When you consider DSST Team members who consistently live for the wellbeing of our students and are intrinsically motivated by the needs of their school community, there is none other than Lupe Duarte.  Lupe has been an instrumental member of the Henry Middle School Team and wholeheartedly demonstrates commitment to ensuring families feel welcomed, honored, and informed about the key components of their school and students’ learning experience. 

Lupe & Husband Masavi on Thanksgiving Day

Caregiver Conversations

How would you describe your role in the DSST Network?

Lupe: I have been working at DSST since March of 2017 during the founding year at Henry as the Office Manager.  I have been working in education for almost 10 years now and during that time, I made the move from an elementary school to a middle school.  I was encouraged to make the transition to working in Middle Schools after hearing great things about DSST, plus my daughter was at DSST and I wanted to be a part of that.  

A lot of my role as a FOM is to be a champion for the school, staff, and also our surrounding community.  It means so much to me to make sure we are supporting all of them, even our working parents like myself.  My work and family life often all go together.  Even before COVID, my daughters would come to the school and wait until after I was finished with the work day, so teachers know my family and my family knows the teachers.  Ultimately, it’s important to me to make sure parent voices are heard, and that parents understand what our teachers and what the Henry community is going through.  

One way I have found to connect my experiences with the Henry Middle School community is by  incorporating Latin and Mexican Traditions into my work.  Our PAT (Parent Leadership Team) and myself like to make Mexican meals for the team. Not to brag, but I make a really good salsa that I bring to some of our meetings- it’s referred to as the “Heat of the Pride.”  

The Heat of the Pride

Homemade Salsa for the Henry Team

•  Ingredients (no exact quantities, depends on your taste)
  • Canned whole tomatoes
  • Serrano Chile
  • Onion
  • Cilantro
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Lime

• Put all ingredients in the food processor.  As much or as little, based on how you like your salsa.

What are a few winning strategies you have figured out to be able to balance Caregiving and being a DSST team member?

Lupe: Like I mentioned before, I’m a parent of 3 girls.  They are going to different schools and I try to make sure we are balanced at home.  I also live in the Henry community in Southwest Denver, which helps me understand what our community is doing.  My point of view is not only as a team member, but as a community member.  Sometimes it’s a lot to juggle with being a wife and a full-time mom.  Thankfully, I have found a way to balance being committed to my work and still being there for my family.  Even with virtual work, I might be in a Teams video call and my daughter comes up to me to ask for information or they’ll pass notes to me while I’m working.  I’m very blessed to have a family that understands the work I do and we make it work together.

Please describe your role as a Caregiver and what it means to you to ‘show-up’ for your family each and every day.

Lupe: I have been married for over 17 years, and I am a proud mother of 3 girls- Sofia, Fatima, and Alejandra.   I have two dogs and a small turtle.  Showing up is supporting my family and making sure they are happy and they feel safe.  Especially with COVID, it is making sure they’re ready in the morning and that they get up on time.  They are in school and sometimes they have tech issues, so being up to date on whatever they have, and being able to support them and make sure they are physically and mentally okay is what is most important to me.

Lupe and Masavi at a Quinceañera

What are a few winning strategies you have figured out to be able to balance Caregiving and being a DSST team member?

Lupe: I think like I mentioned before, I’m a parent of 3 girls.  They are going to different schools and I try to make sure we are balanced at home.  I also live in the Henry community in Southwest Denver, which helps me understand what our community is doing.  My point of view is not only as a team member, but as a community member.  Sometimes it’s a lot to juggle with being a wife and a full-time mom.  Thankfully, I have found a way to balance being committed to my work and still being there for my family.  Even with virtual work, I might be in a Teams video call and my daughter comes up to me to ask for information or they’ll pass notes to me while I’m working.  I’m very blessed to have a family that understands the work I do and we make it work together.

Alejandra in Mexico

What are ways you pursue wellness for yourself?

Lupe: One of the things I do is wake up early every day for breakfast.  On the weekends, I wake up early as well to have some alone time,  water the plants, or make myself a coffee.  Having that time to myself is crucial, as everyone will be up soon and the chaos will begin.  But I always feel good about seeing my family happy. 

Sofia, Fatima and Alejandra at the Mountains

Are there any hobbies or activities you have found to create balance during COVID?

Lupe: If you ask my girls, they’ll say one of my hobbies is cleaning.  It’s not my hobby-  we have to clean the house.  One way to create balance is keeping my girls busy at home.  They are okay with being home, but I feel like we need to be doing something.  We have been doing arts and crafts and playing board games. The girls show me their TikTok videos and Instagram as well, and they’ve started cooking with the TikTok videos.  They do the cooking, but unfortunately I have to do the cleaning.  I also really enjoy taking a walk with my husband at the end of the day and talking through how we are doing.  

Sofia’s quince celebration

Anything else you think would be useful and unique for DSST team members to learn more about you.   

Lupe: With everything I do and everything I say, I want to incorporate my values as a parent, as a team member and as a community member.  Every push I make at school is focused on what is best for our community and my home.  I really take pride in my family, and I take pride in working here at Henry.

I know that all the work we do is for the best of our students and sometimes that is hard for other people to see.  Internally, we are giving it 110% and we are supporting all of our students.  It makes me proud to work here because my coworkers have the same values as me.