There’s been a surge of energy, engagement, and heart on CICS Bucktown’s social media, and it’s all thanks to Cibelen Smiguel! As a paraprofessional, parent of alumni, and a member of the community for over 19 years, Cibelen knows our community inside and out. Having spent 18 years as a staff member, serving as the school’s Social Media Advocate is her way of sharing great appreciation to the teachers and families who make our school feel like home.
Cibelen’s journey began nearly twenty years ago when her sister suggested she look into CICS Bucktown for her children. For Cibelen, finding the right school was a top priority; she wanted an environment that would prepare her children for high school, college, and life. What she found at CICS Bucktown was a dedicated team and high quality teachers who knew her children’s aspirations, interests, and how to best support them academically. This experience was so impactful to her that by the time her daughter was in second grade, Cibelen officially joined the team as a teacher assistant. Today, she celebrates 18 years as a Paraprofessional, serving as a pillar of support for generations of students and families.
Her unique perspective as both a team member and parent allows her to tell the school's story with unmatched authenticity. She captures the "Distinctive" experience through a lens of gratitude, excitement, and educational curiosity.
Through social media, Cibelen highlights the special moments of the Bucktown community. As many schools struggle with chronic absenteeism in the post-pandemic landscape, Cibelen created high-performing videos and posts involving both staff and students to encourage attendance. She showcases moments of hands-on learning, academic student leadership, and student achievement. Cibelen constantly celebrates the CICS Bucktown community, sharing cultural heritage celebrations, staff spotlights, family shoutouts, and the excitement that teachers and staff have for the students. She also shares the fun moments, too—from the 67th day of school to lighthearted April Fools jokes, scrolling through the @CICSBucktown feed will bring a smile to your face. “Cibelen is able to take every moment—ordinary and extraordinary—and turn it into something special,” shares Danielle Rondinelli, Distinctive Schools Marketing Coordinator, who works closely with Cibelen on social media.
Cibelen knows the moments that parents love to see, and this digital window into the school is her way of sharing the same community magic that shaped her own experience as a parent. She has become a passionate advocate for Bucktown’s holistic approach because she knows that behind every photo of a smiling student is a teacher who truly sees them, something she experienced firsthand with her own children. Cibelen shared how the CICS Bucktown teachers recognized potential and encouraged her son to step out of his shell, encouraging him to join the Theater Club. Her experience as a parent solidified Cibelen’s belief that the holistic and social-emotional focus at CICS Bucktown is what sets it apart. "I owe much of my children’s success to their teachers," Cibelen shares. "If it weren’t for them, my kids wouldn’t be where they are today."
Even though her own children have graduated, Cibelen’s commitment to CICS Bucktown remains as strong as ever. She stays because of the incredible sense of family and belonging, from the warm rapport she shares with her coworkers to the joy of greeting returning families who are delighted to see her familiar face in the halls. For Cibelen, every post she shares and every student she supports is a way of giving back to the community that helped to support and shape her family.