Jennifer Gorman, 51, has spent 28 years providing inclusive and individualized education for every type of learner.

Gorman earned her Bachelor’s degree in education from McNeese State University in 1993. She only had two weeks off after graduation, as she was offered a job to fill in for an eighth teacher on sabbatical for the following spring semester.

She taught at S.J. Welsh Middle School for a total of 18 years. In 2000, after teaching at the school for six years, she moved to Aubery, Texas, and taught sixth- and seventh-grade content mastery classes at Aubrey Middle School. In 2001, she began teaching fifth- and sixth-grade inclusion and resources at Dutchtown Middle School in Prairieville. The next year, she returned to Southwest Louisiana to teach students with behavioral and emotional needs at Welsh Elementary.

In 2003, she returned to S.J. Welsh as an eighth-grade inclusion and resource teacher. She remained at SJ Welsh until 2015 before accepting her current position.

Gorman is now the Calcasieu Parish School Board Coordinator at Simon Youth Academy (SYA) at Prien Lake Mall and Calcasieu Parish.

SYA is an alternative program that provides personalized support for junior and senior high school students that are at risk of dropping out of school. “It’s a second chance program for many students.”

Students that participate in SYA are referred to the program by school administration or counselors and participate virtually.

The program is part of the Simon Youth Foundation (SYF). The ultimate goal of SYF is to give every student a chance at graduating high school. “They believe that all youth, no matter their personal circumstances, should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams through education,” said Gorman.

This is done by creating partnerships with school districts and building high schools in communities that house Simon Malls. Gorman explained that through the program, students are given individualized assistance before and after graduation.

Since the program’s inception 25 years ago, more than 26,000 students have graduated from 44 academies in 16 states. Over $21 million in scholarships have been awarded.

The SYA in Calcasieu is one of two in Louisiana.

For Gorman, it is vitally important that every student be given the attention they need to thrive, even if this attention is nontraditional. “I believe all students can learn and succeed… good educators meet all students’ differentiated learning needs to help all students meet their maximum learning potential,” she said. “It is our job as educators to prepare, mentor and teach our students life skills to build successful communities.”

It’s fulfilling work, as Gorman became a teacher to nurture student success. “I enjoy working with the students and seeing them grow and achieve milestones they thought were impossible,” she explained. “Seeing them graduate and walk across the stage at graduation makes all the hard work become reality.”

As a child, she knew she wanted to become an educator. She said she has always loved helping people, kids especially.

She understands the importance of younger generations. “Students today are the leaders of tomorrow.”

To be an efficient teacher, one “must be understanding, nonjudgmental, kind and respectful to students,” she said.

“Students may not remember what you taught them, but will never forget how you made them feel.”

Her students, in fact, never forget. “What brings me joy is seeing former students years later. I get to hear their success stories and they thank me for never giving up on them and keeping them motivated and on the right path.”

These moments make her career worth it. “There is no greater gift, as an educator, than to see students succeeding.”