Reagan High School cafeteria team lead Polly Mendoza recently was among five employees selected to have breakfast with Houston ISD Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla. The employees are from the Business Operations team that Bobadilla oversees and were selected for their service excellence.

Polly Mendoza hands out samples to Reagan High School students.

“It was really an honor, and I felt happy to be selected because it makes me feel like the district thinks about us when they do stuff like this,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza has been with the district for more than 22 years and has previously met Bobadilla; she was delighted that Bobadilla remembered meeting her years ago.

Bobadilla asked questions about Mendoza and her colleagues to get acquainted and learn more about each employee. He then engaged them in conversation regarding their suggestions and ideas for to improve the district.

“I suggested that the district continue acknowledging and recognizing employees – because even the smallest acknowledgement makes a great impact,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza is a recent graduate of Lone Star College with a degree in Hospitality and Management and has been promoted to a training chef at Hattie Mae White. She says she looks forward to the next step in her successful career with Houston ISD.