Rica Mendoza

Biography

My name is Rica Mendoza and I am the 8th grade homeroom teacher.  Along with being the 8th grade homeroom teacher, I teach 7th and 8th grade Religion and 6th - 8th Language Arts.  I earned my Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Education, my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and my Masters in Education from the University of California, Irvine.  This is my 10th year teaching overall, and my 4th year teaching here at St. Josephs School.  I feel blessed to be a part of this community, and I am very excited about the journey ahead. 

Teaching Philosophy

Mother Teresa once said, "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."  Teaching is my stone.  Through my experience teaching, I have learned that first, teaching is a ministry, an act of service to God.  Second, teaching is life-giving, to both the teacher and the student.  And third, teaching is a community effort; it is a collaboration among students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the parish.

I truly believe that education should be a journey of self-discovery; a journey where students find the courage to make mistakes, develop the moral compasses that guide their decisions, discover their God-given gifts and talents, and use those gifts to be life-giving themselves. As teachers, we have a responsibility to walk daily with our students, to be their guide in helping them become who God intended them to become.

I pray that God keep you and your children in His care.  I pray that this year may be guided by His will, and I pray that we may all grow in the love of Christ.