Staff Spotlight: Rachel Muñoz Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

This week, Vallejo City Unified School District's Hispanic Heritage Month spotlight series features Rachel Muñoz, a positive behavior interventions and supports specialist. Muñoz said one of her favorite parts of the job is building positive relationships with students and helping them grow socially and emotionally. She enjoys teaching students to be safe, kind, respectful, and responsible, celebrating their successes, and helping create a school where every child feels supported, included, and valued.

Muñoz's family is from Mexico. Her father is from Jalisco and her mother is from Michoacán, and she cherishes and celebrates both sets of roots. From the music and food to the way families come together, she loves every part of the culture, especially how united and proud its people are. For Muñoz, "Unidos, somos más" means that when people come together and support one another, they are stronger. "Being united gives us the strength to overcome challenges and accomplish more together," she said.

At home, Muñoz mostly speaks Spanish, which she sees as an important part of her identity. She wants to keep passing the language and culture down through her family so they remain bilingual and connected to their heritage. When asked what destination in her family's home country she wishes everyone could experience, she pointed to Teotihuacán in Mexico City. Muñoz has not visited yet, but she hopes to soon and looks forward to learning more about Mexico's history and culture.

Growing up, Muñoz's biggest role model was her father. When something feels too difficult or impossible, she thinks of everything he accomplished. He taught her that being a little girl did not mean she couldn't do something, and he reminded her that if she didn't know how to do something, she could always learn.

Her father's example, along with her mother's, shaped her path in education. Muñoz saw the sacrifices her parents made and the challenges they faced while building a life in a new country. Watching her mother learn a new language and navigate those struggles made her want to help families who have unanswered questions or concerns. Her mother never gave up and made sure the kids stayed on track with school, and her father encouraged her to complete her education because he did not have the same opportunities. Her older sister, the first in the family to attend college, encouraged her as well. Today, Muñoz said, she wants to be that person for students and families, so they feel supported, valued, and understood, especially when facing barriers.

Muñoz's advice for VCUSD students this year is to never think they cannot accomplish something or change the direction of their day. There have been a lot of changes, she said, and sometimes changes happen for a reason. "Keep your head up, stay positive, and keep moving forward."

Her favorite family tradition is simply gathering together. The food, conversation, and laughter make her feel complete, and she is proud to carry that sense of family and unity forward. Muñoz said she wishes more people understood how beautiful and meaningful her culture's traditions are, and how much history, love, and pride are behind them. Family, unity, respect, hard work, and taking care of one another are values she hopes the next generation will carry on.