What brought you to the Educational Opportunity Center? What do most people not know about you that they should?
"The decision to teach at the Educational Opportunity was not a difficult one. The love and passion I have for teaching, especially the unprivileged, has always been evident. It has always been my desire to teach at the Educational Opportunity Center. The school’s mission statement aligns with my beliefs and values, namely, to enhance the education of others who were not given a chance due to unforeseen circumstances, and its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. I believe in the mission of the school to produce lifelong learners who are self-directed, empowered and committed to excellence. It is purpose-driven to provide instructional programs and supportive services to those who have limited educational and financial opportunities. It is my belief that everyone should have equal opportunities regardless of their social and economic background. Growing up in the community, respecting the school system in which I was educated, and giving back to the community that gave me the opportunity to become a college graduate is why I wanted to teach the unprivileged. What better school to teach than the Educational Opportunity Center? I made the right decision.
I was a person of the environment and was given a chance to attend college because of Mr. Arthur O. Eve, a well-respected Assemblyman in the Buffalo area who supported the community in its endeavors, especially providing New York State resources for the unprivileged to be educated. With his passion and desire to be effective in the community, he opened the Educational Opportunity Center in 1973 to serve the unprivileged. This was a blessing for Buffalo, New York, me included.
I was born in Saginaw, Michigan and relocated to Buffalo, New York. I attended the Buffalo Public Schools, graduating from East High School. Teaching has always been a passion of mine; I knew at an incredibly early age that I wanted to become a teacher. Growing up in a single-parent household was often a struggle for my mother. However, she persevered by always working two jobs to provide the necessities to survive along with always showing us love. She made sure all her children were educated, which came to fruition. She was extremely happy that her children graduated from high school. Once graduated, the question became – how are my children going to further their education?
During my high school years, I had almost perfect attendance, highly respected my teacher, and often did the honor roll. However, my twin sister, Jeanette, friends, and I often wondered how we were going to afford college. My experience in high school was not always the best. I was frowned upon with the stigma of “you’re not going to college; you will only get an entry level job.” After graduating, Jeanette, my friends, and I were determined to go to college. In the process of applying to several local colleges, I was always told that I did not fit the profile to attend their college. I was back at square one. I was surrounded by people in the community who also had the desire to attend college and obtain employment. So, what comes next?
It was then that my twin sister and I decided to reach out to Mr. Eve for assistance. I remember when we went to his office on Fillmore Avenue to ask for his assistance to go to college. Mr. Eve welcomed us into his office and asked how he could help us. We explained to each other our thwarted efforts to date. We completed an application for Buffalo State College and received a call within a week that we were accepted into the college. I am forever grateful to Mr. Eve. I always wanted to instruct those students who had the same experience as myself. I knew that one day I would teach at the EOC and give back to the community."
What do you like about working at the Buffalo EOC?
"I like working at the BEOC because it allows me to fulfil my passion and love for teaching. I love my job! It gives me immense pleasure to help bridge the gap for those individuals who desire to reach their educational goals. Teaching in the GED program allows me to establish positive relationships with students, to trust and enhance their motivation to learn, and to help them accomplish their goals. I enjoy working with the faculty and staff that support one another and believe in the school’s mission to assist students get to their next endeavor in life."
How is the GED program changing lives and trajectories?
"The GED program is a pilot model which was designed by the Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center to increase the passing rate of students who needed to sit for the GED Assessment and to provide them with more intensive instruction by subject. Our course is called HSE Preparation I Program. This will allow students to focus on their strengths, pass their stronger subjects first, and then move on to the more difficult areas. This model is designed so that students are encouraged to take one subject at a time, especially in an area they feel confident about taking and will successfully complete.
This program is actively changing the culture for generations of non-English speaking individuals and native Americans alike. They are encouraged to believe in themselves.
At one point, receiving your GED was not considered to be equivalent to a high school diploma. This has changed. Today, it is equivalent to a high school diploma. After receiving a GED, individuals are encouraged to apply for community college and higher education to earn a college degree. It has allowed individuals to increase job prospects, develop personal growth, and allow them to give back to the community. A GED is now acceptable for individuals to apply for training and certification programs. Individuals are truly given a second chance to accomplish their goals."
What else should staff & students be aware of moving forward?
"All should be excited about this new GED program and how it benefits students to successfully obtain the foundation for further education and growth. This new program will provide students to achieve gainful employment. This is beneficial for the students, their families, and the community."
