Isabella Gonzales

Biography

My first experience educating students was also my very first job. I was a martial arts instructor for several years, and although martial arts is very different from math, it taught me how to break down complex concepts into manageable pieces and tailor my teaching to each student’s individual needs. I also learned how important patience, encouragement, and adaptability are when working with students who learn at different paces. I think one-on-one tutoring is a perfect setting to support students’ individual needs in a focused way. When I was in high school, I attended tutoring for the first time myself, and it helped me understand the material beyond just succeeding on an exam.

I grew up here in the East Bay and attended Dublin High School. Having experienced the local education system firsthand, I understand how competitive Bay Area high schools can be, and my personal experience helps me better support students and alleviate some of the stress they may feel.

I graduated from UC Davis with a degree in statistics, along with minors in sustainability and computer science. At UC Davis, I found that the things I learned outside of the classroom through on-campus opportunities were just as important as the concepts I learned in lectures. I worked with several professors and graduate students on research projects, where I was able to apply what I was learning to real-world problems. These experiences taught me the value of experiential learning and reinforced the importance of helping students understand not just how to solve problems, but why the concepts matter.

Math is a difficult subject for many students, and I thought the same thing growing. However, things changed when I had a few key teachers and professors who explained concepts to me in a way that really clicked. These early experiences led to me pursuing a degree in statistics. One of my favorite things about statistics (and math in general) is the way that it can be applied to almost any field you can think of. Throughout my undergraduate career I studied applications related to our transit systems, urban planning, sustainability, and local government.

My tutoring approach centers on meeting students where they are at and building confidence alongside technical understanding. My goal as a tutor is to provide those “lightbulb” moments for the students I teach and to help them feel confident in the material. I make use of the one-on-one format by adjusting the pace of each session, identifying specific areas of confusion, and revisiting foundational concepts when needed.

In my free time I enjoy doing crafts, going to live music events, and trying new foods.