Tara Chambers Kane

Spring 2004 – Tri-C

Halfway through school, I quit to have my son. When the T.E.A.C.H. program came along, I was very thankful to be able to finish. It took me less than two years to finish. My confidence has increased since graduation. I also received a raise from my center. “I am happy knowing that my son is proud of me.”

Jeanette Laracuente

It took me four years to graduate. “Without the scholarship I would not have been able to go back to school.” I was promoted to lead teacher after receiving my degree. My knowledge has increased thanks to the T.E.A.C.H. program. I am currently working towards my BA degree.

Shalimar Colbert

T.E.A.C.H. allowed me to complete an AAS degree in Early Childhood Education as well as begin work on a BA in Early Education. T.E.A.C.H. has helped me and other teachers reach their professional goals. While earning my degrees I met many wonderful professors and students who shared techniques, skills, and ideas which I have been able to bring back to my classroom. My future includes additional educational experiences; I want to earn a MS in Early Childhood Education and eventually a Ph.D.

Veronica Moyer

Summer 2005 – Tri-C

I started on the scholarship with Starting Point. I was promoted to lead teacher after I received my degree. “The degree has helped me learn more in dealing with the children and how they learn.” My current long term goal is to work on my BA degree.  I enjoy working in the classroom and plan to continue.

Judy Glover

I am a grandmother and have a daughter in college in early childhood. I worked on my degree for about five years. I heard about the T.E.A.C.H. program through Starting Point and at the college. “I was in the program when it was a pilot program.” “It helped to enhance my child care program—totally all the way around.” I look back at all that I learned, and applied it to my program. “I feel that I am truly a professional now because of having my Associate Degree along with my Pre-K license.”

Denita Jackson

Attending Cuyahoga Community College, with the help of the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship, has given me many valuable and priceless experiences. I have met new people with a wide variety of teaching styles. I learned new teaching strategies as well as had some of my teaching techniques reinforced. I greatly appreciated paid release time. Paid release time let me enroll in daytime courses and helped my employing center to pay for a substitute teacher to take my place in my classroom. Currently, I am taking courses toward a BA in Early Education.

Abby Bowman

Spring 06 - CSCC

When my center joined SUTQ, I had already been taking classes. I went to Columbus State and looked into Early Childhood Education and loved it. When I graduated, I was offered a full time position. I hope that my background will help me to be a better mother in the future. “Being newly married at the time, my husband and I were both in school and the T.E.A.C.H. program was a definite help.”

Kim Surniak

"Teach allowed me to fulfill my dream."

Alice Jefferson

I had been taking classes before I started T.E.A.C.H. Another T.E.A.C.H. scholar referred me to the program. I have been a home care provider since August, 1999. I saw a change in learning how children do things. “No child is limited, and we as adults put limitations on them.” I am in the process of opening up a facility outside of my home. “Without T.E.A.C.H. I would not have been able to reach my goals. I would strongly recommend it to people who may be in a financial crunch.”

Certuria Kennebrew

As a T.E.A.C.H scholar I have been able to pursue an Associates of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. I graduated in the summer of 2006. I started out this educational journey in the summer of 2003. Since graduation, I have been working on my Bachelors Degree. This is all thanks to the part that the T.E.A.C.H. program played in my life.

Tammy Pope-Oulds

I started as a T.E.A.C.H. scholar in Spring 2003 and graduated with an AAS degree in Fall 2007. I am continuing at Tri-C, with the help of T.E.A.C.H., as I start to work on a bachelor’s degree. T.E.A.C.H. helped with many expenses associated with going to school – tuition, textbooks, travel, and substitute care. My goal is to become a special education teacher in an urban school system. I have recommended the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship to other family child care providers because of its financial benefits.

Laura Amato

I recommend T.E.A.C.H. to other child care providers because it can help you achieve goals which seemed unattainable. I earned an AAS degree, and my working on a bachelor degree. My educational goal is to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education.

Velma Brock

I began to work on my AAS degree in the Fall of 2002 and graduated in the Spring of 2008. I was able to attend school because of the financial support of T.E.A.C.H. and the moral support of my family. My daughter's decision to attend collage was the unexpected outcome of my pursuit of my educational goal. I intend to enroll at Cleveland State University to earn a Bachelor's Degree.

Carol Monroe-Beasley

Besides the financial assistance the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship provided me, it also helped me and others to see myself as an educator. Through the process of obtaining my degree I have expanded my teaching techniques. I plan to continue my education and eventually open my own center.

Ellen Martens

The scholarship from T.E.A.C.H. OHIO enabled me to earn an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. The degree will benefit the children with whom I work. I learned about developmentally appropriate practice, effective teaching techniques, behavioral management skills as well as the importance of communication. I plan to continue my education. T.E.A.C.H. helped me earn my degree with paid release time and financial support.

Stacey Lowry

I feel fortunate to be a part of a program that promotes education in the early childhood field. The financial assistance with tuition and books was a tremendous benefit. The T.E.A.C.H. scholarship is a program that I would defiantly recommend to others in the field.

Gail Montana

T.E.A.C.H. OHIO enabled me to grow as a child care provider, friend, parent, and grandparent. While enrolled in courses at Stark State I underwent the family child care accreditation process. The loving support of my family greatly contributed to my success as a student. My future plans include earning a certificate in sign language and a BA in Early Childhood Education.

Angela Franklin

I was able to complete my studies with the emotional and moral support of my familiy and the Jewish Community Child Care Center, and the financial support of T.E.A.C.H. All of my coursework, especially student teaching, contributed to how I teach today. I plan to earn a bachelors degree in Family and Consumer Studies at YSU.

Lois Gartin

T.E.A.C.H. OHIO provided the financial means for me to attend college; my percentage of tuition and textbook costs was minimal. My family, my center director and co-workers provided emotional support throughout my time as a student. My goal is to continue teaching my group of toddlers at Holy Family Learning Center, my current employer.

Patricia Emmelhainz

The scholarship allowed me to get my education without feeling guilty when my own children were continuing their education. It also allowed me to concentrate on my studies instead of worrying about the money aspect. The counselors served as mentors for me and were always supportive and uplifting.

Angela Williams

I teach based on the interest of the children because children learn more when they are interested in what they are being taught. T.E.A.C.H. is an excellent program. The post-contract bonus is an excellent incentive. My mother and daughter were very helpful during my student teaching experience. My future plans include opening a child care center if I could locate funding.

Rosemary Fails

Through my coursework I have learned to plan ahead and offer the children more math activities. My family is proud of me for achieving my goals. I was able to excel because I did not have to worry about money for school-related expenses. T.E.A.C.H. removed the money worry. I plan to continue teaching at First Baptist Preschool.

Heather Hass

The T.E.A.C.H. program has allowed me to accomplish my goal. After completing my Associate Degree in Early Childhood with the scholarship, I was overjoyed to learn that I could continue on with my Bachelors Degree. I am grateful for everything the program has helped me to achieve. I couldn’t have done it without T.E.A.C.H.

Weida Reed

I was able to take advantage of the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship for three years. My coursework gave me real life, hands on experiences to learn about and work with children. I have learned to tailor my teaching techniques to the individual children I am teaching. I do not want to stop learning. I intend to enhance and strengthen my skills.

Audera Ghee

I have been a home provider for 10 years. I have been a T.E.A.C.H. scholar since 2006. I have gained in my understanding of children and appropriate teaching methods as a consequence of going to school. With the help of T.E.A.C.H. I was able to attend class without worrying about tuition. My future goals include expanding to become a Type A provider or owner of a child care center.

Jessica Gillispie

I thought I would not be able to return to college due to financial reasons. Then I found T.E.A.C.H. which provided the financial help I needed and a "kick in the butt" to finish my degree and receive certificates in Early Literacy and Child Development. Now I am able to fully focus on utilizing all the developmentally appropriate practice methods I have acquired.

Dorothy Macklin

I was able to return to my educational goal of earning an AAS degree in Early Childhood Education with the financial assistance of T.E.A.C.H. The financial support of T.E.A.C.H. along with the emotional support of my family and employing center were invaluable resources which allowed me to progress quickly toward my educational goal. Daily I integrate many of the theories and practices, especially lesson planning strategies, presented in classes into my teaching methods. I will continue to teach as I develop my skills as an administrator and mentor. I intend to continue my academic pursuits at Youngstown State University.