Meet Gerald Neal of Phoenix Union High School District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerald Neal.

Gerald, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I volunteered for a Special Olympics game when I was a junior in college. I really had a great time and the kids seemed to really take to me because of my height (I’m 6’7″). I wasn’t really sure of what I wanted to do after college, until that moment. I decided that I would go to graduate school for a Masters degree in special education (my undergrad was chemical engineering, at the time). While I was in school for my Masters, I got a job as an instructional assistant at a school (The Developmental Learning Center – New Providence) for kids with autism. I loved it!

When I got my teaching certificate and Masters I applied to be a teacher at the same school and got the job. I taught there for a bit over a year, before moving to Arizona to be with my college sweetheart. I got a teaching job at a small school in Glendale, AZ called The Children’s Center for Neurodevelopmental Studies (CCNS). I worked there for 9 years, before taking the job at Maryvale High School. I was a bit nervous about working at a “typical” high school for the first time but was excited about the possibility to do extracurricular stuff that my previous schools didn’t offer.

I’ve been at Maryvale High School for 10 years. I love how large the school is (3,000 students), how diverse it is, the school/neighborhood community, and I truly love teaching the MOID (Moderate Intellectual Disability) and MIID (Mild Intellectual Disability) population. I still have a few students with autism, but it’s nice to have a wider range than my previous schools.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
To be honest, my teaching career has been pretty smooth, so far. I think I’ve had some of the same challenges as many new teachers when it comes to money.

I was actually working 4 jobs a few years ago. I did respite/habilitation for a young adult with autism, I did ride sharing through Uber/Lyft, I consulted at a charter school, and I had my teaching job at Maryvale. It was pretty difficult making ends meet for quite awhile in my teaching career. Other than that, I would say it has always been a great experience. Amazing students, great parents, and supportive co-workers.

Phoenix Union High School District – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I work for Phoenix Union High School District. I specialize in teaching self-contained students (the students who are with one teacher for most of the day). I am really good at dealing with behaviors and differentiating instruction.

I think my classroom management has set me apart from others and is the biggest reason why it’s so easy for me to love my job. I also have a passion for social justice and have always been willing to fight for those who need it most.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is when you are happy/content with the choices that you have made in life. Not just business, but personal as well. Success in the workplace, for me, is always feeling like I gave everything I could for my students.

I am constantly taking professional development courses, engaging with leaders in the industry, and looking for innovative ways to improve my teaching. I’ll always feel successful if I know that my effort and passion are still as high as when I started.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://instagram.com/gkn977
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HB797
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/geraldkneal977

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