Paraeducator Dixon Bermudez aims to create connection 

Dixon Bermudez is a paraeducator at ARHS who supports students and strives to create a welcoming environment for everyone. He begins his day at 8:45 a.m., often spending time in the AIMS room connecting with autistic and neurodivergent students. He works in different classrooms and with different students throughout the day and finishes work at 3:45 p.m.

Bermudez grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended Cupey Maria Montessori School before continuing his education at cosmetology school. His career path has been diverse, including time spent studying barber shop techniques to working in the mailroom of the UMass store. He first started working with students in middle school, where he discovered the joy of watching them succeed.

Living close to UMass, Bermudez appreciates the opportunity to “come to school each day and build connections with students from scratch.”

He values individuality and strives “to provide meaningful support” to those he works with. He admits that he loves school breaks, but he also enjoys the daily interactions that make his role so rewarding.

Outside of school, Bermudez enjoys card games, video games, and spending time with friends. His favorite food is pepperoni pizza. His favorite musical artist is Sting.

He dislikes waking up early in the morning. His favorite color is green, and his favorite game is Borderlands. 

Bermudez lives by a personal philosophy that guides his everyday life: “eat something you love every day, talk to someone you love every day, and do something you love every day.”