The Immokalee Foundation, FGCU helped me achieve dream as teacher

Education is a powerful tool for everyone. As I loved learning in the classroom, I felt drawn to teaching from a very early age. I always enjoyed school despite the economic challenges we so often face in Immokalee.

Immokalee is a tight-knit agricultural community. Many work in the fields and packing houses to feed millions of others — yet often struggle to provide for their own families.

I am proud to share that I am the product of Immokalee, Florida, and the Collier County Public Schools. Because of the extraordinary additional support of The Immokalee Foundation, I was also academically and financially prepared to pursue a career in education at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).

While at FGCU, I conducted research, won awards and presented at two conferences. Professors taught me best practices for the classroom and working with all students. FGCU’s College of Education held study sessions to prepare for the Florida teacher certifications and opportunities to conduct research alongside professors in different education disciplines, including science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM), preschool and technology in the classroom.

FGCU provided opportunities to volunteer at events, such as its annual literacy festival, and the on-campus preschool, the Little Eagles Learning Center.

I graduated from FGCU with honors, and today I am a first-grade teacher at Eden Park Elementary in my hometown.

As an educator, every single day brings a new challenge — a new victory — and the opportunity to impact a student's life. Students will never forget how you make them feel when learning in a positive environment.

Looking back, The Immokalee Foundation was there for me — every step of the way. Whether it was a networking event, professional development program or internship, the Foundation-sponsored educational activities directly impacted what I refer to as “my career for a lifetime.”

And it keeps getting better. Today's Immokalee Foundation students can participate in the Education & Human Services Pathway, part of The Immokalee Foundation's award-winning Career Pathways program. Students begin exploring various career paths in middle school before immersing themselves in a specific pathway curriculum in ninth grade. Other pathways include Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Engineering & Construction Management, and Healthcare.

The Immokalee Foundation and FGCU's partnership continues to address our community's academic future. For example, through a series of Immokalee Foundation-sponsored educational camps, students spend summers at FGCU learning about potential careers and engaging in hands-on projects, career-oriented field trips and more.

I am the first member of my family to graduate from high school and college. And because of my scholarship from Take Stock in Children — and the incredible support of The Immokalee Foundation and the College of Education at FGCU — I am working in my dream job.

So much has been written about the demand for teachers. Yet much less is written about those organizations who work together to fill this insatiable need for talent.

Let's extend our gratitude to The Immokalee Foundation, Florida Gulf Coast University, Collier County Public Schools and others whose profound impact on the future of the teaching profession deserves a huge round of applause.

We are all partners in education. Everyone in the community benefits when a new teacher takes their place in the classroom. Please, support our teachers and the amazing organizations that make it possible for them to answer this special calling.

Leslie Gallegos is a first-grade teacher at Eden Park Elementary in Immokalee.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: The Immokalee Foundation, FGCU helped me achieve dream as teacher