Teaching Philosophy
There are many ways to teach—my favorite is project-based learning, because I get to join alongside my students. I’ve taught in settings from elite prep schools to lower-income urban elementary schools, and the core stays the same: meet students where they are and give them something real to build.
- Project-Based Learning: Emphasizing hands-on, real-world projects that allow students to apply their skills in practical contexts. Each project serves as a learning journey, combining guided problem solving with a high dose of personal vision.
- Student Ownership: Creating an environment where students take full ownership of their work and learning process. This includes setting personal goals, managing project timelines, and developing their unique creative voice. By the end of our time together, each student should have something tangible to share—whether it's a personal website, a portfolio of work, or a live project they can showcase.
- Safe, Inclusive Classrooms: I’m trained in CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) and believe that clear expectations and de-escalation support learning for everyone. A calm, predictable environment—especially in high-need settings—lets curiosity and creativity thrive.
- Iterative Development: Teaching through rapid prototyping and continuous feedback cycles. Students learn to refine their work through multiple iterations, incorporating feedback and improving their designs through an interactive development process.
This approach helps students develop both technical proficiency and creative confidence, from K–5 STEM to high school and college digital media—preparing them for real-world challenges in and out of the classroom.
Teaching Experience
Barnum Public Schools (August 2025 – June 2026)
Position: STEM Teacher — Grades 1–5
Setting: Lower-income urban schools. Trained in CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention).
Teach five classes per day with 20–30 students per class. Deliver hands-on STEM curriculum tailored to elementary learners in high-need environments.
Learn-at-home website: Built a complete website for students to access lessons, activities, and resources from home—extending learning beyond the classroom.
Student work: Students create photography and 3D digital creations as part of the curriculum; see the gallery below for examples.
Choate Rosemary Hall (2023)
Position: Adjunct Professor
Courses Taught:
- Filmmaking II
- Digital Photography I
- Digital Photography II
Developed and implemented curriculum for digital filmmaking and photography courses. By the end of the semester, students created original artwork and film and created a portfolio piece to share.
SUNY New Paltz (2019-2022)
Position: Adjunct Professor
Taught courses in website development using Wix. Students focused primarliy on the design - colors - theory - and created their own unique business brand and pretended as if it was real.
Jacob Burns Film Center (2016-2018)
Position: Adjunct Professor
Instructed students in film production and digital media, with a focus on storytelling and technical proficiency.
Workspace Academy (2017)
Position: Adjunct Professor
Led courses in virtual reality where students created their own unique virtual reality experiences using Unreal Engine. Students also learned conditional logic and coding through the use of blueprints.
Public Library Programs (2015-Present)
Positions: Digital Media Instructor
Locations:
- Ridgefield Library
- Yonkers Library
- Sleepy Hollow Library
- New Haven Library
- Bethel Library
Developed and led workshops in digital media, coding, and creative technology for diverse age groups. Created accessible programs that introduced community members to digital tools and creative expression.
After-School Programs (2015-Present)
Positions: Technology & Media Instructor
Led multiple after-school programs across Connecticut and New York, teaching digital media production, coding, and creative technology to K-12 students. Focused on project-based learning and hands-on experience with modern digital tools.
Teaching Specializations
Full Resume
Alex Gonzalez
Creative Director | Filmmaker | Software Designer
Professional Summary
A multidisciplinary professional with a background in film production, software design, and business. Proven ability to lead creative teams, mentor students, and deliver long-term projects in innovative and technical fields.
Work Experience
- Product Designer and Frontend Engineer at The Montauk Wine Project (2025)
- Product Designer at Silverback at ApeWorx, LTD (2021–2025)
- Executive Digital Platform Director at Mission Anabaino (2023): Created a system for new church plants to have a base-level foundation of technology.
- Product Designer at ApeWorx (2022–2023)
- Creative Director at ApeWorx (2021–2022)
- Founder and Chief at Ahoy Indie Media (2022–Present)
- Adjunct Film Professor at Choate Rosemary (2023): Taught undergraduate preparatory courses in Film Studies and Digital Photography.
- AV Director at CPC New Haven (2020–Present): Oversaw the audiovisual department.
Teaching Experience
- Barnum Public Schools (August 2025 – June 2026). STEM Teacher, Grades 1–5. Lower-income urban schools; CPI trained. Five classes daily, 20–30 students per class. Built a complete learn-at-home website for students; curriculum includes student photography and 3D creations.
- Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT (2023). Courses Taught: Digital Filmmaking II, Digital Photography I, Digital Photography II
- SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY (2019–2021). Courses Taught: Digital Filmmaking II, Digital Photography I, Digital Photography II
- Wilton Library – Maker Program, Wilton, CT (2019). Courses Taught: VR World Building
- Workspace Academy, Bethel, CT (2019). Courses Taught: Immersive Storytelling, VR Production
- New Haven Ives Squared – Maker Program, New Haven, CT (2018). Courses Taught: Immersive Storytelling, VR World Building
- Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY (2017–2019). Courses Taught: Adventures in Media, Immersive Storytelling, Podcast People, Camera Tricks
- Ridgefield Library, Ridgefield, CT (2018). Courses Taught: Making Magic from Scratch, Immersive Storytelling
- Yonkers Public Library, Yonkers, NY (2017–2018). Courses Taught: Making Magic from Scratch
- Coding Kidz, NY, NY (2016–2017). Courses Taught: Making Magic from Scratch
- Tarrytown Summer Challenge Camp, Tarrytown, NY (2015–2018). Courses Taught: Making Magic from Scratch
Recent Filmmaking Projects
- Creatures in the Tall Grass — In preproduction. Feature-length film (90 min), planned shoot summer 2026.
- Poets and Friends — Organize and host a monthly poetry event.
- The Tyler Show Podcast — A video podcast about mental health, music, and art.
- Editor and Colorist for Dallas (2025), Childlike Studios
- Editor and Media Director for Ahoy Indie Media Live Shows (2025)
- Producer | Director | Editor for The Rob Show (2022–2025)
- Director | Editor for Silverback Trailer (2023)
- Director | Editor for Pantalones Cinematic Skatefilm Opening (2023)
- Director | Editor for ChaosNet Trailer (2023)
Tangible Skills
- Creating Custom GPTs using Advanced AI APIs
- Developing Python applications integrated with open-source AI models
- Bulk video editing automation
- Index creation and data monitoring
- Virtual Reality Development (Unreal Engine 4 & 5, APK Development for Oculus Quest & Android)
- Film & Video Production (Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, Dragon Capture)
- Web & App Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Cordova, Alpine.js, Git Version Control)
- Software Programming (OOP, Objective-C, Python for UI apps and internal systems)
- UI/UX Design (Responsive design, various CSS & JS frameworks, Figma)
- Business & Marketing (Writing business plans, campaign strategies)
- Problem-Solving (Troubleshooting, debugging, performance optimization, web security)
- Team Collaboration (Remote and in-person leadership for creative & technical projects)
Selected Achievements
- Launched Ahoy Indie Media App Platform and Debuted a Live Variety Show (2025)
- Winner of 2022 ETH DENVER Vega HACKATHON
- Creative-in-Residence, New Haven Public Library (2018)
- Maker-in-Residence, Ridgefield Library (2018)
- Creative Culture Fellowship, Creative Culture Program – Jacob Burns (2017)
- Middlebury Film Festival Acceptance – Beyond the Mountain (VR Film, 2017)
Student Work — Barnum Public Schools
A selection of student photography and 3D creations from my STEM classes at Barnum.
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