The College of Education’s collaboration with the Teach Chicago Tomorrow (TCT) pathways program supports Chicago Public School (CPS) graduates looking to become licensed educators in CPS schools. The program provides individual and community resources to support students of all backgrounds in starting their teaching career. Elementary Education student Yehiri Gonzalez speaks on her experience as a CPS graduate, and how the TCT program is supporting her education as a Bilingual educator.
Gonzalez was raised in the CPS community to an immigrant family. Growing up with Spanish as her first language, she often felt confused and ostracized in English-only classrooms during her early years. “I felt left behind because of that language barrier,” she said.
Gonzalez regularly moved during childhood and spent time in many different classrooms. However, she did not receive adequate support in school as she tried to learn English.
“I remember when I was younger, I was scared to even use the bathrooms since I couldn’t read which was the boys and which was the girls,” Gonzalez said. “Looking back, I know that I can retain both of these languages and thrive here, but at the time it’s scary to spend your day being afraid of making mistakes you can’t even understand. No other kids should have to go through that.”
Even without adequate support, Gonzalez excelled in school and fell in love with learning. Once she reached high school, she volunteered her time to care for young children, and enjoyed spending time watching them grow. She began supporting Spanish-speaking students to help them feel cared for in educational spaces. This is when Gonzalez determined she would become a teacher.
“All students, but especially in CPS, need more teachers who actually look and speak like their students,” she said. “Seeing the impact I had on these kids made me realize that the community a teacher comes from is just as important as what they teach.”
Gonzalez pursued a formal Spanish education during high school to stay connected to her cultural roots. “I took a Spanish for Heritage Speakers class to learn grammar and writing in my native language,” she said, “That’s something we miss, and is why languages can get lost in immigrant families. Once I decided to teach, I knew that I would need those skills to support Spanish-speakers in my classroom.”
She continued with her heritage Spanish work and received the state seal of Bilingual Literacy in Spanish and English before graduation. Gonzalez now advocates for Bilingual education to help students like herself have a space in education, and to show native English speakers how to welcome speakers of other languages with respect.
Gonzales chose the TCT program after joining a virtual information session while in high school. She was attracted to the program’s transparency and how they valued students from diverse communities across CPS to become teachers.
“I enjoyed the conversations I had with the staff and other students during that info session, and the positive environment made me want to continue exploring the program,” Gonzalez said.
The TCT program provides aspiring educators with individualized support from ISU faculty and staff. While they take courses at City Colleges of Chicago, they remain connected to the University to easily transfer to ISU to complete their education. TCT program staff match students with a variety of clinical experiences in CPS classrooms so that they receive regular training with the demographics of their future students.
Now, students can directly enroll as first-year ISU students through TCT while still receiving tailored resources necessary for success as a future educator for CPS. Through the program, students will earn a bachelor’s degree and Professional Educator License.
Gonzalez is receiving an endorsement in Elementary Education and Bilingual Education through the program to work directly with students with similar circumstances to her early educational career “I really like ISU’s involvement in our education. We are constantly in communication with ISU faculty at the urban center, and our advisor Yadira Ramirez makes us all feel represented,” she said. “The TCT professors also make us feel like we matter as future educators, especially when they talk about diversity and inclusion. They teach it and they mean it.”
“I also enjoy the summer immersion activities,” Gonzalez said. “We got to visit new neighborhoods across Chicago to see how other organizations and educators get connected within the city and build up the community. This program gives me everything I could have wanted in preparing to become a teacher.”
The College of Education looks forward to seeing Gonzalez and the rest of her TCT cohort graduate and move into their careers as CPS educators.
