FH Volunteer Spotlight- America Jimenez

By Deepika Gajaria

 

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved with volunteering at FH?

A: I’m a banker by profession, but during the pandemic I decided to leave my job/career because life felt so uncertain at the time. Looking back, it was honestly the BEST decision I could have made for my family. I went from spending just a few hours a day with my son to spending all day with him. I got to create experiences for him, teach him at home, and watch his creativity and curiosity bloom right in front of me.

When he started kindergarten, I knew I wanted to stay involved at school, so I began working as an office substitute for the district and also became a yard duty. I loved getting to know the kids, seeing their friendships, personalities, and little playground dramas unfold in real time. Somehow I became one of their “trusted adults,” and I genuinely loved helping them navigate problems during recess — whether it was a friendship issue, missing jackets, or the very serious business of whose turn it was on the tricycle.

Q: Of all the roles you’ve taken on—Project Cornerstone, Staff Appreciation, Walk-a-Thon—which one felt the most “you,” and why?
A: Honestly… all of them feel very “me” in different ways.Project Cornerstone is special to me because it teaches such valuable lessons to our kids. Whenever my son went through a phase or challenge I didn’t quite know how to handle, I always turned to books. Somehow there was always a story that helped us work through it together, so I love being part of a program that gives kids those same lessons and tools.

Staff Appreciation is also incredibly important to me because I truly value every single person who works at our school. Having worked on campus in different roles myself, I’ve seen firsthand how much patience, energy, and heart it takes every day. My goal is simply to help staff feel appreciated and seen — because they deserve it.

And the Walk-a-Thon definitely became “my baby.” I saw it as an opportunity for students, families, and staff to come together, have fun, build community, and raise money for our school at the same time. I took it on last year, and now I’m constantly thinking of ways to make it bigger, better, more fun, and maybe just a tiny bit less stressful each year.

Q: You’ve seen the school from every angle. What is one thing about our community that you wish every parent knew?
A: I wish every parent knew how meaningful family involvement is to our school and for our kids. I know not everyone has the time to volunteer regularly, and that’s completely understandable. But even helping once in a while with a classroom party, event setup, or small task really does make a difference. Schools run on community support, and kids absolutely notice when their families show up in even the smallest ways.

Q: Staff appreciation is such a huge part of what you do. If you could give every teacher one “magic power” to make their day easier, what would it be?
Hmm… probably the power to easily read their students’ feelings. I think a lot of times kids “act up” because they’re carrying big feelings they don’t quite know how to express yet. With so many students in one classroom, it would be amazing if teachers could instantly know who needed encouragement, who needed space, or who just needed a snack and a hug.

Q: Yard Duty Reality Check: What’s the most creative excuse a student has ever given you for why they were running when they should have been walking?
I honestly wish they gave more creative excuses — at least then I’d get a good laugh out of it. Most of the time they’re completely honest:
“I have to get a ball before they're all taken!”
or “It’s pizza day and I need to get a pepperoni slice before they run out!” Honesty, fair enough but SLOW DOWN. :)


Rapid Fire:

  • Coffee or Tea to survive a 7:00 AM meeting?
    COFFEE. No hesitation.

  • Whistle or “Teacher Voice” for getting attention on the yard?
    Usually the teacher's voice. The whistle only comes out for true emergencies… or if someone thinks climbing a fence is a good idea.

  • Spirit Wear or “Incognito Mode” when you’re just dropping off a forgotten lunch?
    Spirit wear! The front office loves school spirit!