Stephanie Mendez knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher. “Throughout school, I was always doing something with kids, volunteering at the elementary or working in the daycare,” she said.
Now in her 10th year of teaching in Dublin, Mendez loves her job. “I like how my kids are going through the same schools that I went through and then I’m now teaching in the same school that I went through,” she said. “It’s really neat.”
Mendez graduated from Dublin High School in 2003, and went to Tarleton. Instead of studying teaching, though, she decided to major in business. While in college she started a job at Stephenville First Financial Bank.
“I was learning so much and I really liked the people that I worked for and with,” she said. “They offered me a position when I graduated. So I stayed there. But I missed the kids.”
In 2006 Mendez married her high school sweetheart Bobby Mendez (now the Dublin city manager), and in 2009 their oldest son Jace was born.
“When we had our first baby, I decided that I finally wanted to go into teaching,” Mendez said. “I just knew that it was time and I missed it, especially with having my own child. I knew that I wanted to be involved in teaching him and all the other kids.”
Mendez earned her teaching certificate and got a job teaching first grade at Dublin Elementary School. After two years teaching first grade, she moved to teaching second grade reading and found her real passion.
Over the course of a week, Mendez teaches every second grader in Dublin. She enjoys seeing how quickly her students learn. “I love to see what progress the kids can make,” she said. “When they come to you they’re pretty much still babies. They’ve just barely learned how to read, and they make all kinds of leaps and bounds. They just blow us away every year with what they’re capable of.”
In 2018-19, Mendez received the elementary campus teacher of the year. She plans to stay working at Dublin schools for the rest of her career.
When Mendez is not working, she enjoys reading, and she and her husband spend a lot of time with their two sons. Their oldest, Jace, is in eighth grade, and Luke is in sixth grade. “They’re both in sports,” she said. “Jace does cross country and pole vaulting — that’s new this year. He placed third in district. Our youngest is basketball and he’ll be going into junior high next year. We spend a lot of time just following them, getting them to guitar lessons and pole vaulting lessons and games.” The family also enjoys spending time outdoors. “We like to take our camper out in the summer and just just relax and make memories and spend time together,” Mendez said.
Mendez parents, Andy and Brenda Leach, still live in Dublin, as do many of her extended family members. “I’m very blessed,” she said. “I have a great support system.”
The family loves living in Dublin. “We’re Dublin people,” she said. “I was born and raised here and I just love the small community. I love that everybody knows everybody.”
Mendez’ greatest source of inspiration is her grandmother, Nell Stuard. “We say she’s the glue that holds our family together,” Mendez said. “She’s my rock. If I ever need anything I call her. She’s the most Christian woman I know, and she always has a Bible verse for me. She’s my biggest fan and has always inspired me that I can do whatever I set my mind to.”
Mendez’ advice to Dublin graduates is to set their goals high. “You can do anything that you set out to do,” she said. “Never give up. Keep working.”
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.