Meet Dr. Shineth Cunanan- Gonzales | Mother, Teacher, School Leader & Community Servant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Shineth Cunanan- Gonzales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Shineth, what makes you happy? Why?
LOVE & FAMILY!

In my life, I’ve realized that the simplest of things are the source of my happiness. I personally don’t long for unnecessary wants or excessive things. It is enough for me to be genuine towards the people I love and interact with; to be healthy amidst the ongoing pandemic and; of course, the feeling of being loved is a source of happiness I will always cherish.

In many ways, I am a mother. I have a son, Jacob Ray. I’m happiest when I’m with him, especially now that he is at an age that he is learning about the world. Having a healthy family is something that I value too. I am also a mother to my students and the community I belong to. I offer my love and support to them as if they were my real children. The success of my students brings me happiness too. I am always proud of what they do and where their journey leads them.

I am very blessed with family’s love- my husband, my one and only child and my mother. I am grateful with my students’ trust, respect and love.

What should our readers know about your business?

There are many educational institutions like us, with similar goals and aspirations. However, I strongly believe, what set us apart is our genuine dedication to making sure that education and assistance in their needs come first. This is easily said, but for us at Colorado Global Schools, which includes Colorado Language Program, Colorado International Online School, and Colorado Statewide Charter School, we do not demand that students pay tuition if they cannot afford it. We recognize that many people want to learn but their financial situation may be a hindrance. With this, we continue to stay true to our common goal of providing education and assistance, built on the trust and love of our students.

For context, the state directors told me we should have at least a $300,000 investment for each school since most are reimbursable grants where you receive the funds only after you’ve incurred the costs for your program. Simply put, you pay for the project initially, then the grantor pays you back the funds that you’ve already spent. My supportive husband did an advance withdrawal of his retirement and invested. He said it is my dream to have a school and that’s why he did what he did. However, we still cannot depend on the students’ tuition because we recognize their many, individual situations, especially pertaining to money.

In Colorado Global Schools, we promise our students to help them achieve their academic and language-learning goals for a successful life in the United States. We offer excellent educational programs with personalized curriculum and evidence-based strategies to quickly place interested students on their personal track to success. To help reach their goals, we offer personalized curriculum and tailored courses based on their schedules and needs. We are very open to customizing arrangements to accommodate our students. We also believe that a conducive learning environment is important. That’s why we make sure that we have a positive educational atmosphere for students to learn, grow, and succeed in the English Language.

And lastly, Colorado Global Schools takes pride in our experienced staff, having over 30 years teaching experience in the United States, Central America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Our passion in teaching and helping reach thousands of students all over the world.

As educators, there is no doubt how important integrity is for us. And I would like to reiterate our commitment to integrity with an experience we had. There was a student who wanted to bribe our teachers and myself so he could pass the exams. We dropped him from the program. Integrity is very important to our school! We would spend many hours teaching them because our goal is for them to learn properly. Sometimes, we get paid $3 an hour instead of $30 just for them to learn and succeed. So you can imagine the value of integrity for all of us at the Colorado Global Schools. I teach for free while our Mathematics teacher Lara Limon accepts scholars.

Our commitment to education has led us to be the TOP GED school. We have a 100% passing rate for students attending our preparation program. We have a wide array of personalized curriculum and lessons for each student; we cater to each individual student’s needs. We believe that this accommodation of their specific needs helps them complete and pass their exams in a shorter period of time.

More than a school, we also have immigration assistance. For US Citizenship, it usually takes a year or two to complete the application and naturalization. But, from our experience, from application to naturalization, it was only 20 days up to four months for our students. I take pride in being meticulous in preparing paperwork. In addition, we also helped many immigrants for their employment authorization, permanent residency, petition for family, advanced parole (re-entry permits) and travel visas.

Overall, Colorado Global Schools, and its subsequent branches, provides quality education to those who seek it, as well as assistance in immigration and other similar needs for those who need it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many things to do in Denver! A week-long trip here is just perfect for a fun and refreshing family trip.

For starters, from Day 1 to Day 3, I’ll take my best friend and her family to Estes Park, where it serves as the base for the Rocky Mountain National Park. Here, we can explore the wildlife and might even see elk and bears, all while admiring the forests and greenery.

While we’re going on a trip to explore Kingdom Animalia, we can also visit the Denver Zoo and Denver Aquarium on Day 4 and Day 5! And, of course, no trip is complete without appreciating some art and culture through the local museums.

My high school friend from San Francisco visited last week, and we felt happy seeing the Redrocks, and touring in the Capitol Hill.

Like any trip, souvenirs are a must! For Day 6, I suggest we dine and shop at Castle Rock! Here, we can support local businesses and even get a chance to experience various community events. To get the full Denver experience, I’ll be taking her to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

Lastly, as we reach Day 7, my best friend and her family deserves some home cooking! Luckily, my husband loves to cook and adores visitors! I’m sure this intimate dinner will be a lovely capper to this week-long Colorado adventure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As cliche as it may sound, I believe in the sayings, “No man is an island” and “It takes a village to raise a child.” Growing up, I had a supportive family who helped me realize and reach my potential. A big part of who I am is because of their teachings and love. My mother and late grandparents were important pillars to my development. They raised me to be the person I am today; the many faces of my personality.

I also want to take the time to express my gratitude to my husband and son. They are my life. Everything I do, I dedicate to them. They make me a better person, mother, wife, educator, leader, and community member. Ray (my spouse) whom I call ducky is my motivator and Jacob Ray (my son) who is my baba/bochik is my inspirational reminder.

Lastly, I want to thank God, for whom I owe my whole life to. Religion plays an important part in who I am. I believe that through God’s love, I am an instrument of service to the people around me.

Website: cgsi.us

Instagram: nationaleducator

Linkedin: shineth

Facebook: shinethcunanan

Image Credits
Allie of Spur of Moments Jackie Sewell Eva Naredo