Yennifer Castillo had taught middle school for four years and was excited to start a new year as a high school teacher, but it all worked out in the end. She had always dreamed of being a teacher, since she was about 7 or 8 years old. Her dolls were her first students.
When she reached adulthood, she obtained a degree in biology to become a teacher and currently teaches a range of subjects including physics, earth sciences, space science and, most recently, environmental and marine sciences.
As she always does in the summer at the start of the new school year, she greeted her new class with her usual enthusiasm and decorations. She mentioned that she had seen her teachers’ decorations from childhood.
She told People, “One of my most vivid memories is in fifth grade when we were learning about Greek mythology. One of my teachers would set up pillars in the classroom and wear togas. It was so cool and I knew I wanted to do that when I started teaching. I teach a subject that can be less exciting, so I wanted to create an environment that would excite my students.”
Each year she chooses a theme, brings in some humor and ties it to her theme. Over the years, Castillo has created many fun themes such as Beyoncé, Lilo & Stitch, Dexter’s Laboratory and The Proud Family, which is her favorite.
However, she thought it would be better to promote the cartoon Kim Possible this year because she teaches environmental science and oceanography.
She explained: “In her theme song, she says she’s just an average girl and she’s here to save the world. I thought that fit and fits well with blue and green.”
The young teacher did so well that Christy Carlson Romano, who played Kim Possible, shared the pictures and praised Castillo on TikTok for her efforts.
Castillo is a natural artist, but she finds it even more rewarding to see her students’ excitement for the next school year through her decorations.
“The students are excited to come to class. They know it’s not going to be just a regular, boring science class,” she said. “It’s very heartwarming because a lot of them recognize the cartoons. And then there are some that I give the chance to teach about them.”
She said, “I had my doubts. I thought, ‘Oh my God, they’re going to think I’m doing too much.’ But they really appreciate it. I heard them talking in the hallway to my classroom, which has a window that you can see in. One of them said, ‘I think I’m going to like this.’ And things like that make my heart soar. Before they’ve even heard me speak or received the curriculum, they already have it in their head that they’re going to like this class.”
When Castillo began setting up her art classrooms — in one of the few schools that allowed children to attend in person during the pandemic — she decided to document the process on Twitter. Now she uses Twitter, TikTok and other platforms to share the designs she creates each year.
Her technique captivated people when she showed them her sophomore Proud Family class. Castillo eventually started an Etsy site where she offers copies to help other teachers bring bold, creative ideas into their classrooms.
She advised, “One thing I would say to other teachers is that given the limited budgets and salaries we get, you should always try to do what you can. I’m always looking for affordable ways to do what I can do myself. When it comes to decorating with the characters, there aren’t always things you can easily find and pay for, so it’s cool to do your own stuff. I would say look for things you can do yourself to save some money.”
“Also, do it for yourself. Don’t listen to others. Don’t listen to people who say you’re doing too much. I think our students, frankly, had part of their childhood taken away from them because they grew up during COVID. So many had to grow up faster, and because of quarantine, they didn’t have that bright, colorful elementary school or middle school experience,” Castillo added.
She said she wished she could put up more decorations, but teachers are underpaid to do so.
“Without the support of monetization and my wish list, I wouldn’t be able to make this this big,” she noted. “You’re not less valuable if you can’t do it. At the end of the day, we’re here to teach, and there are other ways we can make it fun.”
