For Maribel Verduzco, serving students at Sierra Vista Middle School is more than a career; it is a full-circle journey rooted in community, purpose, and pride. Verduzco is one of the 6th–8th grade school counselors at Sierra Vista Middle School, and a Baldwin Park native who once walked the same hallways as a student. A graduate of Elwin Elementary, Sierra Vista Middle School, and Sierra Vista High School, she proudly calls herself a Don and a Matador — and now, a mentor to the next generation.
Verduzco earned her master’s degree in Educational Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from Azusa Pacific University and her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Cal State Los Angeles. She is currently in her 17th year at Sierra Vista Middle School “Sierra Vista Middle School is my alma mater,” Verduzco said. “I love this community and enjoy being part of such a wonderful team of students, parents, administrators, teachers, and staff. Working with this age group of students is what I enjoy most.”
After graduating from Sierra Vista High School, Verduzco initially pursued a successful career in fashion merchandising and marketing, a dream that brought exciting opportunities, travel, and professional growth. Yet even as her career flourished, she felt a strong pull back to education and youth advocacy.
This passion was solidified during her high school years, when a counselor made a life-changing impact. “My counselor, Ms. Carolyn Dunn, helped me explore all my career options,” Verduzco said. “She never gave up on me; she made sure I completed my college applications and even paid the application fee. I will never forget what she did for me, because of her, I am where I am today, and I was one of the first in my family to pursue college and higher education. I am grateful that I was able to thank her after my career took off.”
“My first career in Fashion Merchandising was amazing and fun, but this is my true calling,” she said. “Education never left my sight, and I knew I wanted to give back to the community that I grew up in.” That return felt destined. Verduzco completed her internship and counseling hours in Baldwin Park, which ultimately led to her current role at Sierra Vista Middle School.
Today, Verduzco supports students through drop-in visits, scheduled meetings, academic planning, social-emotional guidance, and sometimes simply being a listening ear. “I want to inspire and empower every student to take control of their education and their social-emotional well-being,” she said. “So they can achieve their personal best.”
She has witnessed firsthand how school counseling has evolved, especially in the years following the pandemic, “We used to focus about 80 percent on academics and 20 percent on social-emotional support,” Verduzco said. “Now, it’s the complete opposite.”
Counseling today includes a broader, more holistic approach, encompassing mental health, confidence-building, conflict resolution, communication skills, and all through close collaboration with psychologists, teachers, administrators, and families.
Verduzco credits much of Sierra Vista’s recent success to teamwork and trust across the campus. During the first semester of the 2025 school year, Sierra Vista Middle School celebrated its most successful semester ever, with the highest number of honor roll, principal’s honor roll, achievement awards, and GPA recognitions — totaling more than 400 students.
“It’s a group effort,” she said. “Our leadership and staff trust the counseling team to do what we do best, and that makes all the difference.”
She also points to expanded after-school clubs and extracurricular programs as a major factor in student connection and success. From knitting and the arts to gaming, book clubs, ASB, faith-based groups, and many more, these opportunities are helping students build a sense of belonging and healthy peer relationships. “When students feel connected, they thrive,” Verduzco said.
Looking ahead, Verduzco is focused on strengthening the transition from elementary to middle school. She is already preparing collaborations with Tracy Elementary School and De Anza Elementary to better prepare incoming sixth-graders.
Counselors across the district have noted a growing need for confidence-building and social-emotional skill development as students move from fifth to sixth grade, areas closely tied to academic success. “My goal is to build opportunities before students even step on campus,” she said. “Workshops, series, or engaging experiences that build awareness, confidence, resilience, and expectations.”
Despite the challenges, Verduzco remains deeply optimistic. “Our students are incredibly bright,” she said. “This work fuels me because I had a counselor who never gave up on me — and I’m determined to do the same.”
Outside of school, Verduzco treasures time with her family, many of whom still reside in Baldwin Park. When she’s not counseling students, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, traveling, and visiting Disneyland.
For Verduzco, being a hometown hero isn’t about recognition. It’s about purpose, persistence, and guiding students forward — just as someone once did for her.
Photos
Sierra Vista Middle School Counselor Maribel Verduzco in her office, 2026
Counselor Maribel Verduzco takes a group photo with Sierra Vista Middle School students, 2026
Left to right: Sierra Vista Middle School Counselors Martin Palacios and Maribel Verduzco take a group photo with a recognition banner.
Left to right: Sierra Vista Middle School Counselors Martin Palacios and Maribel Verduzco snap a photo together.