No limits: Alesha Gordon’s path to becoming a special education teacher

It was a Tuesday afternoon when Alesha Gordon, a substitute teacher at the time, received the San Juan Unified School District's weekly staff newsletter – Behind the Scenes, where she learned about the San Juan Unified Teacher Residency Program. Gordon soon would remember this moment as the beginning of her new chapter in education. 

Gordon knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age. She was passionate about education and made it a priority. 

As a graduate from the 2024-25 cohort of the San Juan Unified Teacher Residency Program in partnership with Alder Graduate School of Education, Gordon received an Education Specialist credential and a master's degree. 

Today, Gordon is a K-1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Special Education teacher at Albert Schweitzer Elementary School, the school where she completed her residency. 

“It is a wonderful thing to watch, when you know you’re assisting a student to become their higher self and they know you’re believing in them,” said Gordon.

Gordon herself was once recommended for a special education classroom, but her family instead placed her in another school, she said. Her experience helped her understand that placing a student with the right support system would strengthen their learning experience and help them thrive.

“I used any of my free time in high school to volunteer at the special education program there,” she shared. 

The teacher she volunteered for asked her if she ever thought about becoming a special education teacher. This experience laid the foundation for her career.

With the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, Gordon not only stepped into her classroom as a first-year teacher but also as the implementor of the new ASD program at Schweitzer. 

Through the San Juan Unified Teacher Residency Program, she became part of a close and supportive community.

“It is great because as first-year teachers, you need that connection,” she said. 

Gordon finds the importance of extending her support to current teacher residents at her school  

“I know the struggle, I’m offering support because I have received it,” she shared. 

Her goal for the school year is to enhance her experience and practice with the individualized education program (IEP), procedures and processes that are related to the job.

“I want to make sure that I’m staying on top of all things that change in education so I’m able to assist my families as best as I can,” said Gordon. 

The San Juan Teacher Residency Program was established to support recruitment and retention of hard-to-fill teaching positions with employees who represent the communities we serve. Since the 2022-23 school year, the program has expanded from 12 to 20 participating schools, with 26 residents participating this school year.

Applications for the 2026-27 cohort will open on Sept. 1. Learn more at aldergse.edu/apply.