As Brigida Gutierrez and her younger sister, Eden Velazquez, walk through the halls of Monmouth-Roseville High School, they carry more than clipboards and keys. They carry a family story that began in Durango, Mexico, traveled through Kewanee, and found its permanent roots in Monmouth. Today, they serve the district that once welcomed them as children learning English — Brigida in the office and Eden in the special education department.

Brigida was a member of the very first graduating class of Monmouth-Roseville in 2006, three years before her sister Eden crossed the same stage. Their journey from students to staff feels fitting for a district that has always been at the center of their lives.

Brigida’s path into the schools was almost accidental. While working as a waitress, she was recruited by a teacher who noticed her ability to connect with Spanish-speaking families. Soon she was helping the district bridge communication gaps, serving as an office aide and translator for parents who needed someone to listen in their own language. “I came for an interview, but really, my friends answered all the questions for me,” she laughs, remembering those first steps.

Eden followed a few years later. At first, she was asked to escort a student with a court order — making sure they attended class without incident. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it opened the door to a role as a paraprofessional in special education. Now she spends her days primarily in the math department, supporting students with IEPs and building the trust that makes learning possible. “I think I’m good at making connections with students,” she says. “That’s what makes me want to come back every day”.

The sisters remember when Monmouth was far less diverse. “When I was in high school, there were maybe 20 Hispanic students,” Brigida recalls. “Now, you walk the halls and hear so many languages.” Their family originally moved to Monmouth when their parents took jobs at Farmland, a major local employer, but over time, they saw other families arriving too — from Mexico, from Africa, from Asia.

Eden calls it beautiful. “This community is unique because of its diversity. That’s what makes Monmouth-Roseville special.” For both sisters, the district’s English Learner department is a point of pride — something that didn’t exist when they were students but now serves as a lifeline for hundreds of children.

Their work gives them a front-row seat to both the opportunities and challenges of immigrant life in the Midwest. Brigida, a naturalized U.S. citizen, knows the immigration process firsthand. Her husband was undocumented when they married, and she spent years navigating complex paperwork on her own to secure his legal status. “People don’t realize how difficult it is,” she explains. “There are so many laws that make it nearly impossible. I had to fill out everything myself, send letters, and get recommendations. It took years.” Teachers and administrators in the district helped her through the ordeal — a kindness she has never forgotten.

Eden echoes the empathy. “We don’t feel fear for ourselves, but we do for our friends and classmates who don’t have the same opportunities we had,” she says. The sisters recall students who skipped school when rumors circulated about ICE raids, too scared to risk leaving their homes. “You can’t learn when you’re afraid,” Eden says. “That’s why it matters that we’re here. We make sure kids feel safe.”

Their bond brings humor, too. Eden, whose first name is actually Olga, laughs about being mistaken for her sister constantly. “I never liked the name Olga,” she admits. “I’ve always been Eden. But at school, my records said Olga, so I had this double identity.” Even now, people confuse them in town, sometimes apologizing to Eden for things they said to Brigida at work. “I just smile and say, ‘Don’t worry about it,’” Eden says.

That lightness balances the seriousness of their work. For Brigida, it means handling angry phone calls in multiple languages, learning over the years to respond with patience instead of frustration. For Eden, it means helping students who need more than just an academic push — offering steady encouragement to teenagers who might otherwise give up.

The sisters know they are part of a larger story. They came to the United States as children who spoke no English, were welcomed into Monmouth classrooms, and were given the support to succeed. Now, they provide that same support to others. Brigida even helps community members with their immigration paperwork, free of charge. “If I can help, I will,” she says simply.

At its heart, their story is not about titles or tasks. It’s about belonging — the kind they found in Monmouth-Roseville, and the kind they now work every day to extend to others.

As Brigida puts it, “No day is ever the same here. But that’s what makes this work matter. Every day, you help someone.”