Position: Woodshop Teacher
School: James A. Garfield High School
School District: Los Angeles Unified School District
City, State: Los Angeles, CA
Gerardo Mendez was nominated by his colleague, Guillermo Gonzalez.
Mr. Mendez is a very dedicated and fun teacher. He is so dedicated to his students that he teaches a full schedule without taking a conference period. He not only teaches students about woodwork, but about valuable life skills. Mr. Mendez can be somewhat strict, but once students pass the safety tests, he lets them work on certain projects and teaches them how to use the various machines in the shop. He does not discriminate and treats all students equally. He allows his students to use their creativity in building projects, while instilling confidence in their knowledge and abilities. The safety of his students is his number one priority.
Mr. Mendez is always willing to help his students and his fellow teachers. He builds sets for drama club, makes plaques and creates awards for the students. He also teaches them about the different types of careers they can pursue with wood working.
"When students leave his class, they do so with a sense of accomplishment and confidence that we can be independent and only limit ourselves," Gonzalez said.