From Manila, Philippines to SJND: The Ms. Mendoza Story
Written by Kelly Nguyen SJND ‘28
All of us have teachers we know and love, but have you ever thought or asked yourself about where they are from or what shaped them into who they are today? Today I will dive into the fascinating background of SJND’s beloved math teacher, Ms. Mendoza.
Growing Up
Ms. Paula Mae Mendoza was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She has an older brother, Pierre Maximillian, and an older sister Patricia Madison. She admitted that she enjoyed having a fun childhood surrounded by sports but never had the opportunity to play on a team. Mendoza would often play during intramurals and more. Both her brother and sister played varsity basketball.
Religion
Growing up, Ms. Mendoza was raised extremely religious, getting baptized at just 3 months old, receiving First Communion at age 7 and Confirmation at age 12. She attended mass every Sunday and even participated in Simbang Gabi. Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Church tradition, a novena 9 days before Christmas to prepare for the birth of Jesus, often celebrated at the crack of dawn in the Philippines. It is said that if you finish all 9 days of Simbang Gabi you will be granted a wish or petition. In our St. Joseph Basilica community, Ms. Mendoza has been an usher for 3 years.
Passion for Teaching
Mendoza first found her passion for teaching in elementary school. When asked what started her love for teaching, she states, “I knew that I was going to be a teacher already as a kid. I was the teacher of my neighbors.” Mendoza would teach 5 and 6-year-olds in her neighborhood. She added, “I had my own board, chalk, eraser, and even class records.”
Education
In high school, Mendoza served as class treasurer during junior year and vice president during Senior year. She graduated from the University of Philippines Diliman with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, double majoring in Mathematics and Special Education. She also has a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education and Thesis Writing. When asked about why she wanted to teach math, she explains, “Growing up, math was what I was good at.” She originally wanted to become a PE teacher but her dad wouldn’t allow it.
Teaching
Mendoza started teaching in 2008 and since then, has always taught high school math along with accounting for three years. Miguel Ascensio-Zavala ’26 notes, “Ms. Mendoza was a great teacher. Her teaching style allowed me to get the perfect mixture of group work and individual work. She also made herself available to me, making sure I never fell behind.” Mendoza also had three years of administrative experience, being head of her school’s math department for three years.
In June of 2022, Ms. Mendoza moved to the U.S. when she got the opportunity to teach at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School. Mendoza calls it, “God’s Plan” although she confesses that she is afraid of heights and does not enjoy flying or amusement park rides. This school year will be Ms. Mendoza’s third year at SJND. Subjects she teaches include Algebra 1B, Algebra 2, and Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry.
Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry student, Helen Wajler ’28 says, “Ms. Mendoza always answers our questions to the best of her abilities and does a really good job in explaining new topics.” When asked about what she emphasizes to each student, Mendoza states, “Your behavior is more important than any of your academics. Your academics are nothing compared to your personality, attitude, and how you deal with people.” She mentions, “They [admin and colleges] are not going to look into just your grades, they’re gonna look at who you are as a person… your integrity.”
Outside of school you can find Mendoza doing ticket admissions at SJND home games. She says it is one of the things she likes doing to help the school. She discloses, “It is a dream come true,” revealing that she wanted to be a cashier as a kid. Other things she enjoys doing are playing sports, hanging out with friends, and watching Netflix.
The Class of ’27 has the great privilege of having Ms. Mendoza as one of their class moderators. She commented, “The experience is something different, it’s challenging but fun being in charge of all the sophomores.” She feels that she’s changed; she’s not just a supporter but a leader. Mendoza feels a stronger connection and relationship with all students, but especially the ones in the Class of ’27. Sophomore CLT Vice President, Hawah Hashemi ’27 adds, “Ms. Mendoza is a very organized and spirited moderator and our class really appreciates her.”
Many students here at SJND along with the staff adore Ms. Mendoza. Let’s hear a few things that they have to share. Fellow math teacher, Mrs. Fralick shares, “Have you ever met someone and they just instantly felt like your sister? That is exactly how I feel about Ms Mendoza!”
Momo Okubo ’25 reveals, “I really love how she teaches, because her teaching style is really interactive so you can learn easier! She does lots of reviews not just by doing practice problems, but also Quizizz games, so you don’t forget about what you learned in her class. She’s one of the coolest teachers I’ve ever met at SJND!”
Dean of Academics Mr. Siddiqee reports, “Ms. Mendoza is a funny, hardworking, and loving person both as a person and a teacher. She is always willing to take on more responsibilities and does them with a high level of professionalism. She is someone I can always count on as a colleague, a friend, and a community member.”
Mendoza has made many connections with students and teachers alike, and contributed to SJND in many ways. Come hangout and visit her in Room 2!
SJND Pilot Island Editorial Staff 2024–2025:
Editor-in-Chief: Anne Obuchi ‘25:
News Editors: Jaslyn Ho ’26 and Jeanette McClure ‘27
Features Editors: Naomi Seche ’26 and Anabel Arista ‘27
Opinion Editors: Nicolaus Thyen ’27 and Victor Pham ‘27
Reviews Editor: Austin Ly ’27 and Sean Kimbrew ‘27
Sports Editors: Jayla Anderson ’27 and Jeremiah Myers ‘27
