On August 12th, 2025, it was the first day of school for students attending Castaic High School. So many new faces were on campus, but most importantly, it was the day Samantha Madrigal, the new Spanish teacher, began teaching!
From Rancho Cucamonga, she grew up close to her Peruvian dad’s side of cultural identity. Growing up close to her Peruvian culture, she spent her summers staying in Peru at her grandparents’ house, where she felt a sense of normalcy. Despite Ms. Madrigal speaking Spanish as her first language, she couldn’t help but want to connect with family members who didn’t speak Spanish, so she could have a relationship with them and ensure there was no language barrier.
“I can’t imagine my life not having a relationship with my family. If I hadn’t known the language, I would have missed out so much,” stated Ms. Madrigal
In high school, Madrigal loved attending her Spanish classes due to finally connecting with herself to something she finds in common. Seeing people that were just like her, who were also speaking Spanish or studying to learn Spanish.
“I felt like I had a community. I didn’t have any Latin friends, but finally being in a classroom where I saw people that were like me, which is really important to see yourself in somebody else.”
After high school, she went to study landscape architecture, but her passion was set on teaching despite having fun in the graphic design aspect. She got her undergraduate in Cal Poly Pomona and her Masters in single subject credential at the University of Redlands.
Before arriving at Castaic High School she did student teaching from January to May 2025, where she taught graphic design to middle schoolers. But when she finally got the opportunity to become a teacher, she was really excited to finally be the one teaching to a bunch of students and put her skills she obtained in learning to use.
“I was just so stressed, so nervous. It’s crazy being in the classroom alone and being trusted to teach, but I’m so grateful.”
As a Spanish teacher, she teaches students about the consciousness of the world around and the growing Latin community, emphasizing the importance of connecting with other communities to get a better understanding.
“There’s a whole Latin that we can discover, we can travel to, we can learn about. Different dialects within each country, interacting with different cultures through music, food,” stated Madrigal.
Entering Madrigal’s classroom eases students where everyone is supportive, collaborative, and learning from mistakes but in the end everyone is still learning Spanish and having fun. Despite Madrigal’s new start to teaching, students love having her as a teacher.
“I was actually not planning on taking Spanish, but instead French from COC I decided to try out Spanish Honors One and Ms.Madrigal really wants me to have her as a teacher once more,” stated 10th grader, Agrampreet Kaur.
Madrigal’s kind and interactive classroom experience makes her classes fun for all, always including everyone and treating them with care. Not only does taking Spanish look good on a student’s transcript, but it also benefits them in using Spanish in the long run.
“Ms. Madrigal turned learning languages pretty fun. I’m not the biggest fan of spending time learning a new language, but she made it intriguing for me. Despite kids struggling, she helps people concentrate and learn.” Stated 9th grader, Christian Suresh.
Despite Madrigal beginning her journey in teaching, she’s already stepping on the right path with her interactive personality and learning space. Her presence makes students see her as a friend rather than a teacher. Ms. Madrigal will influence students to take Spanish not to bother them with boring lectures, but to make them embrace Latin culture with fun activities.
