Erica Gonzales

Biography

My journey into education actually started in the corporate world, not the classroom. After years of building up my analytical and leadership skills, I realized I really wanted to understand the theory behind all my practical experience. That natural curiosity, which I’ve had forever, pushed me to go back to school and connect the “why” with the “how.”

My academic road took me from Mt. San Antonio College to UC Santa Cruz (UCSC), where I got my B.S. in Physics with a focus on Astrophysics. While I definitely sharpened my analytical and leadership skills there, I found an even bigger sense of satisfaction in helping classmates through tough problem-sets and essays. This passion for teaching really took off during my gap year. I was tutoring students from middle school up through university in subjects like Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, and Physics. I’m currently finishing up my Ph.D. in Astrophysics at UCSC, but frankly, my dedication to teaching has grown much stronger than my interest in research.

When I started my graduate work at the University of Notre Dame (where I received my M.S. in Physics), I created the Physics demonstration team. We visited local elementary schools, putting on fun shows to explain physics concepts. That experience connected me with great educational mentors and showed me firsthand the “leaky pipeline”—how students lose interest in STEM as the subjects get harder. That’s when I knew I wanted to dedicate my career to educating students of all ages.

Most recently, I spent a year teaching K-6 students in low-income communities in Southern California, focusing on helping them meet or beat state standards in reading, writing, and math. I’m incredibly committed to making sure every single child feels seen, heard, and encouraged to take on tough challenges.

I’m genuinely excited to work at AJ Tutoring and give my students the same gift I received: the confidence to stick with it and learn. Seeing that “Ah-ha” moment in a student’s eyes confirms that this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing.

When I’m not working with students, I love spending time with family and friends. We enjoy cooking, baking, hanging out by the ocean, walking in the redwoods, and just being out in nature. I also share my home with a beautiful cat named Osita, who keeps me company while I work and loves going on harness walks!