Mrs. Mentele feels blessed to be joining the Saint Joseph Catholic School community and have the opportunity to share her faith with her students. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in elementary education and earned her professional certification in 2016. She taught middle school English and 4th grade at Pacific Crest Academy in Camas, Washington and at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Vancouver, Washington for 13 years before moving to Colorado.

Mrs. Mentele grew up in South Dakota where she attended Catholic school for eight years. As a military spouse, she lived in six states and in Spain. She has always loved learning and teaching. Before earning her degree, she taught religious education, ran an in-home daycare, and worked as a special education paraeducator. 

Mrs. Mentele and her husband Roque have been married for 40 years and have three grown children and seven grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, birdwatching, and spending time with her family.