw her today?

Denise: I would thank her for everything that she did. I was able to learn English before I went into Kindergarten, because I wouldn't have if I just stayed at home. What she did, she may not have taken into consideration how much of a big impact she would’ve made, but here I am. 21 years old, and I remember who she was and what she did for us. Now that I’m working with the families, I see how important early education is to the community, especially because I work with families that are low-income. Teachers are the foundation of our society. It if wasn’t for teachers, most people wouldn’t be where they are later in life. What we do here with Izzi for the kids, I know later on in life it’ll mean something to them, because it did for me.

Thank you Denise for taking the time to share your story with us!