2012 - Regional Classified School Employee of the Year - Sylvia Mendoza

When she began her career at Nooksack Valley 12 years ago as the Migrant Home Visitor, Sylvia did it with a tenacity that was impressive. When she added ELL specialist to her job title in 1999, she continued to seek out every resource and learning experience she could find that would benefit her students—eventually completing her TESOL certification through Western Washington University in 2009.



Sylvia’s work encompasses all aspects of support for ELL students, from kindergarten registration to home visits to scheduling state testing. Because she is also the only native Spanish speaker on staff, Sylvia is the defacto interpreter. Her own experience growing up in a bilingual and migrant family has given Sylvia a unique perspective on both the challenges and the capabilities of the students she serves. It has also made her a trusted ally and all-around confidant for Spanish-speaking families at her school.



Because she understands the powerful role families play in a student’s success, Sylvia’s efforts stretch far beyond just her students. Her efforts to improve parent literacy through the Motheread/Fatheread enrichment program have built community and empowered parents to become their children’s best teachers. She also coordinates a districtwide parenting group for parents of pre-teens. Sylvia’s efforts at empowerment don’t stop there. She has also been instrumental in creating and coordinating a Parent Advisory Council for Hispanic parents which meets every other month to address concerns specific to Hispanic families.



One of Sylvia’s most exciting projects has been the Club de Lectura afterschool program. The club focuses on strengthening literacy skills in students’ primary language (Spanish) by connecting them with a high school mentor who not only tutors them in language, but also builds a bridge of trust and cultural pride that extends far beyond their school day.



Family Resource Coordinator, Becky Robertson, believes Sylvia’s greatest strength is her openness and the way that openness translates into access for families. “I think of her as a gift. I know her best in her role as Migrant Home Visitor and in that role Sylvia defines the term ‘meeting families where they are.’ She meets families in homes, barns, playgrounds, blueberry fields, schools. But mostly she meets them with respect, without judgment and always with encouragement.”