As the Oakland Raiders kick off their new season, so does their longtime fan and season ticket holder, Leslie Robledo. Robledo, however, will not be participating in sports but rather in the field of education.

Leslie Robledo has recently joined the MVHS office administration as Dean of Students. For 21 years, Robledo has not only dedicated herself to education, but has also strived to go out of her way to help students by serving as a teacher and a mentor.

A few years ago, Robledo decided to house one of her high school students for three years, upon learning that the boy’s family had difficulties accompanying him on long, arduous drives from Southern California to Cupertino everyday. Though the student has now graduated, and attends college at the University of California, Davis, she continues to act not only as his teacher, but also as a maternal figure.

This is not the only act of kindness Robledo has offered to her students. After the mother of one of her students passed away from cancer, the young girl fell into an emotional abyss and struggled to keep up with her studies. Robledo provided counseling to the student and helped her recover. The girl has made her way to Stanford Medical School with Robledo’s support, engaging in cancer research at the university.

Robledo is seen by many students as a teacher who is compassionate and caring.

“She not only taught her courses very clearly and well, but she was also a very good person to talk to,” junior David Le of Cupertino High School said. “On many occasions she would ask me how my other classes were going, and would offer to help. She taught me to enjoy high school.”

To others, Robledo is as close as a friend or family member.

“Toward the end [of high school], I saw her more as a friend than a teacher. She was there for me all along the way,” college junior Niki Goularte of UC Santa Cruz said. Niki was in Robledo’s yearbook class for all four years in high school, and was the editor-in-chief her senior year.

Robledo now wants to continue helping people at MVHS as the Dean of Students. She will be leading the procedures of technology and intervention, as well as organizing the annual sophomore California High School Exit Exam. She is also looking forward to participating in a new program that is still being planned, an engage class, designed to assist those who need extra care and guidance.

Robledo began her long history as an educator and a computer instructor at a local community college in Illinois. Shortly afterward, however, Robledo had to relocate because of her husband’s job in the Air Force.

Her next stop was the Vandenberg Air Force Base at Lompoc, California. There, she became an elementary school teacher and taught computer applications, interacting with students in grades ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. Shortly after, Robledo transferred to Vandenberg Middle School for three years, and served as a yearbook advisor as well as a computer lab teacher. She taught at Park Side Middle School in San Bruno, California for a brief period of time before finally arriving to Cupertino, where she spent nine years at CHS, instructing students in business, computer applications and yearbook. Finally, she has come to join MVHS as an office administrator upon a decision by the district.

Robledo enjoys every aspect about being in a community with students.

“It’s really who I am,” Robledo said. For Robledo, teaching has been ingrained into her family, and is something that defines her as a person.

Robledo is not the only member of her family who is an educator. She has a daughter who teaches at CHS and two nieces who are professors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Minnesota.

One of Robledo’s most enlightening experiences as a teacher is serving as the yearbook advisor of the CHS Nugget, which, under her guidance, earned several national awards, including the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown award. Before her arrival, the Nugget had not been awarded in 50 years.

“What I like most is seeing these freshmen that come in and being able to see them develop and mature for four years,” Robledo said.

In fact, just recently, she was visited by two of her former students and invited to a dinner during which the three reminisced about old memories in the yearbook room.

“The best thing about being a high school teacher is the connections. You keep them forever,” Robledo said. She always strives to maintain her bonds with her students and even now stays in contact with those she taught more than 10 years ago.

“This year I want to become familiar with MVHS,” Robledo said. “I’m happy to be part of a fantastic team helping teachers and students.”

After a 19-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in their first preseason game, the Oakland Raiders are now turning to their next challenge. After 21 years of experience in the field of education, Robledo is turning to her next opportunity in a different environment — it is a new kickoff.