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Mr. G @ Disneyland

About Mr. G

 

Hello, and welcome! My name is Mr. Jarryd Gutierrez, though many of my students simply know me as Mr. G. I am excited to work with our students and families and to share more about my background, educational journey, and the philosophy I bring into the classroom each day.

 

My Background

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and moved to West Monroe, Louisiana, in 2015 to continue my education at the University of Louisiana Monroe. What began as a move to pursue my passion for music ultimately became the beginning of a much larger journey in education.

 

I earned my Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Louisiana Monroe. My studies helped me develop not only as a musician and performer but also as a communicator, collaborator, and lifelong learner. Music has played an important role throughout my life, and the creativity, discipline, perseverance, and attention to detail I developed through music continue to influence my teaching.

 

As my professional journey continued, I discovered an even greater passion for education and helping young people recognize their potential. I went on to earn my Master of Education in Elementary Education from Western Governors University.

 

I am currently completing my certification in Elementary Education for Grades 1–5 and Music Education for Grades K–12 through iTeach Louisiana. I am also pursuing a Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning at South College, with an anticipated graduation in 2028. Continuing my education helps me strengthen my knowledge of teaching, learning, curriculum, and effective instructional practices while bringing new ideas and perspectives into my classroom.

 

What I Teach

At Barkdull Faulk Elementary School, I teach 5th- and 6th-Grade Mathematics and Science. I also lead a combined 5th- and 6th-Grade Choir, which meets on Fridays.

 

Although mathematics, science, and music may appear to be very different subjects, they share many important qualities. Each encourages students to recognize patterns, think critically, solve problems, communicate ideas, practice consistently, take creative risks, and persevere when something does not come easily the first time.

Whether we are solving a challenging mathematics problem, investigating a scientific phenomenon, or developing our skills as a choir, I want students to understand that learning is a process. Mistakes are not something to fear—they are opportunities to think, adjust, ask questions, and grow.

 

My Teaching Philosophy

At the heart of my teaching philosophy is a simple belief: every student is capable of learning, growing, and achieving success.

 

Students enter the classroom with different experiences, strengths, interests, personalities, and needs. Because of that, effective teaching requires more than simply presenting information. It requires building relationships, setting high but attainable expectations, providing meaningful support, and creating an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and challenging themselves.

 

My goal is to create a classroom that is structured, engaging, supportive, respectful, and student-centered. I want students to know that their ideas matter, their questions are welcome, and their effort has value.

 

I also believe strongly in pairing high expectations with encouragement and support. I expect students to come prepared to learn, participate appropriately, treat others with respect, take responsibility for their choices, and give their best effort. At the same time, I recognize that students are still learning how to become responsible and independent learners. Part of my role is to help them develop those skills.

 

Success does not always look the same for every child. Sometimes success is mastering a difficult concept. Sometimes it is finding the confidence to ask a question, improving from one assessment to the next, developing stronger study habits, learning from a mistake, or refusing to give up when something becomes challenging.

 

Growth matters, and progress deserves to be recognized.

 

Building Confident Learners

One of my greatest goals as an educator is to help students develop confidence in themselves as learners. Students will inevitably encounter concepts that are difficult. When that happens, I do not want their first thought to be, “I can’t do this.” Instead, I want them to begin thinking, “I don’t understand this yet, so what can I try next?”

That small change in perspective can make an enormous difference.

 

In our classroom, students are encouraged to ask questions, explain their thinking, investigate ideas, use evidence, try different strategies, collaborate appropriately, learn from feedback, and continue working even when an answer is not immediately obvious.

 

My goal is not simply to help students find the correct answer. I want them to understand why an answer makes sense, explain the evidence supporting their ideas, and develop the skills needed to approach future challenges independently. Ultimately, I hope students leave my classroom with more than additional academic knowledge—I want them to leave believing they are capable of tackling difficult things.

 

The Importance of Family Partnership

I firmly believe that education is most successful when students, teachers, and families work together.

Parents and guardians know their children in ways that no teacher ever could, which makes communication and collaboration incredibly important. I want families to feel informed about what is happening in our classroom and comfortable reaching out whenever they have questions, concerns, or information that may help me better support their child.

 

This website is one of the ways I hope to strengthen that connection. Throughout the school year, I will use it to share:

  • Classroom resources and learning guides

  • Information about what we are studying

  • Important dates and reminders

  • Classroom expectations and procedures

  • Schedule updates

  • Mathematics, science, and choir materials

  • Resources that can help students and families stay informed and prepared

 

I encourage families to explore the website and check back regularly as new information is added. Most importantly, communication is always welcome. If you have a question, concern, suggestion, or want to know how you can better support your child’s learning, please feel free to reach out.

 

A Lifelong Learner

One of the messages I want my students to understand is that learning does not end when you leave school.

I believe educators should model the same curiosity, perseverance, and commitment to improvement that we ask of our students. My educational journey—from studying vocal performance, to earning a graduate degree in elementary education, to pursuing doctoral studies in teaching and learning—reflects my belief that there is always more to learn.

 

I continually strive to improve my teaching by reflecting on what works, exploring new instructional strategies, studying student learning, listening to feedback, and finding better ways to meet the needs of every student.

I do not expect my students to be perfect, and I do not expect perfection from myself. What I do expect is a willingness to learn, reflect, improve, and keep moving forward.

 

Beyond the Classroom

While education is an important part of who I am, music remains one of my greatest passions. My background as a vocalist and musician has shaped much of the person and educator I am today.

 

Music taught me the value of preparation, practice, collaboration, creativity, discipline, and perseverance. It also taught me something I frequently remind students: improvement rarely happens all at once.

 

Whether someone is learning a piece of music, mastering a mathematics concept, developing a scientific explanation, or building any other skill, meaningful growth usually comes through consistent effort over time.

 

Those lessons influence the classroom culture I work to create—a place where students are encouraged to be curious, creative, hardworking, thoughtful, and willing to try again.

 

My Commitment to Students and Families

As your child’s teacher, I take seriously the responsibility of helping them grow academically while developing the confidence, responsibility, curiosity, and perseverance that will serve them beyond my classroom.

 

My commitment is to provide a learning environment where students are:

  • Challenged to grow

  • Supported when they struggle

  • Celebrated when they succeed

  • Encouraged to become increasingly independent learners

 

I also recognize that great classrooms are never truly finished. There is always something that can be improved. I welcome constructive feedback from students and families. If there is a resource, explanation, guide, or addition to this website that would make it easier for you to support learning at home, I encourage you to let me know.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. It is a privilege to be part of your child’s educational journey, and I look forward to a school year filled with learning, creativity, confidence, growth, and success.

 

Welcome to Mr. G’s classroom—I’m glad you’re here!

 

— Mr. G