Her Story
About Malika
Dr. Malika Gonzales serves as an elementary school principal, bringing more than two decades of experience in the education field. She began her career as a teacher for seven years before transitioning into roles as an academic coach, curriculum specialist, dean of academics, and instructional coach. She then spent eleven years as an assistant principal prior to her current position. Dr. Gonzales earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Georgia State University, a master's degree in reading and literacy development from Walden University, a specialist degree in educational leadership, and a doctorate degree in instructional leadership. This year, her school achieved one of the highest levels of academic growth among elementary schools in the district. She attributes her success to being a hard worker and values honesty, transparency, intelligence, and being a people person in her work. Dr. Gonzales advises staying true to oneself without comparing to others and encourages young women entering education to silence external noise, maintain balance, and stay committed to their path.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Malika
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a hard worker.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stay true to myself in this endeavor, and don't compare myself to anybody else.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Silence the noise, all the things that are going on in the world about education, balance that, and stay on the path if it's something that you want to do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being responsible for everything when you can't see everything.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, transparency, intelligence, and being a people person because you can't do this work alone.
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