Why did you choose this school?
The main reason I choose Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School was because it is close to campus and I would be able to walk to the school after my classes and observe. A second reason why I chose to observe at Mendez is because I was once a student there and wanted to observe how the school and curriculum have changed with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standard and Career Technical Education Pathways. A third reason I choose to do my observation hours at Mendez is because I have family currently attending the school and can pick them up after school.
What was your first overall impression of the school?
My overall first impression of the school is that as much as things change, they also stay the same. Half of the teachers who are at Mendez are the same teachers who were there when I was a middle school student. The new teachers are kind and dedicated to making students succeed. The leadership at Mendez is friendly and involve stakeholders in major decisions concerning the school. Students are respectful and most are eager to learn. Some students are more adventurous and willing to share their thoughts and ideas to test their hypothesis. While others are quieter and need prompting to ask a question or answer a question.
What impresses you about this school and classroom?
There are many things that impress me about the school and the classroom. For example, students are now given elective classes like Engineering, Forensics, and Robotics to discover possible career choices through the Career Technical Pathways. Students who are in the Engineering elective work inside an engineering lab with a 3D printer and Engineering notebooks. Another thing that impresses me about both classrooms is how both teachers connect to students by using their knowledge of student interest and culture. Another impressing feature is how technology fluent students are. For example, I have seen students create a website based on the unit they have been studying in social studies using google sites.
What worries you about this school and classroom?
One thing that worries me about the school is the fact that many of the textbooks were the same editions that were given to me when I was a student there 12 years ago. It is concerning that students are gaining information from textbooks that state scientists are beginning to map the human genome when the human genome has been mapped and completed in 2003. Another thing that worries me is the fact that students have teachers leaving to the district level halfway through the semester and therefore not working to the expectations of substitutes.
Is this a school you would you send your own children to? Why or why not?
This is a school I would send my children to because I see the hard work and effort the teachers have put into educating students. I have seen the school evolve from when I was a student to the present day. I see the struggles and determination bear fruit such as the creation of an engineering lab on campus. I have seen educators change and adapt to new technology. I have also seen the dedication to student success that is often hard to achieve but the school provides high expectations that students strive to meet.