Eight years ago when I moved to Indiana I was a single mother with two small children. I enrolled my children into the local Head Start program. I remember the day Ms. Cheryl contacted me and told me they were both accepted into the program. Ms. Cheryl took the time to talk to me and build a relationship with me after my girls were enrolled. She encouraged me to create a goal for myself and my family. The goal I created was to continue my education. Ms. Cheryl was always available for support and guidance. She did not take over or make any of the phone calls for me that I needed to make but rather gave me the tools to do these things myself. She offered to let me use the computer and phones at the local Center, followed up with me on my progress and celebrated my successes with me.
Years, later when my son was born and it was clear by the age of 2 that he had hearing and speech issues it was again Ms. Cheryl who assisted me in getting him services and entering into Head Start when he turned three. When it was clear that my son would need his teachers to use sign language in order to communicate it was again Ms. Cheryl who advocated for the teachers in his classroom to learn and utilize sign language. She brought in materials for the teachers as well as for my family and ensured that he would be able to communicate with staff and his teachers.
Without Ms. Cheryl's support and encouragement I am not sure that I would have continued my education or even be where I am today. I also believe that my son would have had a much harder time communicating with his teaches and the staff at the local program with out Ms. Cheryl. I am sure that if you asked her she would not consider herself an advocate at all but she truly assisted me and my family in becoming self-reliant.
The impact that Ms. Cheryl's advocacy efforts had on me and my family inspired me to pursue Public Policy and Advocacy as my Specialization when pursuing my Master's Degree. She also inspired me to pursue my current position as an Early Head Start Home Visitor which allows me to personally interact and impact the lives of young children and families. I only hope that I can touch some one's life as much as Ms. Cheryl has touched my families.
Years, later when my son was born and it was clear by the age of 2 that he had hearing and speech issues it was again Ms. Cheryl who assisted me in getting him services and entering into Head Start when he turned three. When it was clear that my son would need his teachers to use sign language in order to communicate it was again Ms. Cheryl who advocated for the teachers in his classroom to learn and utilize sign language. She brought in materials for the teachers as well as for my family and ensured that he would be able to communicate with staff and his teachers.
Without Ms. Cheryl's support and encouragement I am not sure that I would have continued my education or even be where I am today. I also believe that my son would have had a much harder time communicating with his teaches and the staff at the local program with out Ms. Cheryl. I am sure that if you asked her she would not consider herself an advocate at all but she truly assisted me and my family in becoming self-reliant.
The impact that Ms. Cheryl's advocacy efforts had on me and my family inspired me to pursue Public Policy and Advocacy as my Specialization when pursuing my Master's Degree. She also inspired me to pursue my current position as an Early Head Start Home Visitor which allows me to personally interact and impact the lives of young children and families. I only hope that I can touch some one's life as much as Ms. Cheryl has touched my families.
Powerful story Toni. So that is part of your journey to advocacy. I don't think that Head Start teacher's or teachers in general realize their powerful positions. I was just talking to a teacher the other day who works in a poverty stricken community. She believes the parents or most of them do not care about their children, I am sure that it therefore impacts how resourceful she is towards the families. People know and can feel what you feel towards them. Thank God that there are still teachers out there like Ms Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteToni, this was a great story of advocacy!!! There are not many Ms. Cheryl's around. You were blessed to have her. She went above and beyond what most teachers would do today!
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