By Nayeli Sanchez
At the beginning of this new 2016-17 school year, Pueblo welcomed back a former teacher (who also completed her student-teaching here): Ms. Tiffany Mendibles-Muñoz. This year, she is teaching senior and junior-level English classes.
Before returning to Pueblo, Mendibles was working at Changemaker High School. She said she missed Pueblo and really wanted to return here so that she could teach “culturally relevant” courses.
As a co-sponsor of MEChA, (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan), which connects to the culturally relevant courses, Mendibles-Muñoz said that she believes that beginning her kick-classes reading the poem, In the Lak’ach, written by Luís Valdez, helps to motivate her students.
This poem, which translates to “You are my other me”, is a “great” philosophy that grounds her classroom and minimizes classroom management problems, she said.
“[Pueblo] students are amazing,” Mendibles added. “They’re so open to my teaching philosophy.”
Mendibles also added that it felt good to give back to the community she grew up around, and she said that she hopes to stay here for a long time.
“Pueblo is a community filled with love,” she said. “Stepping away for two years opened my eyes to the beauty that lies within the school. I have the privilege of being part of this community, and it is something I will cherish as I embark on the journey of educating and empowering the youth.”