Our Everyday Work
Educators bring life to De La Salle's vision of a good teacher
By Brother Brendan Kneale, FSC,
Jacqueline Tasch, and Terri Wetter

Shelly Gorman :
Meeting Students Where They Are Right Now
Christian Brothers High School alumnus, Allison Albericci, dreamed of being an architect -- but she didn't have any idea where she wanted to go to college. "I never would have considered Tulane University in New Orleans if it hadn't been for Ms. Gorman," says Allison. "She helped me find a school with just the right fit."

As Allison's teacher and counselor, Shelly Gorman certainly knew that Allison had a fine academic record. But it was from the many conversations the two had shared over time that Ms. Gorman learned some of the more obscure facts about Allison -- such as the fact that she didn't care for Southern California, where many fine architecture schools are based. She also knew that Allison didn't thrive in an area with severe winters, such as the East Coast, and that she was very interested in soccer. So Ms. Gorman helped Allison with the school research which ultimately landed her a full academic scholarship at Tulane University. While Tulane had a renowned school of architecture, it also offered some of the less academic, but nevertheless important, features that Allison sought, such as a temperate climate and a great women's soccer program.

When it came time for senior Andrea Golsong to start focusing on her college future, she, like Allison Albericci, knew the career she wanted to pursue -- veterinary medicine. And Andrea was even quite sure that she wanted to attend the University of California at Davis, known to have one of the finest vet schools in the country. But while Andrea had her heart set on Davis, Ms. Gorman encouraged her to keep an open mind and consider other schools as well. Ultimately, Andrea decided to attend the University of Montana. Andrea admits, like Allison, that she never would have considered Montana without Ms. Gorman's gentle guidance. It was she who pointed out to Andrea that Montana offered the more in-depth, large animal internship program that Andrea had been seeking.

Ms. Gorman has been more than a teacher to many of her students -- she has been a mentor, a role model, and sometimes even a "second mom". "I call her Momma Gorman," says Andrea. Recently, Andrea and Ms. Gorman's daughter, Abby, were talking about how terrific both of their mothers were, and both young women agreed that, someday, they aspire to be just like Shelly Gorman.