{"id":2576,"date":"2020-10-22T20:24:24","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T20:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=2576"},"modified":"2025-02-11T10:35:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T15:35:52","slug":"wilmus-promise-grants-a-helping-hand-when-the-classroom-is-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2020\/10\/22\/wilmus-promise-grants-a-helping-hand-when-the-classroom-is-calling\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU&#8217;s Promise Grants: A Helping Hand When the Classroom is Calling"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2576_7d14c0-fe dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-elementary-school-classrooms-racially-and-ethnically-diverse-student-populations-benefit-from-diversity-among-their-teachers-in-most-school-districts-however-teacher-diversity-is-in-short-supply-a-new-scholarship-opportunity-developed-by-wilmington-universitys-college-of-education-seeks-to-change-the-face-of-teaching-starting-with-three-aspiring-educators\">In elementary school classrooms, racially and ethnically diverse student populations benefit from diversity among their teachers. In most school districts, however, teacher diversity is in short supply. A new scholarship opportunity developed by Wilmington University\u2019s College of Education seeks to change the face of teaching, starting with three aspiring educators.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WilmU\u2019s Promise Grants program kicked off with the spring 2020 semester to recruit and encourage students who want to lead classrooms \u2014 specifically male students of color, a demographic that is underrepresented in elementary education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe promise in the Promise Grants is our commitment to the future of education,\u201d says Dr. Michael Curry, who chairs WilmU\u2019s undergraduate teacher preparation programs. \u201cWe want to support people who share that commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"from-opportunity-to-occupation\"><strong>From opportunity to occupation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The grant program funds tuition, fees, and textbooks for full-time studies toward the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education (K-6) at Wilmington University, and delivers one-on-one guidance for graduates from experienced educators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t want finances to be a hurdle they can\u2019t overcome,\u201d says Curry, \u201cbut we also want to provide professional mentoring as they begin their careers, as we build an educational workforce that looks more like the students it\u2019s serving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grant recipients are selected based on recommendations from College of Education faculty or administrators at Delaware Technical Community College, in the cases of promising students who are completing associate degrees in education there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For three of the College of Education\u2019s students, Promise Grants have opened the door to opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"jaime-floressuaza\"><strong>Jaime Flores-Suaza<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After earning an associate degree at Delaware Tech\u2019s Georgetown campus in 2018, Jaime Flores-Suaza worked as a classroom assistant at Georgetown Elementary School in the Indian River School District and as an assistant teacher at Delaware<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image2576_82e507-ae .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image2576_82e507-ae alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.test.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Jaime-run-copy-640x480.jpeg\" alt=\"Jamie stands with three women wearing Buddy Walk 2019 teal shirts\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-2579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Jaime-run-copy-640x480.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Jaime-run-copy-250x188.jpeg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Jaime-run-copy-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Jaime-run-copy.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Jaime (second from left)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tech\u2019s pre-school. He\u2019d also volunteered his time at the Caesar Rodney School District\u2019s John S. Charlton School for students with special needs in Camden, and to other educational and community opportunities in the Dover area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith the help of this award, I have been able to resume my educational career, and am taking steps toward earning a bachelor\u2019s degree,\u201d says Flores-Suaza, 24, who started his WilmU coursework in January 2020 with an eye on dual general and special education certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He sees his educational and career goals as a means to fulfilling his own teachers\u2019 encouragements to develop the next generation. \u201cI\u2019ve realized how important an educator\u2019s role is to our community,\u201d he says. \u201cTo help inspire young adults into helping each other, and to provide a safe and positive environment, is what got me interested in teaching as a career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"walter-siefa\"><strong>Walter Siefa<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Walter Siefa, 23, was six courses away from a bachelor\u2019s degree in Organizational Management from WilmU\u2019s College of Business when he changed his mind, the direction of his studies, and his life. In August, he began coursework toward a bachelor\u2019s in Elementary Education, with the assistance of a Promise Grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI wanted to make a different kind of impact,\u201d he says. \u201cI want to bring some kind of change, even if it\u2019s small. Any kind of change is good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pursuit of teaching as a career is a major change for Siefa, who began his WilmU education as a participant in Year Up Wilmington. The local chapter of the national nonprofit prepares students for business careers through intensive professional skills training at WilmU and internships with area companies. In fact, Siefa\u2019s internship at JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. led to his current full-time job as a financial analyst with the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His dream job, however, is still ahead. \u201cI\u2019ve learned to be open-minded in everything I do,\u201d he says. \u201cYou never know what it\u2019s going to lead to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"titus-mims\"><strong>Titus Mims<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For 15 years, while he supervised the pre-teens and adolescents living and learning together in a group home, Titus Mims considered the influence that a positive role model might have on younger children.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image2576_28b252-65 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image2576_28b252-65\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"371\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.test.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Titus-Mims-371x480.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-2580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Titus-Mims-371x480.jpeg 371w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Titus-Mims-193x250.jpeg 193w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Titus-Mims.jpeg 494w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><figcaption>Titus Mims<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI knew that teaching was my path when I began working with children with mental health and behavioral issues,\u201d says Mims, 39, now a paraeducator at Seaford Elementary School. \u201cI thought, if I could meet them earlier and give them something else to live for, to believe in, I could help to change their course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His first step toward that goal was earning an associate degree from Delaware Tech this past spring. The next was starting his bachelor\u2019s at WilmU in the fall semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a husband and father of five, there\u2019s no understating the time and effort that his degree will require. But, he says, he\u2019s grateful for the Promise Grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt came at the right time,\u201d says Mims. \u201cIt\u2019ll help me to continue and complete something I\u2019ve been striving for a long time. It\u2019s definitely a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-lasting-impact\"><strong>A lasting impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs educators, we see the daily impact we have on students in the classroom,\u201d says Andrew Stratton, Mr. Flores-Suaza\u2019s academic advisor at WilmU\u2019s Dover location, \u201cbut one of the things we don\u2019t see much of, is how we actually end up influencing the rest of their lives. In this case, though, we do. For our recipients, their future careers may not have been available without this grant.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In elementary school classrooms, racially and ethnically diverse student populations benefit from diversity among their teachers. In most school districts, however, teacher diversity is in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifewilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":163,"label":"LIFE@WILMU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/iStock-507996330-720x480.jpg",720,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rebecca Slinger","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rebecca\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":163,"name":"LIFE@WILMU","slug":"lifewilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":720,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":90,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":163,"category_count":90,"category_description":"","cat_name":"LIFE@WILMU","category_nicename":"lifewilmu","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15809,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576\/revisions\/15809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}