After 22 years of teaching and coaching, Mr. Diaz is retiring from Arroyo High School. Known for his dedication in the classroom and on the field, Mr. Diaz has taught approximately 13,000 students since beginning his teaching career.

Mr. Diaz started teaching at Rosemead High School before coming to Arroyo in 2003. A friend had told him about a job opening for a health teacher. “He said, ‘Hey, there’s a job right up your alley,’ and I said, ‘Sure,’” Mr. Diaz said.

Over the years, he became a well known and respected figure at Arroyo. He coached baseball for around 15 years and also spent time coaching basketball and track. “I liked my time here. It was great,” Mr. Diaz said. “My favorite part about the school was the learning environment and sports.”

In addition to teaching during the school year, Mr. Diaz also taught every summer, showing his commitment to education. “I’ve had lots of good students along the way,”  said Diaz.

Ms. Jennifer Swanson, English teacher, shared a story that shows who Mr. Diaz is beyond the classroom. “Several staff members went to a professional development training about 8–10 years ago. I started coughing and stepped outside. Mr. Diaz came out shortly after and said, ‘You should never let anyone leave the room coughing without making sure they’re not choking.’ He probably doesn’t remember it, but I’ve never forgotten the kindness he showed me,” she said.

Now that he’s retiring, Mr. Diaz is looking forward to traveling and spending more time in nature. “There’s lots of fishing holes to discover and lots of hiking to do,” he said. His plans include visiting national parks, heading up north, and even traveling abroad to places like Japan, Europe, and the Great Wall of China. He’s also interested in attending Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

As he prepares to leave Arroyo, Mr. Diaz offers this message: “Behave yourself, have fun, experience as many things as you can, and be creative without letting things get in your way.”