Meet Mrs. Natalie Mendez

 I graduated from Lincoln University in December 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and was hired in August 2001, as a first grade teacher at Cedar Hill Elementary.  In August of 2003, I began coursework at William Woods University to earn a Master of Elementary Administration degree. I completed my work in May of 2005. I was so proud to be the first person in my family to have a master’s degree!   One day I saw a notice to apply for a federal grant to earn an English Language Development (ELD) certification for the state of Missouri. The grant paid for the first 21 hours for my certification through University of Missouri-Columbia. I completed additional coursework in May of 2012, to earn a second master’s degree, this time in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in English Language Development. For the ten years I was at Cedar Hill, I taught first grade, third grade, and fourth grade.

In August of 2011, I was hired as one of three ELD teachers for Jefferson City Public Schools. This means the students I work with have a different primary language than English. It’s always a joy to meet the students and explore their background through conversations and writings we do. My students have a culture and family history rich with experiences and information. This position is a dream come true for me, because I am able to work with students either one-on-one or in a small group setting.  I enjoy working in multiple elementary schools, with my dedicated tutors, helping me teach.