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Cathy is the Preschool Director at St. William of York Catholic School in Stafford, VA and the most recent Tuition Scholarship recipient. Cathy returned to the classroom after an 18-year hiatus and found that many things had changed in the education arena. She saw a need for being available to the most vulnerable students and so began her journey to her new degree.
At the completion of her program, Cathy wrote a reflection piece and agreed to let us share a part of it. Her words highlight her passion for teaching and for assisting the youngest students at St. William of York.
“Working towards my master’s has been an incredible learning journey and one that guided me in ways I could not have imagined. While juggling work, my family, and my studies, I was able to complete assignments, read hundreds of research articles, and maintain a 4.0. I want to still read and research relevant and insightful topics to help me lead better, that will help my staff learn more, and that will help our school community thrive. It is for our school community that I work so hard.
The desire to help preschoolers who require more academic support is still strong. I had not anticipated working with the school’s Academic Resource Team this year, but my schedule allowed me to bridge a gap…My hope is to create opportunities on that team for our preschool students…especially those who would benefit from differentiation, small group instruction, and one-on-one assistance like the elementary and middle school students receive.
Wrapping up my studies…had me reflecting on everything I got to do for my master’s program. I got into a habit of staying more informed of current standards, trends, and attitudes in education over the last year and a half. I dove deeper into important classroom and school topics, which solidified my desire to provide a well-rounded early childhood program. It reminded me how important it is to find resources for families whose children have learning differences. Parents who have seen their child go from general education to later receiving special education services share that the support they received from me has been helpful. Knowing that motivates me to learn more so that I can do more. My quizzes, papers, and lectures just ended, but the fulfilling and important work I get to do alongside my students and their families will continue.”
To learn more about the Porto Charities Special Education Scholarship Program, please visit portocharities.org/spedscholarship
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