Help Children Read, Write, and Speak in English!

I have been a public elementary school teacher for over 10 years servicing the Richmond Hill community of New York City. I love my job. I love the kids. However, I am in need of some financial assistance - so I can better meet the needs of my students' learning goals, and I can rid myself from overwhelming student loan debt.

Richmond Hill is a wonderful community that is home to many immigrants from East Asia, South & Central America, and the Caribbean. The majority of these children entering school are English Language Learners, meaning that they speak a different language at home. Our school does not have enough English Language teachers to service the amount of children that need explicit instruction.

Recently, I have applied and have been accepted to graduate school to receive a post master's degree in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). I have been awarded a Dean's scholarship, but it is not enough for me afford to pay for my classes - so I can eventually be New York State Certified as an ESL teacher in my school building. I do not quality for financial aid, because on paper, I make too much money. Yet, student loan debt is never considered when factored in the equation.

I am in overwhelming student loan debt. Currently I am in $80,000 student loan debt from my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I am struggling to pay these loans. I did not come from a family that was able to save for me to go to college, so I took out loans thinking that I would be able to make ends meet. Unfortunately, I feel that I cannot further my education, and service the children of my community due to this heavy financial burden.

With your generous donation, I can become a certified ESL Teacher helping students ready, write, and speak fluently in English and I can live the American Dream by getting out of student loan debt.

Thank you!