The Dallas Morning News – Eva-Marie Ayala
“Olivia Mendez can’t help but see herself in her second-grade students, many of whom barely speak English. She too struggled with the language when growing up in the Texas Panhandle. She too had to navigate the adult world when she did learn. “I was always the one translating and telling my parents what the teacher was saying,” she said. “I wanted to be the teacher telling the parent so that the kids don’t have to worry about being that translator. I want to promote success for them.” But Texas can’t find enough teachers like Mendez to keep up with the need.”(more)