As the 2024-2025 school year begins, many new teachers joined the Arcadia High School (AHS) community. This year, Mr. Andrew Mendoza is a new addition to the Mathematics Department.
Mr. Mendoza’s journey began back in college when he didn’t have a specific career he wanted to pursue.
“Most of my life I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I did do a lot of volunteering, and that got me interested in working with high school aged groups,” said Mr. Mendoza.
After Mr. Mendoza graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he took a gap year to try to figure out what he wanted to do. That year, he became a teaching assistant, and through that experience, he realized he really enjoyed teaching. He applied and was accepted into UCLA’s Master’s Program in Education, a two year program that provides an opportunity for college graduates to obtain both a California teaching credential and a Master of Education Degree (MEd).
“I was a psychobiology major at UCLA as an undergrad, so I did science and math classes,” said Mr. Mendoza. “That’s how I ended up being a math teacher.”
Mr. Mendoza’s teaching career started in South Los Angeles; he taught at one of the Green Dot Public Schools for 12 years. But then, he moved to Altadena and the commute became too far, so he began looking for a school closer to his home. After years of searching, he found AHS, and now it’s his first year here.
Within the classroom, Mr. Mendoza likes to provide an environment that encourages learning.
“I’d say my ideal lesson is one where I give students an opportunity to figure out patterns and concepts on their own,” says Mr. Mendoza.
He likes to give students chances to discuss content with their peers to further develop the concept. Then, he talks about it as a whole class and encourages students to ask questions.
“I really appreciate when students really check for their own understanding, and if they need help with something that they ask questions,” said Mr. Mendoza. I try to be really really patient with my students and make sure they’re comfortable making mistakes and asking questions.”
When asked about a piece of advice he’d give to students who struggle with math, Mr. Mendoza said, “I would encourage students to really take on a growth mindset and understand that it’s okay to make mistakes. That’s not a reflection of you; it’s just a part of the learning process. And when you do make mistakes, it is helping you learn–whether you know it or not. So I encourage them to keep trying and make sure they advocate for themselves.”
