Today is Spanish teacher Glenda Hurtado’s last day after 15 years due to being displaced following budget cuts caused by low enrollment. 

“Being handed a letter in the morning of Sept. 18 with no explanation to why I was being let go, and the fact that we [had] low enrollment,” Hurtado said. “Did not add up to what I’ve done, what I’ve created, and the program I have been able to see expand. And so that was very demoralizing to me.”

Hurtado has taught Spanish for 28 years, 15 of which were at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS). Due to the school’s low enrollment, budget and staffing positions were cut. This follows Norm Day, which took place on Sept. 13. During the day, all schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District calculate their enrollment numbers for budget allocation. Hurtado’s position was one of two that were cut. Alongside her was music teacher Wes Hambright, who was reinstated following the Sept. 23 student-organized walkout.

“I’m so proud of my students for stepping up for what they think it’s right,” Hurtado said. “Sadly, it didn’t work to our favor, but I wanted to continue to advocate for what is best for them—to be able to utilize their voices in situations they feel is unjust.” 

Hurtado is one of three founding members who have worked at DPMHS since its split from Birmingham Community Charter High School in 2009 after the latter became a charter. The other two members are Magnet Coordinator James Morrison and photojournalism teacher Adriana Chavira. 

Hurtado taught Spanish 1, 2, 3 and Spanish Speakers 1 at DPMHS. She also assisted students who took AP Spanish online. With her displacement, the Spanish department will no longer exist. Students can take Spanish through Edgenuity, an online learning platform, or take teacher Gonçalo Sousa’s Portuguese class.

“It feels kind of depressing to know that a bunch of the kids here won’t have an actual Spanish teacher,” senior Allison Gonzalez said. “She was just a great teacher overall, [and] having casual conversation with her was really nice. So, [we’re] also losing a close teacher.”

To Hurtado, the lack of closure was especially hurtful. 

“I felt like a number just being at disposal, a utensil you just throw away,” Hurtado said. “Not realizing, and I don’t want to put myself on a pedestal, but not realizing what I have brought.”

Hurtado inspired students to learn about Hispanic culture and travel to deepen their understanding of the countries covered in her classes. She also inspired students to pursue careers in the Spanish-speaking field, like alumnus Alejandra Iniguez, who wants to become a Spanish teacher.

“She actually inspired me to become a Spanish teacher,” said Iniguez. “Her way of teaching and being passionate about what she does made me want to pursue a career in Spanish.”

Hurtado encouraged students to be better people and obtain healthier mindsets around working. She tried to teach beyond the material, helping students learn by building better work habits.

“She’s helped me create good working habits, and she always pushed me to do better,” senior Axel Aleman said.

One of Hurtado’s favorite things at DPMHS was working with her best friend Chavira, another of the school’s remaining founding members. Their classrooms were almost adjacent and the duo often collaborated on costumes for events like Spirit Week.

“[My favorite moments are] working alongside Ms. Chavira for 15 years,” Hurtado said. “Finding support in her guidance, being there as a colleague, having Spirit Days together, being twins for a day, outside the classroom, and inside the classroom, and being able to see a lot of students fall in love with my culture.”

Hurtado will work at Gaspar de Portola Middle School, where she will still teach Spanish. Hurtado has never taught middle schoolers before and is approaching the experience with an open mind.

“My children [and] my husband tell me, ‘You’re going to enjoy it because that’s who you are,’” Hurtado said. “I’m going in with an open mind and therefore an open heart, so that will facilitate the process.”

To avoid conflict of interest, our advisor Adriana Chavira is not reviewing or editing any of the stories before they are published.

Andrew Pulido contributed to the reporting of this article.