Cynthia Perdomo’s life is a testament to the power of resilience, passion and the willingness to make a difference. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, to a Dominican father and Puerto Rican mother, Perdomo’s love of her community and heritage runs deep, and has remained a driving-force throughout her career. Growing up in the public school system, she attended a school of performing arts where she played the violin. After graduating high school, Perdomo continued her education at Lehman College in the Bronx, and later the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. During that time period, Perdomo taught as a dance teacher for a non-profit organization, which is where she discovered her passion for working with children.

“At the time, I noticed that there was a shift in the economy, so I wanted to find a career that was more stable,” says Perdomo. “I looked really young, and no one took me seriously. That’s when I made the decision to go into law enforcement. I knew they’d take me seriously then.”

Perdomo graduated from the NYPD (New York Police Department) Police Academy in May 2001. She was only on the police force for a few months when the September 11 attacks rocked the nation. The place that she called home, the city that had always felt invincible, was suddenly as vulnerable as ever. For Perdomo, the experience was extremely daunting.

“The reality of 9/11 was a major wake-up call,” she recalls. “It was very startling because no one knew what was going on at the time. For the city to be attacked and feel that vulnerable was pretty scary. It was a real reality check for me early in my career.”

However, the challenges didn’t start there. Shortly after graduating from the academy, Perdomo was shot at while on the job. These experiences could have easily led her to quit, but she never wavered.

“I knew that if I had made it that far, I was there for a purpose. After that, I began soaking up everything the department had to offer – from narcotics surveillance to working undercover and crime scene investigations,” she says.

It was only a matter of time before Perdomo found herself being pulled back into working with the youth. Local schools began requesting officers to come and teach lessons on forensics to their classes. She jumped at the chance when her daughter’s school reached out. Who would have thought that years later, her passions – education and the law – would collide.

After serving 21 years on the NYPD, Perdomo retired as a detective in 2022. Over the years, she would always visit family members in Fort Worth, and as her daughter got older, she longed for a change of scenery. Texas felt like the right destination. When the opportunity arose to teach criminal investigations at Singley Academy, she didn’t hesitate to apply. After that, everything seemed to fall into place, and she relocated to the Lone Star State.

Perdomo has been teaching at Singley Academy for four months, and she couldn’t be happier with the decision. Her favorite part of teaching is the opportunity to inspire her students, just as others have inspired her.

“I want my students to know that they can do anything,” says Perdomo. “It doesn’t matter how old they are, or what it takes. Go for it. That’s something my dad always instilled in me – he always told me to go for mine. That’s the message I want to pass on to them.”

Perdomo aims to foster a classroom culture where every student feels seen and heard. She sees law enforcement not just as a career, but as a family – a supportive, tight-knit community that provides a sense of belonging. Luckily, her students are exposed to that culture the moment they walk in her classroom.

“I’m truly blessed to be a part of Singley Academy and the Irving ISD community. I love what I do and I’m happy that I get to do it here,” says Perdomo.

If you’re interested in learning more about Irving ISD’s Career and Technical Education offerings, visit IrvingISD.net/CTE.