MY TEACHING BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer Lee Gutierrez
Education: Master's of Science in Adult Literacy, Global TESOL Certificate
Currently studying - Master's of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Jennifer Lee Gutierrez has imparted nearly 20 years of experience in the teaching field as an English educator. Her innate passion for it began from an early age and unfolded when offered her first opportunity to teach South American students in 2005 in Falls Church, Virginia at a small place named Sanz School. A couple of years ahead and a hop and skip down to Georgia, Gutierrez was granted the chance to instruct at a couple of local colleges, Gwinnett College and Interactive College of Technology providing her with extensive exposure to teaching students from all over the world.
Fast forward to 2012, this educator earned a new seat at a different table. This time Gutierrez was hired to teach the English language in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan, where she spent approximately 4 years learning heaps about their honorific, traditional, and harmonious culture. Her undergraduate degree is in Communications and her first master's in Adult Literacy. The bulk of her experience has involved adults. Nevertheless, throughout her professional migration, Gutierrez has taught learners of all grades, varying from K-12 grades on subjects involving reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. For English language learners, she has taught courses and skills wrapped around Writing Composition, Essay Writing, Public Speaking, Communicative Grammar, Accent Reduction, Pronunciation and Articulation.
As of 2023, Gutierrez returned to obtain a second master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Capella University prompted by her intense goal in helping marginalized communities, specifically African American and Latino communities heal from generational traumas that imprison individuals from having happy, healthy, and peaceful state of mind. "I noticed how the pandemic opened up fears, pain, anxiety, and brought up traumas that have not been handled or worked on in marginalized communities and I realized I wanted to be part of the solution by helping others move through their pain and release it instead of holding it in. It is time for a change in a positive direction and I am here for it."
In her spare time, Gutierrez loves spending time with her Great Dane, Bubba, resting to recharge, hiking, power walks, watching movies and series, spending time with family, taking a vacation from time to time, visiting friends out of town, and devoting time to advocating for human rights, women's rights, LGBTQIA rights, and more.
Organization memberships:
- American Counseling Association of Georgia Volunteer Committee Chair
- American Mental Health Counseling Association Public Policy and Legislative Committee member
- Licensed Professional Counselor Association member
