Yvette Mesa joins the Terra Vista Panther Family after serving at the Frenship High School Ninth Grade Center. With unique international and local teaching experiences, she brings a broad perspective and deep passion for guiding students.
“My career in education has been anything but linear. I've taken several breaks from teaching over the years, yet each life experience and teaching opportunity prior to arriving at Frenship has deeply enriched my perspective and contributed to my growth and wisdom as an educator,” said Mesa.
Mesa’s journey as an educator began overseas, where she discovered her passion for teaching in an unexpected way.
“My first teaching job was in Costa Rica, where I taught English in Central America. I initially went down as an intern at a government agency but quickly discovered that I found greater joy in connecting with locals and helping them learn English. That experience inspired me to pursue my teaching certificate upon returning to the United States. After graduating from college, I began my formal teaching career at Alief ISD in Houston, Texas. Shortly after, I moved to New York City and spent three transformative years teaching middle school students in Harlem—an experience that was pivotal in shaping my approach to education,” said Mesa.
She later returned to her hometown of San Marcos, Texas, to teach Spanish before relocating to Singapore.
“There, I worked as a cross-cultural consultant, expanding my understanding of global perspectives. After getting married, my husband and I moved to Saudi Arabia, where we spent five incredible years living at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). It was a unique experience, raising our family in a diverse international community,” said Mesa.
After living abroad, Mesa and her family chose to settle in Lubbock.
“Eventually, we felt it was time to settle down and give our daughters a place they could call home. We chose Lubbock, where my husband works as a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University. It wasn’t long before our girls started saying ‘y’all,’ and we knew we’d found our place,” said Mesa.
Once her daughters entered middle school, Mesa returned to teaching and soon became part of the Frenship family.
“When our daughters entered middle school, I returned to the classroom at Frenship’s Ninth Grade Center, and I am beyond grateful to have found my home at Frenship ISD. The staff and teachers here are incredibly supportive, thoughtful, and kind,” said Mesa.
Now stepping into her new leadership role, Mesa is eager to begin serving Terra Vista students and families.
“I’m excited to begin my new role at Terra Vista Middle School! These middle school years are such pivotal time in a student’s life, and I am deeply committed to guiding and supporting our students as they grow, learn, and navigate their journey with confidence and purpose. I wholeheartedly share Mr. Eugenis’ commitment to student success and feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the outstanding team here at Terra Vista. I’m eager to collaborate with staff, connect with families, and be a positive, supportive presence,” said Mesa.
Outside of education, Mesa and her family enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling.
“As a family, we love traveling internationally but also enjoy exploring the incredible national parks across America. You will often find us climbing mountains or out on the lake paddleboarding and kayaking,” said Mesa.
Welcome to Terra Vista Middle School, Yvette Mesa! We are excited to see the positive impact you will make on students, staff, and families.