“ I see a huge difference in the girls ,” she said . “ I had some who would not even talk to me . Now , they ’ re in here all the time finding reasons to be around and I love it .”
Arevalo has considered Kirk her second home since 2014 , when she began volunteering there after her son transferred from their neighborhood school to Kirk for the autism program . She helped in the classroom , ran the carnival and led an art club .
They debrief at the end of their meeting . Students are also invited to write her private notes if they need to .
“ Sometimes they are rough ones . They get to me , because I can ’ t always help with their home lives ,” she said .
She had female staff members write positive thoughts on pieces of paper at the beginning of the school year and the girls read a different note every week . Arevalo invited Kirk teacher Mai Moua , who has been a mentor to Arevalo , to come and talk to the girls at one of their meetings .
“ I mentor them , but I show them that I have someone mentoring me ,” Arevalo said . “ No matter what age , you need someone .”
She remembers what it was like when she was their age , “ I didn ’ t have anyone to look up to .”
Girl Power has helped students better connect with their classmates and their school .
In 2017 , she began working at Kirk as a noontime assistant and with students with mild to moderate special education needs . In February of 2022 she was hired as a resource counseling assistant , transitioning to her current position a few months later .
She never thought she would make a career out of education , but now she is working toward her bachelor ’ s degree in counseling and master ’ s degree in education simultaneously at National University . She has been married to Tony for 10 years and has children who are 13 , 8 and 4 . Arevalo was raised by her mom and grandparents in Madera , moving to Fresno when she was 18 to attend a technical school to become a medical assistant . She was the executive assistant for four urgent care facilities for two years .
Her work at Kirk , however , is where she belongs .
“ I ’ ve grown here . Kirk is home ,” Arevalo said . “ Without the love and support of all my family and mentors I wouldn ’ t be here today . They have guided me and supported me in many ways , They kept me in the right place . I believe that I ’ m the luckiest person in the world with them by my side .”
Photo Above : Intervention specialist Karen Arevalo meets with the Girl Power club once a week at Kirk Elementary School . From left are Melody Cortez Rodriguez , Valeria Rodriguez , Janet Ortega Apantipan , Jaylah Godinez , Karen Hernandez Cruz , Alize Godinez , Arevalo , Natalie Delatorre , Nicole Pacheco , Vianney Lean Sanchez . Isabella Cernil and Juliana Ramirez Barrillas .
FACES : KAREN AREVELO 27