What she'll be doing

Gonzalez will be teaching secondary English in Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland as a Teach for America corps member, and pursing a master's degree in urban education at Johns Hopkins University. "I love working with students, but am also interested in some of the larger structural issues that are problematic for the U.S. educational system right now. Whether I stay in the classroom or go into administration or public policy, it is in my heart to help end the achievement gap in our schools."

The alumni connection

During a campus visit in October, Teach for America volunteer Naomi Blaushild '10 helped Gonzalez and other Teach for America applicants at Kenyon prepare for their final interviews. "She talked to us about her experience and told us what to expect." Gonzalez shadowed Blaushild during a spring-break visit to Blaushild's school, also in Baltimore. "I know she will continue to be a wonderful friend and resource for me."

"Whether I stay in the classroom or go into administration or public policy, it is in my heart to help end the achievement gap in our schools."

How a Kenyon education helped

Learning about class cultures in a Kenyon sociology course and visiting schools abroad in the Semester at Sea program reaffirmed her decision to pursue a career in education. Opportunities to hold numerous student leadership posts, volunteer at Wiggin Street Elementary School, and design a synoptic (self-designed) major in Comparative Global Identities prepared her to command a classroom. "Kenyon gave me multiple roles to interact with people inside and outside my academics."

Why Kenyon

"My high school coach in Texas, Alise Shuart '92, contacted Kenyon and had the college start sending me material. She thought Kenyon and I would be a great fit and was the main person who guided me there. My parents were both English teachers, so they knew about Kenyon through the Kenyon Review and very much supported my decision to apply."