My name is Lilian Gonzalez, and I am proud to begin my 11th year at Lawton Chiles Middle School and my twentieth year as an educator. My teaching journey began at Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center, Thomas K-8 Center, where I spent nine years teaching students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. For the past seventeen years, I have focused exclusively on middle school education, where I discovered my passion for working with young artists during this important stage of development.
Throughout my career, I have created meaningful learning experiences that encourage creativity, confidence, communication, and personal growth. At Lawton Chiles Middle School, my work has expanded beyond the art classroom to include student leadership opportunities, TV Production, magnet program leadership, schoolwide initiatives, and community engagement.
Florida International University
Bachelor's Degree in Art Education, K–12
American College of Education
Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership
During my time at Florida International University, I completed my teaching internship at Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary under the mentorship of Mabel Morales, an accomplished Miami-Dade County Public Schools visual arts educator and current Visual Arts District Supervisor.
That experience helped shape my philosophy as an educator and reinforced my belief in the transformative role the arts can play in a child's academic, creative, and personal development.
I began my career at Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center, where I spent nine years teaching visual arts to students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. During my time there, I also became actively involved in school leadership, committees, and the development of Special Areas and Electives.
I later joined Lawton Chiles Middle School, where I have continued my work as a Visual Arts educator while expanding my involvement in student programs, technology, TV Production, school communications, and magnet education.
Throughout my career, I have encouraged students to participate in art contests, exhibitions, schoolwide projects, and collaborative experiences that allow them to showcase their creativity and talents beyond the classroom.
Leadership and service have been an important part of my career. I have served on numerous school committees and leadership teams and have held responsibilities involving Special Areas, Electives, magnet programs, student activities, and schoolwide initiatives.
At Lawton Chiles Middle School, I have played an active role in supporting and growing our Cambridge International Magnet Program, including program development, recruitment, community outreach, and student opportunities.
I have also sponsored and supported programs such as Art Club and TV Production, providing students with additional opportunities to explore creativity through traditional art, digital media, technology, communication, and production.
For the past 11 summers, I have also had the privilege of serving as a Teacher Supervisor for the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) through Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Career and Technical Education (CTE).
SYIP provides students with meaningful real-world work experience while allowing them to earn an honors credit and participate in a paid internship. I have personally witnessed students turn these experiences into part-time employment and, after graduation, full-time careers with benefits. Being part of a program that can have such a lasting impact on a student's future is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work outside the classroom.
I have been honored to be named Teacher of the Year twice in my career—once early in my career and again in 2024.
In 2024, I was also selected as one of the Top 5 Finalists for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools North Region Teacher of the Year, an experience that remains a highlight of my career.
I am also proud to have contributed to the continued success and recognition of the Lawton Chiles Middle School Cambridge International Magnet Program, which has received multiple national recognitions from Magnet Schools of America.
These accomplishments represent the collective work of dedicated students, educators, administrators, families, and community partners who believe in creating exceptional opportunities for students.
I believe every student should have opportunities to create, explore, communicate, and discover what inspires them.
My goal as an art educator is not simply to teach students how to draw or paint. I want them to experience a variety of artistic mediums, develop technical skills, strengthen their creative thinking, and gain the confidence to express their own ideas.
The arts provide students with opportunities to problem-solve, take creative risks, collaborate, communicate, and see the world from different perspectives. Most importantly, I want my classroom to be a place where students feel comfortable discovering their own artistic voice.
As I continue my journey in education, I look forward to inspiring creativity, supporting innovative programs, collaborating with my colleagues, and creating opportunities that help students recognize their potential both inside and beyond the classroom.
Every student has something to contribute, and I am proud to help them discover what that can be.
My name is Lilian Gonzalez, and I am proud to begin my 11th year at Lawton Chiles Middle School and my nineteenth year as an educator. My teaching journey began at Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center, where I spent nine years teaching students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. For the past seventeen years, I have focused exclusively on middle school education, where I found my passion and purpose in nurturing young artists.
I earned my degree in Art Education (K–12) from Florida International University. During my time at FIU, I had the privilege of completing my internship at Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary under the mentorship of Mabel Morales—one of the district’s most accomplished art educators, who now serves as our Visual Arts District Supervisor. That formative experience reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of the arts in a child's education and development.
Throughout my career, I’ve actively contributed to school improvement initiatives. At Eugenia B. Thomas, I served on multiple committees and was a member of the Leadership Team, where I led the Special Areas and Electives departments. I have also proudly sponsored the Art Club and TV Production, helping students explore creative expression through various media and technology.
As I continue my journey at Lawton Chiles, I remain committed to promoting student achievement through the arts. I am excited to lead our students in contests, exhibitions, and collaborative projects that showcase their creativity and talent. My dedication to education has been recognized with the honor of being named Teacher of the Year twice—once early in my career, and again in 2024, when I was also selected as one of the Top 5 finalists for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools North Region Teacher of the Year. It was a humbling and unforgettable experience.
I am deeply passionate about providing students with opportunities to explore, communicate, and grow through art. My goal is to expose them to a variety of artistic mediums and guide them as they discover their unique voice and creative passions.
In addition to my work during the school year, I have had the privilege of serving for the past 11 summers as a teacher supervisor for the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) through M-DCPS and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) office. I strongly believe in this program and the opportunities it provides our students—not only do they gain valuable, real-world work experience and earn an honors credit, but it is also a paid internship. I have personally witnessed students secure part-time jobs following their internships and even transition into full-time employment with benefits after high school graduation. It is truly a life-changing opportunity for those who embrace it.
As we move forward, I look forward to continuing to inspire creativity at Lawton Chiles Middle School, supporting the growth of the Cambridge program, and collaborating with my CTE family through the SYIP. I am honored to work with such incredible students and colleagues, and I remain committed to helping our young artists thrive.
With the cooperation of everyone involved, I am confident this will be another outstanding year filled with artistic accomplishments!