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4th Grade Teachers

Stephanie Matous

Ms. Stephanie Matous brings nearly three decades of educational experience to Rufino Mendoza Elementary and is excited to serve our Longhorn students. Throughout her 29-year career, she has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and campus administrator, bringing a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion for student success.

Ms. Matous has taught Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, Middle School Writing, and has spent five years as an instructional coach and 18 years as a campus administrator. Her diverse experiences have strengthened her belief that every child can achieve at high levels when provided with engaging instruction, meaningful support, and strong relationships.

One of Ms. Matous's greatest strengths is helping struggling students build confidence and experience success. She is passionate about differentiation and believes that learning happens best when students are actively engaged, collaborating with their peers, and connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences. Her classroom focuses on student participation, hands-on learning, and creating opportunities for every child to contribute and grow.

Ms. Matous values feedback and continuous improvement, always seeking ways to strengthen her instructional practice to better serve students. She is excited to teach Science and is committed to deepening her expertise in Mathematics to ensure all students experience strong academic growth and achievement.

Her goal is for students to leave her classroom feeling confident in their abilities, proud of their accomplishments, and fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. She hopes her students will be able to recognize and celebrate the growth they made throughout the year and carry that confidence with them into the future.

Outside of school, Ms. Matous enjoys spending time with her children and family and being actively involved in their activities and school community. She treasures family time and believes that strong family partnerships are essential to student success.

Ms. Matous is excited to join the Longhorn family and looks forward to helping students learn, grow, and achieve excellence.

Welcome to Rufino Mendoza, Ms. Matous!

Moises Moreno Rangel

Mr. Moises Moreno Rangel brings 22 years of educational experience and a deep commitment to student success to Rufino Mendoza Elementary. Throughout his career, he has taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students across all subject areas, helping learners grow academically while building the confidence and skills needed for lifelong success.

Mr. Moreno is known for being approachable, supportive, professional, and a collaborative team player. He believes that strong relationships, clear communication, and a shared commitment to students are the foundation of a successful school community. His goal is to create a classroom where students feel respected, challenged, and encouraged to take ownership of their learning.

One of Mr. Moreno's greatest strengths is monitoring student understanding and adjusting instruction to meet student needs. He consistently uses formative assessment strategies, thoughtful questioning, and observation to identify misconceptions and provide targeted support. He believes that strong instruction is intentional, engaging, and student-centered, with high expectations and meaningful opportunities for students to think critically, collaborate, and grow.

Mr. Moreno is passionate about continuous improvement and is focused on strengthening differentiation through intentional small-group instruction. By using student data to guide planning and provide targeted support and enrichment, he strives to ensure that every learner receives the instruction they need to succeed.

His goal is for students to leave his classroom feeling confident, capable, and proud of their progress. He hopes students remember his classroom as a safe and supportive place where their voices mattered, mistakes were part of learning, and they were encouraged to reach their full potential.

Outside of school, Mr. Moreno enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, exploring the outdoors, and finding opportunities to relax and recharge. These experiences help him maintain the positive energy and enthusiasm he brings to his students each day.

Mr. Moreno is excited to join the Longhorn family and looks forward to partnering with students, families, and colleagues to help every child achieve excellence.

Albaro Rodriguez

Mr. Albaro Rodriguez is excited to join the Rufino Mendoza Elementary family and bring his passion for literacy and student success to our Longhorn community. With four years of experience teaching English Language Arts and Reading in both 5th and 7th grade, he is dedicated to helping students become confident readers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.

Mr. Rodriguez is known for being dependable, respectful, and committed to doing what is best for students. He values professionalism, strong relationships, and collaboration, and believes that a positive school culture is built on trust, communication, and mutual respect. His goal is to create a classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to do their best every day.

One of Mr. Rodriguez's greatest strengths is helping students develop reading comprehension skills. He enjoys guiding students as they learn to make meaning from texts, draw connections, think critically, and support their ideas with evidence. His lessons are carefully structured around clear learning objectives and provide students with opportunities to practice, reflect, and grow as readers and writers.

Mr. Rodriguez believes that strong instruction includes ongoing checks for understanding and responsive teaching. He is committed to meeting students where they are and reteaching concepts when necessary to ensure all learners experience success. He is also focused on finding new ways to engage students and increase participation so every child feels connected to the learning process.

Outside of school, Mr. Rodriguez enjoys spending time with his family, reflecting on his faith, and finding moments of quiet reflection that help him stay grounded and energized. These experiences help him bring patience, positivity, and purpose to his work with students.

Mr. Rodriguez's goal is for students to leave his classroom feeling more confident as readers, better prepared for future academic challenges, and proud of the progress they have made throughout the year. He hopes students develop a love for reading and the confidence to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

Mr. Rodriguez is excited to join the Longhorn family and looks forward to partnering with students, families, and colleagues to help every child achieve excellence.