Anthony Gonzalez
Teacher, Volunteer, and Public Speaker in La Grange Park, Illinois
Anthony Gonzalez earned a Bachelor Degree in Social Science Secondary Education from Benedictine University in 2008 and his Masters in Educational Technology and Leadership in 2017. There he also earned a Technology Specialist license. Anthony has spent his 11 year career teaching at Nazareth Academy, a college prep high school in La Grange Park, IL.
At Nazareth Academy, Anthony teaches Contemporary World Issues and Economics, both senior-level courses. In addition to teaching, he has spent his career as the Assistant Coach on the Girls Cross Country team and leading Nazareth’s summer service trip to Solsberry Hill in southern Indiana. Over his tenure, Anthony has served as the moderator of the Young Entrepreneur’s CLub, led Kairos retreats, planned and ran the FISH Prom for Teens with Disabilities, and was the Assistant Varsity Softball Coach.
All of this has been possible due to Nazareth’s commitment to the education of the whole person. Anthony has been active in helping teachers innovate the classroom through the usage of technology and innovative pedagogy. These endeavors began with helping the school integrate its new technology goals while transitioning Nazareth to a Google Apps for Education school in 2013, planning and unrolling the 1-1 iPad initiative beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, and developing the 2017-2018 initiative to have 100% Google Certified Educators in our school. As a Google Certified Trainer, Anthony was invited to speak at the Google Education Summit at Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2013 and again in 2014, presented a technology in-service at Immaculate Conception High School and has run numerous in-services at Nazareth Academy in classroom implementation.
Anthony earned the “Most Inspiring Teacher” award by Western Illinois University in the Fall of 2011 and Fall of 2013 and was named “Educator of the Year” at Nazareth Academy by students and administration in both 2012 and 2018. In addition, Anthony earned a nomination for the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership in 2019.