Tiara Collishaw relocated to the United States 3 years ago and has worked as an instructional assistant at Estes Elementary since then. She is one of seven applicants of the first “Grow Your Own” class that will receive scholarship assistance from Owensboro Public Schools to complete their journey to becoming a certified teacher for the district.
On Wednesday afternoon, Collishaw was working with three English Language Learners, helping them form words with letter tiles. She made the sound for each letter in a short word and the students eagerly put the three tiles together before trying to pronounce it on their own.
“As someone who had to learn English myself, I have a unique connection to English Language Learners in the district and hope to become a certified English Language teacher to help the non-English speaking students,” Collishaw said.
The district originally committed to funding five scholarships for this program, but additional funding was provided by the Hager Foundation and the Marylin and William Young Foundation. That allowed the district to be able to fund all seven scholarships. The scholarships will fund half of the program’s total cost, and Western Kentucky University has discounted the rate for all seven participants as part of the partnership for the “Grow Your Own” program.
The other six recipients are:
- Erin Bales, Instructional Assistant, Newton Parrish Elementary School — Bales applied for the program because she is “committed to continuing her education, learning and growing in the craft of teaching.” She hopes to become a teacher in the OPS district and invest in the community through teaching.
- Jerome Taylor, LBD Teacher, Owensboro Middle School — Taylor has spent 12 years in the OPS district as an Instructional Assistant and applied for the “Grow Your Own” program to achieve his long-term goal of furthering his education through the option six program to help children with special needs. He aims to make a difference in the community, and this scholarship “will be the difference-maker” when it comes to affording the education he needs to do that.
- Meaghan Glenn, Instructional Assistant, Cravens Elementary School — Glenn recently changed career paths and “couldn’t be more excited” to be in education. She moved to education after years in the events industry because of the many role models in education both from her years in school as well as friends and co-workers that are now changing the lives of the youth of the community.
- Myles Walker, Instructional Assistant, Owensboro Middle School — Walker is dedicated to helping the youth within the community, especially kids in the classroom. He believes with a good role model, students will stay focused and have the motivation to work hard in school.
- Kim Hogg, LBD Teacher, Cravens Elementary School — Becoming a teacher has always been a dream for Hogg and after seven years of working in the district in other capacities, she will now have the opportunity to earn her teacher certification. She is the first generation of her family to attend college and earn a degree and now hopes to complete her journey to becoming a teacher through this program.
- Megan Kurz, LBD Teacher, Owensboro Middle School — Kurz has a passion for helping special education students and is pursuing a master’s in special education to pair with her bachelor’s in professional writing to help students with reading and writing.
