Meet Mr. G – Your Gateway to Innovation, Power & Purpose

Welcome to a classroom where curiosity is fuel, and innovation is the engine—where sparks fly not just from circuits but from the passion to build, discover, and lead.

My name is Thomas M. Gonzales, but around RCTCM, I’m proudly known as Mr. G. I serve as the instructor for our Engineering: Energy & Power and the STEM Electronics Career Pathways, the Technology Student Association (TSA) Advisor, and Coach of the RCTCM Cross Country and Track & Field teams. But more than that—I’m a mentor, motivator, and lifelong learner who believes every student has the potential to engineer their own future.

Before stepping into education, I served over two decades in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2017. My journey began in 1997, when I enlisted and launched into the dynamic world of Information Technology and Cybersecurity—fields that shaped the way I think, solve problems, and lead. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, and achieved both the CompTIA Security+ Certification and the Energy Industry Fundamentals Certificate.

What does that mean for you or your student? It means they’re learning from a mentor with real-world experience—someone who’s operated in mission-critical environments and now channels that energy into helping students master technology, electricity, energy, and innovation.

I’m a fierce advocate for Project-Based Learning (PBL). My classroom isn’t about worksheets—it’s about wiring real circuits, designing solar-powered systems, building solutions, and learning from failure just as much as from success. In this space, students are challenged to think critically, problem-solve, create with their hands, and grow through experimentation. They don’t just study technology—they become technologists.

In addition to high school pathways, I also work with our Middle School scholars, introducing them to Career Management, Skills for Adolescents (which provides early exposure to our pathways), and Foundations of Secure Information Systems (an intro to Cybersecurity). It’s never too early to help students discover how bright their futures can be.

Parents, if you want your child to explore a future in energy, engineering, electronics, or cybersecurity—if you want them to think bigger, dream boldly, and learn with purpose—you’ve found the right place.

Students, if you’re ready to build something real, take on challenges that matter, and uncover just how far your ideas can take you—let’s power up your journey.

Welcome to the future. Welcome to the Energy & Power and Electronics Career Pathways.

Let’s get to work.

— Mr. G