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I Have a Voice: Nicole Gonzalez

Nicole Gonzalez, an anatomy teacher at Edison High School, is the recipient of the 2012 Michael McKibbin Outstanding Educator Award.

Raised in San Mateo, California, Gonzalez, as the oldest daughter, helped her dad raised her six younger siblings. “It was very hard, but I will not change it for the world because that’s what made me who I am today,” stated Gonzales.

Nicole Gozalez, recipient of the 2012 Michael McKibbin Outstanding Educator Award

“My dad always pushed education; my dream was to become a doctor to take care of him.”

After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she began to work as a substitute teacher. Little did she know that she was about to discover her passion for education. “I was lucky to find something that I truly loved.”

After teaching at Edison High for only three years, she was nominated and won the state level educator of the year award.

“I am very shocked to receive such an honor,” said Gonzales.

“Gonzalez embodies the skill and commitment of all Teacher Corps teachers, more than 55,000 educators who work tirelessly day after day in underserved communities and high-need subjects to serve California students. We know that the right teacher makes all the difference and Gonzalez is the right teacher for the Stockton community,” said California Teacher Corps Founding President, Catherine Kearney.

Gonzalez believes that when Latino students see their own people as teachers, they identify with them and that encourages them to pursue their dreams, which is her motivation for translating information for her students that are in the process of learning English.

“I think it is very important that people from my culture get involved and become teachers.”

For Gonzalez, the key to being successful in the classroom is to collaborate with other teachers to work across subject matters and create engaging lessons to make school not just educational but fun at the same time.

Gonzalez also helped develop the Edison Health Program with the University of the Pacific and Delta College, a pathway for high school students that choose a career in the health industry to graduate both college and career and ready.

Manuel Martin Announces that he is “Stepping Down”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Manuel Martin formally announced his candidacy on on February 25, 2012. Two days later, Martin sent an e-mail that announced that he would be stepping down. He was one of six candidates vying for the 13th Assembly District. The newly created district includes candidates Susan Talamantes Eggman, Khalid Jafri, Benjamin Y. Wong, Jennet Stebbins and Xochitl Raya Paderes.

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Stockton’s Administrators Seek way out of Bankruptcy

STOCKTON, CA — “Contrary to what you have read about, Tuesday is to begin the AB 506 process, we are not asking city council to file chapter 9 [bankruptcy],” explained Stockton’s City Manager, Bob Deis, during a closed press conference the morning of Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Council Chambers.

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