Here at SEMHS, we are fortunate to have excellent staff and teachers who excel at their jobs, going above and beyond to consistently give their best. Mrs. Burgess, a counselor who has been a part of this school for 24 years, has been nominated as Staff of the Month for her outstanding qualities and dedication to her role. 

     As I interviewed Mrs. Burgess, I asked her what she liked the most while working here at South. To this, she replied, “I like working with students and their families.  I have been working at SEMHS for so long that my students’ parents were my students. I enjoy seeing them back in a different role.  It feels like a family.” As a counselor who has been working here for 24 years, it brings her joy to see families coming to the same school, making her work even more meaningful. Additionally, Mrs. Burgess also mentions her gratitude towards her staff team. “I am so lucky to work with the amazing counseling team that I do.  They are really my work family!” 

     As a kid, she had always aspired to be a teacher. At the young age of 8, Mrs. Burgees moved from Mexico to the U.S. She attended El Monte High School as a student and later went on to be a counselor at South El Monte High School. Her pursuit of education was deeply motivated by her gratitude for her parents, and the sacrifices they made moving to a new country. She valued learning and wanted to make the most out of this opportunity for higher education.

    Mrs. Burgess greatly appreciates her parents. They taught her the importance of education, and how much it is valued. Their support and sacrifices undeniably created the person she is today. “My parents are my heroes because they made sacrifices to give me greater opportunities in life. They instilled in me the value of education, the importance of helping others, and the power of hard work.  I am forever grateful for their love, guidance, and support!” 

     I also asked questions diving into her personal life. Mrs. Burgess enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren in her free time. She also loves to scrapbook and do home projects as a hobby. As for her favorite food, she loves Mexican food, especially Birria. Her favorite colors in the rainbow are red and yellow since they remind her of her parents.

     Congratulations to Mrs. Burgees for being honored as Staff of the Month! Your unwavering dedication and contributions to this school have been noticed. We hope to see you continue to make South El Monte the best school there is in the district!