CICS Irving Park -

For Magaly Zuniga, once a student walking the halls at CICS Irving Park and a graduate of the class of 2016, CICS Irving Park is her home away from home. Magaly, who attended our school from Kindergarten through 8th grade, is now a paraprofessional giving back to the very community that she grew up in! 

Reflecting on her time as a student, Magaly recalls CICS Irving Park as a place of growth and discovery. “The teachers and staff there helped me define my character and gave me opportunities to explore my passions.” It was at Irving Park where Magaly developed her love of art, journaling, scrapbooking, and reading. “I still remember my 6th grade teacher, Ms. Holton recommended the book The Road to me. It was kind of advanced but she wanted to push me and knew me well enough to recognize this. That book is why I love dystopian fiction.”

Returning to CICS Irving Park as an adult has been a deeply meaningful experience for Magaly. “It feels nostalgic and motivating,” she shares. “Many of the staff who were there when I was a student now feel like aunts and uncles to me. It’s inspiring to see the school through an adult’s perspective and give back to the place that gave me so much.”

Magaly attributes her love of languages to CICS Irving Park —beginning Japanese in elementary school and then adding Spanish and American Sign Language in college. Most significant to her success beyond her elementary years, Magaly shared that she cultivated a growth mindset, centered around empathy and compassion during her time as a student at CICS Irving Park. “CICS Irving Park allowed me to discover the person I want to be. My teachers taught me that mistakes are opportunities to grow, and I now get to share that lesson with my students and help create a supportive environment where they can thrive.” Because of her experience both as a learner and now as a paraprofessional at CICS Irving Park, Magaly plans to pursue an advanced degree in speech pathology where she can combine multiple passions to support students.

As she walks the halls – now part of the CICS Irving Park team – Magaly wants current students to use their time to discover who they are, and to keep learning. “Something one of my teachers shared that I continue to keep with me is ‘if you’re the smartest person in the room, you need to go to another room’—that phrase has defined the way that I approach education and learning.

As Magaly continues working at CICS Irving Park and prepares for the next steps in her journey, she remains dedicated to spreading positivity, empathy, and a love of learning. “The world is big, and there’s always more to learn,” she says. “That’s one of the greatest lessons I took from Irving Park, and it’s something I’ll carry with me always.”