Andrea Diaz: 'They instilled that work ethic in me'
Andrea Diaz
School Social Worker | Seaside Middle School
Middle School McKinney-Vento and Foster Youth Liaison | MPUSD
Seaside Middle School’s Andrea Diaz has spent the last three years playing a crucial role as the school’s social worker, and the district’s middle school McKinney-Vento and foster youth liaison. In her role, she creates a safe space for students and their families, and provides unwavering support to students facing mental health concerns, food insecurity, or job instability.
"I love what I do. I wake up looking forward to coming to work everyday and I’ve never had a job where I've experienced that," she says.
Growing up, Andrea has lived hardships that mirror what she sees in her students, and she says “It’s a really big blessing to be able to give somebody the support that I didn’t have at my age. I truly believe education and self advocacy, like empowering people, helps them get through the hardest times of their lives. I definitely got that from my parents. They instilled that work ethic in me and that love and passion for helping and supporting others.”
Andrea was born and raised in neighboring Castroville. Both of her parents immigrated to the United States and are hard-working migrant farmers. She earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Fresno State, and pursued a master's degree at California State University Monterey Bay. She has a four-year-old son, and says, “Becoming a parent has helped me do my job even better.”
Andrea emphasizes the unique challenges and rewards of delving into the real-life situations that middle school students navigate. Building connections with students and families has become deeply personal for her, allowing her to build and maintain strong relationships. “We come onto the campus and see these kiddos walking around and it's a very different experience when you get to know somebody, their family, and their living situation,” she says. “No matter how big or small the problem is, it’s very important to have that trust to build and have a comforting space where people can come in and express their struggles and not be judged for it.”
No day looks the same for Andrea. On Monday she may be providing mental health therapy services for a small group of students or on Tuesday she is helping a parent find a place to stay for the night and another parent preparing for a job interview; and beyond that she is helping parents build their self advocacy skills to they can speak up for themselves and access the resources they need.
Outside of work, Andrea is active in her community and belongs to an old car club. She and her partner enjoy spending time together with family, friends, and her four-year old son.