Luzilda Sanchez

Hello! My name is Luzilda Sanchez. This will be my 8th year teaching and my first year teaching at Rufino Mendoza. I am so excited to be teaching 1st grade this year! I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of North Texas and a Master of Business Administration from Tarleton State University. I enjoy running, traveling, and spending time with my family. 

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Luzilda Sánchez. Este será mi octavo año de maestra y mi primer año enseñando en Rufino Mendoza. ¡Estoy muy emocionada de enseñar 1er grado este año! Me gradué con una licenciatura en estudios interdisciplinarios de la Universidad del Norte de Texas y una Maestría en Administración de Empresas de la Universidad Estatal de Tarleton. Disfruto correr, viajar y pasar tiempo con mi familia.

Carla De La Cruz

Ms. Carla De La Cruz is excited to join the Rufino Mendoza Elementary family as a classroom teacher. With 16 years of experience in education, she has taught grades 1 through 4 in both Dual Language and general education settings, serving students in self-contained, departmentalized, and bridge classrooms.

Ms. De La Cruz is passionate about helping students become confident readers, writers, and lifelong learners. She is known for providing strong, standards-aligned instruction and creating engaging learning experiences that challenge students to think critically and grow academically. Her teaching is rooted in intentional planning, explicit modeling, ongoing formative assessment, and a commitment to meeting students where they are.

Colleagues describe Ms. De La Cruz as supportive, dependable, and someone who is always willing to help. She believes in the importance of collaboration and values being part of a team where everyone's voice is heard and respected. Building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues is at the heart of her work as an educator.

Ms. De La Cruz is committed to continuous growth and is especially focused on strengthening differentiation and refining small-group instruction to ensure every student receives the support they need to succeed. She welcomes feedback as an opportunity to learn, reflect, and improve her practice.

Her goal is for students to leave her classroom as stronger readers and writers who have developed a genuine love for reading and learning. She hopes her students remember her as a teacher who believed in them, challenged them, and helped them discover their potential.

Outside of school, Ms. De La Cruz enjoys spending time with her family and being active in her church community. She is excited to partner with families and colleagues as part of the Longhorn community and looks forward to making a positive impact on every student she serves.