Diego has been recently fired from Valley View middle school because he “wasn’t a good fit”. As a student that attended Valley View Middle School, Diego was one of the best faculty members we could of asked for. He encouraged us to do good and give us good advice. We felt like diego really treated us fairly and the same as everyone else. Most of the staff at Valley View Middle School would treat us differently and segregate us from the “white” students and it was very uncomfortable for all of us. A lot of the teachers made us feel like we weren’t meant to be there. As a poc we didn’t really feel like we fit in. Diego helped us in a predominantly white-suburban school. We felt like we could never connect with the “white” teachers on an emotional level. We never felt safe and welcomed in this community, we always felt like outsiders and continue to feel this way. Diego really had an impact on us and made us feel safe and want to come to school everyday. Diego as a person who came from a diversified background just like us. Allowed us to open up to him on a different level and relate to him different from the “white” teachers.  I hope Diego is brought back because it won’t feel the same without him.