Four seniors considered for teaching scholarship
BY STEPHANIE KOHL skohl@pioneerlocal.com February 9, 2012 10:55AM
Barrington- Daisy Gomez works with a little bronco. Barrington High School has four Golden Apple Scholar finalists. These scholarship awards are given to future educators. On Friday, the four nominees: Paige Dunseith, Leslie Martin, Daisy Gomez and Deena Davis, all seniors at the high school, will be interacting with the preschool-aged children in the Little Broncos Day Center where they have all worked as part of their preschool classes. | Joe Cyganowski~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:03AM
Four Barrington High School seniors are finalists for the Golden Apple Scholarship.
Daisy Gomez, of Carpentersville, Paige Dunseith, of Barrington, Deena Davis, of Hoffman Estates, and Leslie Martin, of Barrington, were all nominated by teacher Janet Schultz, early childhood teacher. The Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program, of the Golden Apple Foundation, recruits and prepares high school graduates who have the promise for successful careers as excellent teachers in high-need schools throughout Illinois. While attending college, scholars receive advanced teacher preparation during four Summer Institutes and tuition assistance of $2,500 per year for freshmen and sophomore years and $5,000 per year for junior and senior years. Scholars must attend one of 53 Illinois colleges and universities that participate in the program.
“This year, to have four potential scholars is very exciting,” Schultz said, adding to have four finalists from one school is very unusual.
The winners will be named later this month.
DAISY GOMEZ
Gomez lives by a quote from American academic and historian Henry Brooks Adams: “A teacher effects eternity; he can never tell, where his influence stops.”
Since she was a kid, Gomez has played “school,” acting as teacher to her siblings. She was never more excited than when her mother bought her a blackboard and she could set up a pretend classroom.
Although she no longer pretends to be a teacher, Gomez still does a lot of babysitting and helps her younger siblings with homework.
Schultz called Gomez dependable, organized, sweet and focused.
“She is genuine in her approach,” Schultz said.
With a desire to be a preschool teacher, Gomez said preschool is the baseline of a student’s education.
“I’m intrigued by how quickly they learn things,” she said. “... I like to see how the kids’ minds work.”
Although she hasn’t decided on a college yet, Gomez plans to study early childhood education and Spanish, her first language.
PAIGE DUNSEITH
It was as a student in preschool that Dunseith realized she wanted to be a teacher.
The first lesson she ever did on her own was to have students sing a song featuring Princess Pat and Captain Jack, with accompanied motions. A month later, a preschooler recalled the motion and showed it to her again, referring to the song.
“I... realized how much I could impact a child and how much they like learning,” she said.
Dunseith said being named a finalist for the Golden Apple Scholarship was an honor and she was ecstatic to have a shot at “an amazing opportunity.”
Working in Little Broncos Day School has given Dunseith an idea into what her future as an educator will be like.
“It’s not necessarily a job,” she said. “It’s more a passion.”
Schultz called Dunseith an extremely gifted academic with an ability to teach to multi-levels.
“She has an innate ability to be creative,” Schultz said.
Dunseith is deciding between DePaul University and University of Illinois where she will study early childhood education.
DEENA DAVIS
Although she comes from a family where most of her cousins are, or studying to become, doctors or lawyers — something Davis called typical Indian fields — Davis said kids are her passion. Her parents have been supportive about her decision.
“I really am passionate about kids,” Davis said. “The look the children have on their faces when they learn something (is amazing).”
Schultz said Davis is adaptable and thinks well on her feet.
“She is able to differentiate instruction for different learners,” Schultz said.
The Little Broncos Day School employee has had teaching tendencies for years. When she was younger and babysitting, or at family get-togethers, she would often make up art projects and activities and lead groups of children.
“Having the first-hand experience has been a huge reward,” Davis said of working for Little Broncos.
Davis will likely attend Illinois State University to study early childhood education or elementary education.
LESLIE MARTIN
It was on a mission trip to Detroit with her church the summer before freshman year that convinced Martin she wanted to be a teacher. The group held a Vacation Bible School at the community center it was working at. Martin said it was amazing to see that while the Vacation Bible School got off to a slow start, once the kids showed up and started learning, they couldn’t wait to come back.
“I loved that feeling,” Martin said. “... Seeing them learning and having simple joys in life.”
Schultz said Martin finds the uniqueness in every child and has compassion toward struggling learners.
“She has a very natural approach to children,” Schultz said.
Martin said being named a finalist is a huge honor. She plans to teach either elementary or middle school, saying students that age are like sponges, absorbing knowledge.
Her first choice for school is University of Illinois, with Indiana University a close second. Martin plans to study elementary education and Spanish, with hopes of becoming bilingual.
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