Since 1995, Castillo worked as a primary school teacher and principal at School 10465 in the town of Puña, Chota, where he was responsible for cooking, cleaning, and teaching for the students in his classroom.[1][2][13][4] According to Castillo, the community constructed the school after receiving no government assistance.[15] Castillo's career of teaching involved receiving low pay, with the vocational status of his work being highly respected and influential in the rural regions of Peru, promoting Castillo to be involved with teachers' unions.[14]