Giving back through education

Ebony Smith had the same teacher for first through fourth grades.

"I wanted to be just like her," said Ebony, "and so that's what I've always wanted to be."

Ebony is a senior at Wichita State majoring in secondary education with an emphasis in English. She will be qualified to teach sixth through 12th grades.

"English was my favorite and best subject because I love reading and writing," she said. "Therefore, it's the one I want to share with others."

Ebony is working at Curtis Middle School in Wichita, Kan., through the WSU Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program. She works there 13 hours a week.

"The experience I'm gaining now will benefit me later," she said. "It also reaffirms my decision that this is what I want to do and introduces me to other people in the education field."

Keith Wilson, Curtis Middle School principal, has been very supportive of Ebony. In addition to working with her university schedule, he guides Ebony to where she can best use her language arts skills.

"I have received great cooperation and consistent direction from the teachers I have worked with and one in particular has become a good mentor to me," said Ebony.

Next year Ebony will be student teaching and has requested to teach at Southeast High School because that is where most Curtis Middle School students go.

"I also enjoy the diverse mixture of the students who attend Southeast," Ebony said.

Ebony receives the Grow Your Own Teacher (GYOT) scholarship, funded by Wichita USD 259, each semester she maintains at least a 2.7 GPA and attends all monthly meetings.

"By being a recipient of the GYOT scholarship," she said, "I not only receive money for tuition and books, but I also receive valuable information during our monthly meetings."

At the meetings, Ebony meets different people within the education community, such as principals and instructional coaches. She also receives strategies on how to become a more effective teacher, such as learning about classroom management and different styles of teaching.

"These meetings also help in identifying different tools I, as a teacher, can take advantage of, such as the multilingual services provided for teachers, English as a Second Language students and parents," said Ebony.

Though one of the scholarship's requirements is for her to stay in Wichita to teach, she would anyway because her family is here.

In addition to the scholarship, Ebony has received grants but has had to take out loans since she married in 2006. In addition, Ebony works 15 hours a week at Kelly Elementary–where she attended school growing up. Ebony works with the morning and afternoon latchkey program.

"I believe you have to work really hard," said Ebony, "and put in the effort through the stress and tears because it's all worth it."

Ebony would like to get her master's degree right after student teaching. Regardless of whether she continues teaching, Ebony wants to have involvement with children, maybe as a child psychologist.

"It is a privilege to have a vital position in a young person's life and impact them in a positive way."