Future Teachers Spend Spring Break Expanding Their Skills

Students in the Dream to Teach program spent Spring Break getting some special training at Grand View University.

Dream to Teach is a newer program at Des Moines Public Schools, aimed at minority students in middle and high school who have an interest in becoming teachers, providing support to help them pursue careers in education.

Last Friday more than 40 Dream to Teach students and mentors began Spring Break at Grand View University engaged in a STEM competition and working on social justice projects.

Jennifer Ulie-Wells is an Assistant Professor of Education at Grand View who facilitated the event and to say that she was impressed with the young dreamers would be to put it mildly.

Take it away, Jennifer: “The students were amazing.  If you have not had the opportunity to see one of these groups in action, I highly recommend that you attend one of the events some of the groups will be hosting before the year is over.  As a veteran educator and now working with pre-service teachers, I am blown away by their initiative.  It is so inspiring for me to sit and listen to them engage in authentic dialogues about their experiences… and how committed they are to influencing change.  It is not surprising, though, once you meet their mentors.  I have never met a more enthusiastic and dedicated group in my life. They have identified a need and…they are changing lives. There is nothing more exciting than to watch young people getting motivated as they connect with adults that genuinely care about them.  These mentors bring out the best in these students and their dedication truly will result in amazing success for many of these children.  The kids absolutely adore their mentors and the Dream to Teach program is growing. You can feel the excited energy radiating from these groups when they get going. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for conceiving this program and for your ongoing support as it grows. I feel genuinely honored that we have been able to connect and support it.  We look forward to our continued partnership.”

You are welcome, Jennifer! And thank you, too, for being such an enthusiastic partner in such a visionary program. From your description that day last week at Grand View sounds sunny enough to provide deep, long-lasting “tans.”