Francine Mendez (she/her) grew up in southeast Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2010 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. After a few years working as an instructional aide in an elementary school setting, she decided to return to school in 2014, gaining her Masters in Education and teaching credential from UCLA. She has worked in various elementary school roles and most recently worked as a teacher at an East Los Angeles school. Outside of work, Francine enjoys camping trips, beach days, and has recently began taking tennis lessons. She is looking forward to joining the Sequoyah community and excited to take on this new experience!