Michael Gonzales was elected as a Trustee to the New Haven School Board in 2020. He is an elementary school teacher in Hayward Unified School District. His previous teaching experience includes 15 years with numerous grade levels and diverse populations for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Michael has been heavily involved with the fight against the privatization of public education in California. In doing so, he organized a coalition that wrote a plan, S.M.Art Academy, for a new elementary school which eliminated a charter school takeover during the Public School Choice Initiative in LAUSD. Mr. Gonzales’ previous advocacy for the California Teachers Association (CTA) includes the Racial Equity Affairs Committee, serving as vice-chair of the CTA Hispanic Caucus and 10-year State Delegate for the California Teachers Association. Mr. Gonzales was also a proud National Delegate for the National Education Association Representative Assembly for seven years. Mr. Gonzales, is steeped in community advocacy and has served as president of the Pacoima Neighborhood Council, where he also served as chair of the Education Committee.
Michael understands the strife of students with learning disabilities from not only teaching experience, but also as a student. In grade school, Michael would misbehave to compensate for his inability to read at grade level due to his learning disability. The New Haven Unified School District staff recognized Michael’s attention seeking behavior and never gave up on him. Michael is excited to serve on the school board and give back to the community that has given him so much support as a student.
Michael Gonzales is a third generation Union City resident. All of Michael’s family went to New Haven Unified Schools. The Gonzales family serves or has served the Bay Area as educators, athletic coaches, and firefighters.
Click the image above to watch “40 Questions with Michael Gonzales”
