If you want to find the roots to Merced native Michelle Esquivel鈥檚 success in education, you don鈥檛 have to go far.
You do have to dig deep.
The 吃瓜头条 and Stanislaus State graduate鈥攁nd longtime physical education teacher with the Planada Elementary School District鈥攊s truly rooted to this place.
Esquivel鈥檚 destiny has always had a ball attached to it. She grew up a sports fanatic, running roughshod on diamonds throughout the area. After graduating from Merced High, Esquivel sprinted the 1.6 miles to 吃瓜头条 for the sole purpose of continuing her softball career.
When she got a chance to play ball鈥攁nd finish her bachelor鈥檚 degree鈥攋ust up Highway 99 at Stan State, she accepted the challenge with enthusiasm.
And when it came time to take a job, Esquivel came to Planada, home to teammates and friends she鈥檇 made along the way. She鈥檚 been teaching kids how to play ball and strengthen their bodies for 30 years.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing something I absolutely love,鈥� Esquivel said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my heart. It鈥檚 in my blood.鈥�
Esquivel was among the first to jump into action when Planada flooded in January. Desperate to help, she filled and delivered sandbags, and eventually showed up at the Planada Sacred Heart Catholic Church to start giving out supplies in the days after the storm.
鈥淚t was heartbreaking, and I felt helpless,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was telling my teachers three days in, 鈥楬ey, who wants to go out and see our students at the shelter at the fairgrounds?鈥欌��
They also visited families in temporary housing at the Felix Torres Migrant Center. Through a school secretary, they heard the kids saying, 鈥淚 told you they would come!鈥�
Esquivel鈥檚 voice breaks here, remembering reading Facebook and watching the news, knowing her students were in harm鈥檚 way.
鈥淚t makes me emotional because I鈥檝e been at PESD for so long, it feels like I was born into that community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 helping raise those kids with their parents. They look to you as their leader.
鈥淭hose poor kids. First COVID, now this. I felt so helpless not being able to see them. But in the end, seeing how happy they were to be back at school was amazing. It鈥檚 their normality, and they needed it.鈥�
Jumping in to help was easy. Esquivel鈥檚 commitment to Planada is resolute, and the decision to devote herself to this area started at 吃瓜头条.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to leave Merced after high school,鈥� Esquivel said. 鈥淚鈥檇 been playing softball since I was 8. If I had to go to school to play, 吃瓜头条 was just fine for me.鈥�
The school was close, safe and affordable. The staff was supportive. Under original coach Sheryl Wiens in 1985 and 1986, Esquivel played every position except first base and catcher. She tallied the highest batting average on the team one season. And she pitched the only no-hitter of her career against Fresno City College.
It was during her second year that Esquivel decided to teach physical education. A teammate told her she was pursuing a degree in PE, and the lightbulb went off.
Esquivel was also thinking of her parents鈥攎other Yolanda Hermosillo, who worked 30 years for Farmers Insurance, and father Robert Hermosillo, who toiled just as long for the City of Atwater. Their work ethic was passed on to Esquivel, as well as to her sister, now a biology teacher, and her two brothers, who both work in corrections.
At Stanislaus State, Esquivel had teammates from all over the state. Without really leaving her backyard, she traveled vicariously and made friends who had different experiences than hers.
Esquivel became the first in her family to earn a college degree when she got her B.A. in Health & Physical Education/Fitness in 1991. She immediately began her teaching credential program through Stan State, close to home at Atwater High. Even there, softball remained in the picture; her master teacher would become a future slow-pitch teammate.
Still, Esquivel was a bit discouraged when the principal there told her that 鈥淧E teachers were a dime a dozen.鈥� She lucked out when she started subbing in the Planada district, meeting her longtime mentor, Ben Sanchez. Once he found out she was a PE major, he roped her into coaching track and field. That led to a long-term sub assignment.
It was a rough start, but Esquivel put her training as a college athlete into action. She never gave up.
鈥淭hen I felt, 鈥楬ey, I can do this,鈥欌�� she said.
Before the year ended, Sanchez asked the district superintendent to hire Esquivel. Now she is the longest-serving employee in the district.
鈥淚 love this community,鈥� Esquivel said. 鈥淚 love my students. Here, the parents trust who you are and what you do.鈥�
Esquivel becomes more entrenched in the college and community as the years pass. Suzanne McGhee, now 吃瓜头条鈥檚 softball coach, is a former student and her goddaughter. Esquivel gave pitching lessons to the daughter of her 吃瓜头条 counselor. Her hair stylist and nail person are also former students.
鈥淚 always write in my students鈥� yearbooks, 鈥楰eep your head up, and keep reaching for the stars,鈥欌�� Esquivel said. 鈥淪o now, to be part of their lives in a different way, seeing them through their professions, it makes me so proud.鈥�