Alumni Spotlight: Eunice Gonzalez Rodriguez
M.A.T. '20, National College of Education at NLU
“[The residency program] has been a very positive experience. We worked with a CPS coach who oversees the program, and we have our professors and our mentor teacher. I think that it was nice because all three work well together and are in constant communication. I was blessed with an amazing mentor who guided me. By the end of the year, you’re leading the entire classroom and he encouraged me to be myself in class. He didn’t want me to be him. Rather, he asked me who I was as a teacher so I was able to blossom as my own instructor.”
This was the experience of Eunice Gonzalez Rodriguez, a M.A.T. Elementary Education ’20 graduate who is currently working towards her bilingual endorsement.
“There are a lot of benefits being in an accelerated program,” Eunice said reflecting on her experience.
She initially gravitated towards the program after seeing a CPS video on Facebook and did some further research, which ultimately inspired her to make a career change.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s manageable, especially with the residency cohort. You build relationships with other residents. We are all still friends and communicate with one another about being a first-year teacher. Between co-residents and our professors, we had a huge support system.”
Eunice’s residency program was in-person half of the year before a remote learning shift due to COVID-19. However, she didn’t initially start as a school employee. Eunice held different job positions and gained some social work experience, but she did not have a previous position with CPS before starting the residency program. She had an interest in going back to school to become a teacher and wanted to be more involved with her community.
“I received a preference sheet for what community I wanted to work in. Then, I went through interview rounds with mentors before I was placed at Edwards Elementary School in Archer Heights near where I live.”
Eunice’s teacher mentor incorporated her into the teaching environment right away.
“Unlike student teachers, who are only there for a few months, we got to know the class. My mentor had me kick start the day, which made me comfortable speaking in front of the class. It set a foundation when I was teaching more lessons because they knew who I was and trust was established. My mentor treated me as a co-teacher; he called me Maestra Rodriguez. I think because of that the students respected me as a teacher.”
Today, Eunice works at Daley Academy in Brighton Park teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts in an ELL bilingual classroom. Daley Academy and Edwards are in the same network, so Eunice has been able to continue making an educational contribution in her community.
