Dean of Students
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Before coming to IVA, Rachel Gordon taught for 14 years at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Lynwood, CA, where she was originally placed by Teach for America. Here is where she learned the value of a strong community and what can be gained by better understanding the experiences of others.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Rachel got her BA in English from Rutgers University, her MA in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University, and her single-subject science credential from the California State University of Long Beach. Rachel began her career at IVA in 2016 as a Science and Physical Education teacher. Then in response to the need for more math support, Rachel and Cari Noble created the Algebra Lab and Math Lab support classes. She and her husband Mark have two children: Emery and Miles.
"After teaching in a traditional public school where success and failure were measured only by test scores, I believe many students are missing out on learning what it takes to persist in unpredictable and complex lives. I want to examine the processes and challenges we go through, especially when they are difficult. Studying and teaching with an emphasis on experience and thinking motivates me because I am able to get to the core of what matters and what promotes life-long success. I love learning through collaboration the elements of a meaningful education."