Veronica Arroyo is a paraeducator and social worker who dedicates her work to helping students feel supported, understood, and valued. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she comes from Dominican parents. Her background and life experiences have shaped her passion for helping young people and giving them the encouragement they need to succeed.
At school, Arroyo works as a paraeducator and assistant teacher for U.S. History classes. In this role, she helps students stay on track academically while also offering emotional support when they need it.
Although her current position focuses on assisting teachers and supporting students in the classroom, she said that if she were a teacher herself, she would teach cooking. Cooking is something she enjoys because it brings people together and allows creativity, culture, and learning to combine in a meaningful way.
One of Arroyo’s favorite parts about working at the school is the opportunity to connect with students who may feel overlooked by others. She believes every student deserves attention, patience and someone who believes in them. She said she enjoys building relationships with students that other people may not take the time to connect with. For Arroyo, these relationships are often the most meaningful part of her work because they allow her to make a real difference in a student’s life. “Whenever I go to Ms. A’s room with my friends, we always have such a fun time, and we always know we have a staff member to turn to for anything,” senior Kirsten Sinkler said.
Her personal mission is reflected in one of her favorite sayings: “I’m trying to save the world one youth at a time.” This quote captures how seriously she takes her role in supporting students. Arroyo believes that helping even one young person grow, gain confidence or make better decisions can create a ripple effect that improves the world around them.
Arroyo said that she chose to become a social worker because helping people has always been important to her. She finds fulfillment in ending her day knowing that she made a positive impact on someone else’s life. Sometimes that difference might be helping a student solve a problem, offering advice or simply listening when someone needs to talk. “Ms. Arroyo is someone you can always talk to. She actually listens and tries to help you figure things out instead of just judging you; she is a real safe space,” junior Ava Nieto said.
She also emphasizes that her work is not about money. Instead, it is about the feeling she gets when someone says “thank you,” and she knows she helped them. Those moments remind her why she chose this career path in the first place.
Another message Arroyo often shares with her students is, “Don’t let other people dim your light.” She encourages young people to believe in themselves and not allow negativity from others to stop them from reaching their goals. Her advice reflects her belief that everyone has potential and deserves the opportunity to succeed.
Through her work as a paraeducator and social worker, Arroyo continues to inspire and support students every day. Whether she is helping them in the classroom, offering guidance, or simply being someone students can trust, she remains committed to making a difference – one student at a time.
