Starting the second half of the 2024-25 school year, the Fresno Christian community welcomes a new teacher. Diego Alas steps in the second semester as the new English 10 and middle school yearbook teacher. Carrie Dixon, the previous English teacher, accepted a new position in Clovis Unified to be on a similar schedule as her children.
Alas was born in 2001 in El Salvador as the youngest of three children. At three years old, he moved to Los Angeles because his pastor father was offered a job serving a Spanish-speaking congregation.
“After months of prayer and my parents talking a lot about it, they decided God was calling us here to the States, so we moved,” Alas said.
He spent most of his life in Los Angeles, including college where he attended Biola University. While attending Biola, Alas met his wife Maddie and the two married in the summer of 2023.
Faith has always been a big part of Alas’ life, with his dad being a pastor and him going to church since he was a child. In college, he studied biblical and theological studies to pursue a career in ministry and teaching the Bible.
“Something I would love to do later on in life is to be a college professor,” Alas said. “That is just a dream of mine, but right now I am really happy where God has brought me.”
Before moving to Fresno in June of 2024, he worked at Montebello Christian School in Southern California, which is a K-8 school with only about 170 students. He taught for two years as a middle school Bible teacher, occasionally teaching other subjects when needed.
When Alas moved to Fresno, he wanted to continue being an educator, but at a private Christian school. Alas became a substitute teacher for Fresno Christian last semester, while also working on a master’s in divinity at The Master’s Seminary. In December, he was approached about taking up a teaching position and gladly accepted.
Alas loves the community at Fresno Christian and enjoys getting to know his students personally. Notably, his favorite part about Fresno Christian so far is the staff members.
“The staff and faculty have been very welcoming,” Alas said. “I have not felt lost at all. Things have been provided for me with care, and they have made themselves approachable so if I have a question I can easily go to them.”
When Principal Amy Deffenbacher looks for new teachers, she searches for general teacher qualities, but more importantly a love for Jesus and the ability to care for students. After she spoke to Alas, he impressed Deffenbacher and she knew that he would be a great fit for Fresno Christian.
“What struck me about him was that he is very polite and courteous, and he exudes joy,” Deffenbacher said. “He clearly loves the Lord and has experience teaching at a Christian school.”
Currently, English 10 students are reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel and Alas has embraced a different style of teaching this novel. Ben Dias, ’27, appreciates the way Alas cares for his students, along with teaching them the history of the novels they read.
“He combines history with English,” Dias said. “He also gives us breaks during class to reset and help us focus better.”
During his free time Alas enjoys various outside activities, including hiking, golfing, playing soccer, and discovering new restaurants. He also likes spending time inside with his family or reading a good book.
Get to know Alas with these “This or That” styled questions:
Welcome Diego Alas to the Fresno Christian family by stopping by room 601.
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