Published May 31, 2023
BY SAGE MELTON
Carmel High School senior Marin Herro entered Carmelo preschool’s toddler room at only 8 months old, and now, 17 years later, she is giving back to this community of young children as a Carmelo employee hoping to continue this work in the field of pre-adolescent education.
Herro, whose mother, Gina Wolcott, also works in the field of preschool education as a teacher and instructional coach at Carmelo, first started working at Carmelo at 14 when she started running the daycare program during the Carmel Parent Organization meetings. After in-person school returned following the pandemic, Herro reached out to staff and in return received the student employee position.
When Marin Herro attended Carmelo School herself, she helped out with watching over the incubator and hatching chickens. (courtesy of GINA WOLCOTT)
“It’s one of those jobs where it doesn’t feel like a job,” says the graduating senior. “I’m excited for it every day, and even if I’m not I’m excited when I get home. It’s the best.”
Herro spends approximately three hours working at Carmelo after school every weekday, helping wake the toddlers up from nap time, setting up snack time and playing with kids before pick-up time. Along with working with the toddlers, ages 2 to 3, she also spends time feeding and watching over the eight babies in the infant room.
Staff at Carmelo note Herro’s skills with young children. Her patience, creativity and simple joy all help her fulfill this position as a childcare worker.
“She’s super helpful,” says Carmelo teacher Jenelle Beach, who has worked in the younger wing at Carmelo for six years. “You don’t have to ask her to do anything, she just knows what to do.”
Teen CUSD employee Marin Herro spends approximately 15 hours working with children each week at Carmelo School. (courtesy of MARIN HERRO)
Herro has been able to learn a lot from her coworkers over these past two years working as a student employee.
“These teachers have more experience and have been through college for their careers,” explains Herro. “My collection of skills is built up from all of them.”
Going off to college at Sonoma State University, Marin Herro will be majoring in liberal studies with a minor in early childhood education. After college, she hopes to further pursue a career in education.
“I’m really interested in special education,” she explains when discussing her future career path. “I definitely want to work with a younger group of kids.”
