2nd Grade Teachers

Email: cecilia.roman@fwisd.org

Cecilia Roman

Hello, my name is Ms. Roman I am a third grade DLE teacher at Rufino Mendoza Elementary. I graduated from Cal State University Fullerton in 2015 and from SMU in 2018. I have being teaching for 9 years and I have been working in education for 13 years.  I am so excited to begin the school year 24-25, I cannot wait to continue this journey with my students and continue to grow and learn with them.   

Hola, soy la Sra. Roman. Soy maestra de DLE de tercer grado en la escuela Rufino Mendoza. Me gradué de Cal State University Fullerton en el 2015 y de SMU en el 2018. Llevo 9 años enseñando y trabajando en educación durante 13 años.  Estoy muy emocionada de comenzar el año escolar 24-25, no puedo esperar para continuar este camino con mis alumnos y seguir creciendo y aprendiendo con ellos.

Email: mia.low@fwisd.org

Mia Low

Ms. Mia Low is excited to join the Rufino Mendoza Elementary family as a 2nd Grade teacher. With 17 years of experience teaching students in first, second, and third grade, she brings a wealth of knowledge, a passion for learning, and a strong commitment to helping every child succeed.

Ms. Low is known for being dependable, collaborative, organized, flexible, and positive. She believes that strong relationships are the foundation of a successful school community and values building meaningful connections with both students and colleagues. Her classroom is a place where students are encouraged to work hard, think critically, and believe in their ability to achieve great things.

As an educator, Ms. Low is dedicated to providing rigorous, engaging instruction that challenges students to think deeply and take ownership of their learning. She emphasizes high-quality curriculum implementation, meaningful student discussions, and strong problem-solving skills. She is particularly passionate about helping students develop reading fluency and confidence so they can become lifelong learners.

Ms. Low believes that feedback is an essential part of growth and welcomes opportunities to learn, reflect, and continuously improve her practice. Her goal is for every student to leave her classroom not only with strong academic skills but also with positive memories of a teacher who cared deeply about them and held them to high expectations.

Outside of school, Ms. Low enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors. She is excited to partner with families and colleagues as she begins her journey as a Longhorn.

Email: cristobal.duranmoral@fwisd.org

Cristobal Duran Morales

Mr. Cristobal Duran Morales is excited to join the Rufino Mendoza Elementary family as a 2nd Grade teacher. With more than 20 years of educational experience, including 17 years teaching in Texas and 4 years teaching in Mexico, he brings a wealth of knowledge, dedication, and passion for student success.

Throughout his career, Mr. Duran has taught Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, with the last several years focused on helping second-grade students grow academically and personally. He believes that every child can achieve high levels of success when provided with strong instruction, meaningful support, and a positive learning environment.

Mr. Duran is known by colleagues as respectful, dependable, supportive, and a true team player. He values collaboration and believes that educators, families, and students achieve the greatest success when they work together toward common goals. His classroom is built on mutual respect, high expectations, and a commitment to helping students feel safe, valued, and confident as learners.

As an educator, Mr. Duran is passionate about using data to guide instruction, working with small groups to meet student needs, and ensuring all students are actively engaged in learning. He believes in the power of the gradual release model—"I Do, We Do, You Do"—and continuously monitors student understanding to adjust instruction and support mastery.

Mr. Duran hopes his students leave his classroom not only having achieved their academic goals, but also feeling proud of their growth and excited about learning. His greatest wish is for students to remember their year as one where they felt safe, challenged, supported, and successful.

Outside of school, Mr. Duran enjoys spending time with family, traveling, hiking, and taking walks in the park. He is excited to become part of the Longhorn community and looks forward to partnering with families to help every student thrive.