Around 1,644 students walk the halls of Fremont High School. Nearly half — 47.4 percent — identify as Hispanic, and many of them primarily speak Spanish. But what happens when students can’t communicate easily with teachers or classmates? Out of the 133 employees at FHS, only a handful speak Spanish fluently. That’s where translators like Karina Cerritos and Jacquelinne Menendez step in to bridge the gap, helping make Fremont a more inclusive place for everyone.
These translators help the school function by connecting students who have trouble communicating with their peers and teachers. Their day-to-day work includes taking and translating calls, helping students and staff collaborate, and improving the school environment.
One of the people who plays a key role in this process is office associate Karina Cerritos, who is passionate about working with students and their families.
“I chose to do that [translate] because I’m from Fremont,” Cerritos said. “I grew up here, and the need is definitely there. I feel like Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the U.S., and the need for someone who speaks Spanish is everywhere.”
Similar to Cerritos, office associate Jacquelinne Menendez understands the importance of supporting ELL students. Having experienced her own struggles as an English language learner, Menendez is passionate about her impact on students.
“When I came to the U.S., I was 16, and I was an ELL student,” Menendez said. “So I knew how hard it was. I felt like if I can help, I will do my best to help.”
Outside of her daily responsibilities at FHS, Cerritos continues giving back to her community. She believes that being bilingual is not just helpful at school, but valuable in everyday life.
“I help the community; sometimes they need help translating or interpreting for other schools. And if I’m able to do that after school, I do help out with that. Like I said, the need is definitely there,” Cerritos said. “I try to advocate that being bilingual is very important. If you can speak English and Spanish, it would be very good for any career. It would be awesome if you could speak both languages.”
Cerritos and Menendez say it is important for students to feel involved, and they work to help them do so. As translators, they help students communicate with staff and navigate language barriers at school.
Tammy Bernt • Apr 9, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Both Karina and Jacquelinne help me in my duties often. My job would be very difficult without them. I truly appreciate the work they do and their wonderful attitudes.