Education Alumni Profiles

Emily (Morse) de la Cruz '07, Elementary Education
I am a 6th grade teacher in an English school in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I teach all Elementary academic subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies) in the classroom. 

I was especially grateful for all the placements in local schools, starting freshman year at Gordon College. Those placements helped me realize that I truly wanted to be a teacher. Gordon prepared me very well for teaching. I especially benefited from the course on Multicultural Education, as I am teaching in a completely different culture. The challenges of the Gordon Education program better prepared me for real life teaching.

Julie Freitas Sutton '07, Early Childhood and Spanish

I know that part of the reason that I survived my first year of teaching was because of the education that I received at Gordon and I want to thank the professors.

I have received a written commendation from the school pathologist (who has worked in education for 30 years) that stated she had rarely heard "such an insightful report from any teacher, much less a first year teacher" in an IEP meeting in all her years of teaching. I was told that I was the most qualified teacher in the kindergarten due to my explicit, continuous assessment and using that assessment to drive instruction. I learned all of this at Gordon!

Patti Gelormini '07, Early Childhood Education and Art

I am teaching at the Developmental Learning Center in Warren, NJ. Go to www.mujc.org and look at the Warren school. It's absolutely amazing. I am a Teacher of the Handicapped here and our school is strictly for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other behaviorally challenged students who cannot be placed in their regular school districts due to their cognitive impairments, social and communication challenges and behaviors.

I use a ton of the activities that I made in my "Teaching Reading" and "Teaching Math" courses with my children every day. I'm so glad that we did those things. Most people that work at my school tell me that their school did not prepare them at all. I tell them that I learned so much at my school and that I feel very well prepared. I miss everyone at Gordon and feel so blessed to have had such wonderful teachers and mentors!

Amanda Rodriquez '07, Elementary Education and English

I am currently volunteering in Uganda, East Africa with the U.S. Peace Corps for 2 years. My primary project is Primary Teacher Training. I work out of a teacher’s college observing primary teachers, providing them with feedback on their teaching, leading workshops on effective teaching, and setting up resource rooms in schools for teachers to make learning aids using local materials. I work with 116 primary schools. Sometimes I feel like a Gordon Ed professor doing student teacher observations!
One of the reasons I studied education at Gordon was because of Gordon's deep belief that through education, development takes place. My education at Gordon equipped me with the tools to provide concrete methods/instructions/ideas to influence education and development abroad. I am thankful for my education at Gordon and plan to continue working with different facets of education throughout my life. 

Rachel Grover '07, Elementary Education and English

I'm living in Manassas, Virginia, with my Gordon roommate, Stacy Gilbert, and this is my second year teaching fifth grade!
Teaching children has always been an interest of mine since I was a child. In going through Gordon's Education program, my interest morphed into a fascinated passion and I developed an appreciation for the system of education and how students learn. Education is such a complex process, and although Gordon gave me the basics, I have experienced how necessary being a dedicated teacher is, to children, parents, and colleagues. People not affiliated with education don't understand how taxing being a teacher really is! I know, however, that education is definitely the career for me.

Matthew Taylor, '06, Special Education and Psychology

I currently live in Whitman, MA, and work as a special education teacher for K-1 in the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District. 
I love working with kids... School wasn't easy, there was a lot of work, but it was well worth it. I know that I wondered if teaching really was for me by my senior year, but I am definitely glad I stuck with it. I know that God led me to my profession; I wish I had listened and trusted a little more through college, but I think that is part of the growing and strengthen process in my faith!

I think every class I took at Gordon influences the way I teach and think, and continue to learn through other classes. I know I would never admit it while in school, but all the work, hours of observation/teaching, and hours of classes were well worth the time! I feel that Gordon has prepared me far beyond many of my colleagues... Some classes feel like a review because they go over much of the material that Gordon taught! 

Luke Reynolds '03, Secondary Education and English

My wife, Jennifer, and I live with our 7 month old son, Tyler in Marlborough, MA. Currently, I am teaching 7th grade English at Hudson Middle School (JFK) and doing some part-time classwork at Boston College.

What interested me in the field of education while at Gordon was specifically the chance to make a difference in the lives of students. I believe that teaching is all about relationships—and that teachers and students share a unique bond in that they are both passionate about learning, growing, and becoming ever and always more authentic human beings. Indeed—the Gordon influences on what I am doing today can be summarized in one powerful message: to let students know that we as teachers will never, NEVER give up on them!

Matthew Quinlan '08, Early Childhood Education and Psychology

I am living in Salem, NH but will soon be moving to Malden, MA. I will be working at the Bruce School in Lawrence in the fall as a Physical Education and reading teacher. I will be teaching the reading program for an hour and a half and then three 1 hour gym classes for grades 2-4.

I feel that it is very important for children to have male role models at the younger grades. I have seen that need even more as I have been teaching in Lawrence for the last year and a half. Most of what I do and who I am as a teacher is built around the solid foundation that Gordon has helped me create.

Cristina Diaz '06, Early Childhood Education and Psychology
I am currently in Jordan teaching at an Iraqi refugee school. Due to the war in Iraq, many Iraqis have fled the country and are making Jordan their home. The Jordanian government does not allow the refugees to attend their schools, so the organization I am with, Christar, started a school specifically for refugee children. It has been an incredible experience, and I have been able to use a lot of what I learned at Gordon. It has been interesting to see the difference between the way these kids learn and the way kids in the States learn. Most of these kids have experienced some very traumatic events, so they need much more than academics. Sometimes I feel like I'm learning more than I'm teaching! I have truly been blessed.

Melissa (Vogel) Hoffman '04, Elementary, Special Education and English

I have learned so much about becoming a great teacher. I wish that I could re-take all of my classes at Gordon. I feel like I would get so much more out of them knowing what I know now! I have gained confidence that I did not have when I was first teaching. I have learned that there are a lot of great people in education. Overall, I have learned that God is faithful and will use us where he wants to use us, and that he has called me to be a teacher. I am more excited about my career now than ever.

I still think about all of my Gordon professors and the knowledge that they have. I think often about what they were teaching us and especially about how passionate they are about what they do. I love that they wanted to influence future teachers! 

Lydia Bristow '05, Elementary Education and Spanish

Currently I live in Gloucester, MA, and I am a middle school Spanish teacher at Briscoe Middle School in Beverly. I am thankful for my Gordon education on a daily basis. I think I was able to move up in the ranks in my current school easily because I was taught about professionalism and courtesy at Gordon. While at the time I often found it tedious to be assessed on my professional dress and on language, ("guys"), it has been noted by my administrators several times, and I think it helps them take me more seriously. They have commented many times that I don't seem as young as I am because of my professionalism.

Two years ago at a faculty meeting, our assistant principal enthusiastically introduced the concept of "Backwards Design", and we proceeded to have several faculty professional days about how to put it into practice. Of course, I learned Backwards Design in my Gordon classes from day one, and felt privileged to be somewhat of an "expert" with my colleagues. There are so many ways that Gordon prepared me for being a teacher, and I couldn't even list them all! I have learned so much along the way.  

Christin LeBlond '05, Elementary Education and English

This is my second year teaching at the Landmark High School in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts. I teach reading fluency, literature and language arts tutorials to students who struggle specifically with oral reading and comprehension. I'm currently enrolled in my third class in the Master of Education program in secondary education with a focus on language-based learning disabilities at Simmons College. It is interesting to note that Gordon graduates have an outstanding reputation at Landmark Schools. They look to hire Gordon graduates because of the preparation we've had. I feel I have a head start on teaching—well-equipped to teach.

Laura Callahan '04, Elementary, Special Education and English

I am currently living in Beverly, teaching at the Landmark Elementary Middle School. I am an eighth grade math teacher, and a reading tutor to two fourth grade boys, a sixth grade boy, and an eighth grade girl, as well as being the Student Council Advisor, Peer Leaders Advisor and co-founder, which really just means that I am SUPER busy!

I have recently been accepted at MGH Institute of Health Professions Speech and Language Pathology Program, and will be attending in the fall. I have known my whole life that God wants me to teach, and that I am a gifted teacher in many ways. I know that my teaching strategies and beliefs did not always fit the "Gordon" way, and I struggled throughout my time there; however, I know that the Gordon Ed department prepared me for a lifetime of teaching, especially Dr. Pierce's Special Education classes. All of the lesson planning that I had to prepare, teacher tests that I had to pass, and assignments that I had to complete had definitely prepared me for my first year of teaching.

I felt as if I had a leg-up on everyone else that began teaching that year with me. All of the hours that are spent student teaching and observing in the classroom truly make a difference.