Mr. Areida is a man well known for his lively and positive character. Mr. Areida has been working at Chavez for 10 years, initially he started the role as a history teacher for a semester, then ultimately becoming the student activities director, and Leadership adviser — a role he is immensely proud to claim. 

Believe it or not, Mr. Areida never expected to become a teacher himself. His father was the principal of his elementary school and Mr. Areida stressed education greatly as a kid. He was what most would deem a “bad kid” and would go lengths to avoid being in class. In fact, he was assigned the captain of crossing guard, a position he originally thought was for “good kids.” He then discovered years later that it was quite the opposite. He became a teacher at the age of 42, majoring in Christian education and working in a church. Which was fifteen years prior coming to Chavez. He was first proposed the role of a student activities director at Stagg High School. Mr. Areida soon discovered that he enjoyed collaborating with high school students and has worked with them from there on. Since then, he’s established significant programs such as Giant Step and Point Break from 1998 to now. He is still making big changes until this day and is now impacting other lives. 

Leadership has impacted and became a vast part of Mr. Areida’s life. He advises two classes a day, Student Government and SLC. Which, these two classes together makes up Cesar Chavez Leadership. The enthusiasm of making a difference in the lives of students who attend Chavez make work more of pleasure than an obligation, “high school is tough for some and if I can make another’s experience worth their while when attending our school and helping them grow as people, I have done my job just right.”  Mr. Arieda thinks of his students as a chance to create bonds and change the lives of the adolescents around him. He is the type of guy who wants to make everyone feel special.

Outside of school, Mr. Areida is an extremely proud father of his children. In fact, he recalls that the most memorable memory in his life was the moment they entered into this world. “It sounds dumb,” he jokingly starts off, “but it’s got to be the birth of my kids. It’s something you just don’t forget.” Despite his rather hardy demeanor, he reminisces holding them for the first time and shedding tears of joy. Today, both his son and daughter are currently working as teachers at schools nearby, following his path of pursuing an occupation as a teacher.