Julio Fernandez staff photo.
Julio Fernandez has been a proud member of the ARPS community for the past eight years, making a meaningful impact in various roles. After transitioning from a full-time career as a lawyer, Julio began as a paraprofessional and has since taken on roles such as Special Education Teacher, Academic Educational Assessment Specialist, Assistant Principal, and now Educational Team Leader. His journey within ARPS reflects his commitment to supporting students and ensuring their success.
“It’s especially important that students who look like me and share similar backgrounds have someone they can relate to and who is working hard to support them,” Julio explains. His inspiration comes from the resilience and potential of the students he serves, driving him to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all.
What Julio enjoys most about his work is witnessing students overcome challenges and achieve their goals. “Working with our ARPS students has been the most fulfilling job of my life,” he shares. Julio’s passion for helping vulnerable students and collaborating with a team committed to inclusive education fuels his dedication to the district and the broader community.
His colleagues recognize Julio’s invaluable contributions, particularly during a time of transition at Fort River, where he served as Assistant Principal for three years. His leadership and communication skills helped stabilize the school, and he built strong relationships with students and staff alike. As a leader in a school with a dual language program and a large Hispanic population, Julio’s ability to balance firmness with love and kindness made him the perfect fit for this role.
Julio continues to be a driving force in supporting students at ARPS, leaving a lasting impact on both the students he serves and the community as a whole.