WEGO alumni Cristina Espino returns as both a club volunteer and special education teacher’s assistant for the 2024/2025 school year. 

Espino is a recent (2022) graduate from West Chicago Community High School who was actively involved on the dance team and Alegria all four years, and returned after graduation as a volunteer for Alegria. She found various interests throughout her high school career- going into cosmetology at Technology Center of DuPage her junior year, and switching to autotech her senior year. 

After graduating high school, Espino got her degree in cosmetology at College of DuPage before hearing about the open position here as a special education teacher’s assistant. The job was part-time, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and she decided to apply. 

“I’ve always loved the community here, so that’s why I came back,” Espino said.

The environment in the building created a welcoming atmosphere for her to try teaching in a familiar place. Being in the building allows for Espino to work with staff and students to try something new, and different from the cosmetology and autotech route. 

“I have found it very nice being able to make connections with the students or just listening to them when they want to talk to you, I have found it really rewarding in its own way,” Espino said.

Although not in the building daily, Espino enjoys the time she spends with the students while she discovers if teaching is what she truly wants to pursue. Currently she enjoys teaching her math and chemistry classes, including with future labs.

“I feel like the teachers that I’ve been with are really helpful, and it’s just been nice being able to work with them,” Espino said.