Teresa Gonzales Introduction to Blog

Please allow me to introduce myself and share my story with you.  My name is Teresa Gonzales, an educator by heart and a life-long learner.  I  was born and raised in Brownfield, Texas; a small town about 35 miles south of Lubbock, Texas. I married my high school sweetheart my junior year in high school and had three beautiful children.  After my children all reached school-age, I worked full-time as an educational secretary and attended night classes to earn my Bachelor of Science degree and later a Master of Education in Elementary Education/Curriculum and Instruction from Texas Tech University.  I have 21 years of  experience in public education and a year of administrative experience as Assistant Director of Education for Texas Careers of Lubbock.  While I have not retired from public education, I am exploring other career opportunities.
This internship will provide knowledge and experience in community education, youth engagement, and water education for elementary students.  In the process, I will have an opportunity to build community relations and add some great contacts to my networking base.  Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld and Julie Hodges will be my mentors in the intern process; I hope to gain insight on their personal approach to instilling hope and perseverance in today's youth.  My internship will consist of making presentations at the Playa Festivals, assist with the work involved in the festivals, and make sure that educators are aware of the resources available to them as follow-up activities via the playa trunk developed by Julie Hodges.
   In conclusion, I would like to share that I am a personable professional whose strength includes cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport in diverse multicultural settings.  There is much to learn and I am honored to have been accepted for this internship.