Esteban Mendiolaza

Title of Exhibit: Social Studies: Engaging All Students, 6–8th Grade

Position/Title: Teacher

Name of School: James Weldon Johnson Leadership Academy, P.S./M.S. 57

DBN: 04M057 Superintendent: Alexandra Estrella

Personal Statement: Prior to teaching, I was a community organizer for several years, first with advancing workers’ rights, then mobilizing parents to better their neighborhood schools. Given this experience, I went into teaching eager to apply my passion and dedication for social justice in the classroom. I seek to empower students by asking them to think critically about how history shapes the world they live in and why they are the necessary agents for change. With this in mind, I strive to create learning experiences that are relevant to my students and engage them in addressing complex issues.

I received my master’s degree from the New School for Social Research and my bachelor’s from Hunter College; I returned to Hunter to pursue an advance teacher’s certificate, which I received in 2016.

Ages/Grades of students: Ages 11–13 / 6th and 7th Grade

Number of years in school: 2

Years in education: 2