Ms. Alison Gomez was born and raised in the small California city of La Verne and attended Benita High School. She received her associate’s degree at Citrus Community College, and both her bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials at Cal State Fullerton. A former junior competitive figure skater, Ms. Gomez is now an instructor of Spanish 1 and 2 with a previous year of experience teaching at Marina High School. The reserved mother of two daughters enjoys going to the beach, art museums, and all things Latin-cultured. I spent a lunch with her for a short interview as she begins her first year out of what she hopes to be a long and successful career as a Fountain Valley Baron.
What made you decide to become a teacher?
Well both my parents are elementary school teachers, and ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until college when I decided that I wanted to teach high school Spanish. As a kid I wanted to teach elementary school, but as I started taking Spanish classes and practicing and speaking with people and making friends in Spanish, that’s when I decided to become a Spanish teacher.
Who inspires you the most?
I look at people who had to go through a lot of hardships or obstacles in their lives to get to where they are, like people who are disabled or people who have been through very traumatic experiences or people who had to go through extreme poverty and just the fact that they are able to get through that situation even though all odds might be against them and still make something of their lives – they still go to college.
What does it feel like to be a Baron?
I feel here, as a Baron, as a teacher, I really feel a sense of community. I feel like everyone communicates well, teachers with teachers, administrators with teachers, teachers with parents, parents with students, so far it feels good. I mean, I feel so welcomed and I feel like everyone is here because they want to be here.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Yawning in class and gum chewing, kids putting their heads down, that kind of stuff… As for the general world, I can’t think of one in particular.
Who is your favorite administrator?
I don’t really know any of the administrators that well… okay, I’d say, Mrs. Peterson. She hired me. She’s really nice.
Do you have any advice for the road?
It would probably be querer es poder, pretty much when there’s a will, there’s a way.
