In honor of Alisal’s 60th Anniversary, this is the second in an ongoing series of staff/alumni profiles.

Returning to teach at the school you once walked through as a teenager isn’t something everyone gets to experience. But for Valeria Marquez, one of Alisal’s science teachers and a proud alumni, coming back felt like coming home. 

A graduate of class of 2012, she spent all four years at Alisal involved in campus life. “I did basketball and softball all four years… and I was also part of AVID all four years,” she said. Being a student here shaped her in ways she still carries today. “For me, the strong sense of community… The teachers were really supportive and I just made a lot of good memories with my friends,” she said

After high school, she attended UC Davis for four and a half years and earned a degree in Psychology, with an emphasis in biology. But becoming a teacher wasn’t always her plan. “I actually went into college as premed,” she said. “But after my first two years taking those classes and working, and volunteering at a hospital, I decided it wasn’t for me.”

Everything changed during her third year, when she started volunteering at a high school. “I really enjoyed working with students… so I was like, wait, maybe I should become a teacher instead.”

Even while exploring new paths, one thing stayed the same, she knew she wanted to return to Salinas and to Alisal in particular. “It just feels like home… I wanted to give back to my community because they helped shape who I was”

Now, years later, she works alongside teachers who once taught her. “It felt a little strange at first, but I thought it was really cool,” she said. “They’ve been really supportive.”

Being back on campus, she’s noticed that while some things have changed, but much has stayed the same. Technology is the biggest shift, “We didn’t have chromebooks, everything was paper and notebooks. But the heart of Alisal has stayed consistent. “The school spirit is the same… and the teachers’ dedication is the same. Teachers are still supporting their students the same way.”

As a student, she described herself as “super studious.” With strict parents and expectations of good grades, she pushed herself, graduating in the top ten of her class with above a 4.0. But she wasn’t just academic, she was a true student-athlete, balancing sports and school all four years. She explained that juggling both taught her “a lot about discipline and time management,” remembering days when she’d sit on the bleachers during away games trying to finish homework or study for a test, and nights when she came home from long practices only to start hours of schoolwork. Being surrounded by teammates who were equally focused on their academics kept her accountable, and learning to prioritize and stay organized shaped the strong work ethic and resilience she carries into her classroom today.

One of her favorite memories as a student still stands out clearly, it was her junior year AVID trip to southern California. “We went to a Dodgers game, visited UCLA and UC Riverside, and went to the pier,” she said. “It was one of my best memories because I got to do this overnight trip with my best friends.”

Her teaching journey has had its own defining moments, especially her first year in 2019. “COVID happened… I only got to be with them for half the school year,” she said. “That year really impacted me. That class was special to me.”

Inside her classroom today, she finds joy in creating hands on experiences. One unforgettable moment each year is the flame test lab. “All students enjoy it. It’s nice to see them interested in science,” she said. “Their curiosity and excitement make it unforgettable”

The advice she gives her students is simple but powerful, Advocate for yourself. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions… If you need help, go reach out. You’re not alone”

To her, Alisal’s community remains unlike any other. “It feels like home… a lot of alumni work here, it feels like a family.”

Being part of that family again means everything to her. “It’s really special that I’m back where I grew up. Alisal shaped me.”

Looking toward the future, she hopes to inspire her students the way her teachers inspired her. “I hope my students reach their goals and dreams,” she said. She also hopes the new generation remembers their roots. “I hope students don’t lose where they came from.”

In her classroom and in her students’ behavior, she sees Alisal’s values alive and well. “My students are really respectful… subs always want to come teach here because the students are so good.”

For her, coming back isn’t just a job, it’s a full circle moment. A chance to teach where she once learned, and to give back to the community that shaped her.