Previously published on September 24, 2021
Sioux City, Iowa – Viridiana Curiel admitted it feels strange to be walking through the halls of West Middle School these days.
After all, she was a student at the school there not so long ago, before graduating from West High in 2015.
Now, Curiel is beginning her career as a first-year teacher for the Sioux City Community School District. She will be teaching sixth grade and eighth grade history at East Middle School this year. (The interview for this story was conducted at West Middle.)
It wasn’t quite like coming home for the 24-year-old Briar Cliff University student, but she was seeing plenty of familiar faces.
“When my old teachers see me, they can’t believe I am now an adult,” Curiel said. “Then, it makes them feel old and they think of retiring.”
“Please don’t retire on my account,” she added with a laugh. “I still need you.”
Read the full story by Earl Horlyk in the Sioux City Journal.