A new scholarship available honoring former superintendent.
In honor of former Allen Independent High School’s superintendent Jenny Preston, the Foundation for Allen Schools created the Jenny Preston Future Teacher Scholarship in the fall of 2006.
This scholarship will be awarded to Allen High School students, who completed the Ready, Set, Teach program, and plan to attend college to attain a teaching degree. The scholarship recipients will be awarded in May; but the application for the scholarship is due March 22.
The Foundation plans to give two scholarships, roughly $1,000 each, said Regina Taylor, Foundation director.
The Ready, Set, Teach program, which was created under Preston’s leadership, is a two year program that allows AHS students receive educational instruction and to work in AISD classrooms. To date, 88 students have completed the program since inception in 2002.
“The students are assigned classroom instruction and assigned to a teacher - preparing lesson plans - and they work in the classrooms. They help students,” Taylor said. “It’s not fluffy. It’s hard work, and they learn a lot.”
Students interested in pursuing a career as a teacher can join the program as a junior and work for four semesters of in AISD classrooms. The program accepts up to 36 students a year, said Marsha Canup, Ready, Set, Teach teacher coordinator.
Students who complete the program are offered a contract with the district to come back and teach on an AISD campus. Future teachers have five years to complete their undergraduate degree and teaching certification. If the students comply with the contract they are offered at the end of their senior year, then they are eligible for an interview and a teaching position in the district.
Canup said two students from the first group of Ready, Set, Teach program are back and teaching in the district.
“There is obviously a teacher shortage, and we have the opportunity to educate our kids, but bring them back to be a part of the education community,” Canup said. “And we know they’ve received a great education if they’ve graduated from Allen High School.”
The situation for the district is a win n win, Canup said. Students are gaining hands-on experience and are sec on a career path, and the teachers get a hand in the classroom.
“I was making a difference in what they were doing. Children just need that. I like helping people, so I put that together with teaching and helping people and as a teacher,” said Allen H.S. senior Torin Collier, 17. “I want to be the fun teacher and the one they can go to for help when they need it and make a difference.”
She said she’ll apply for the Preston scholarship, as well as Megan Faria, who is also in the program.
“In the sixth grade class I was in, it was harder to get close with them. When I finally realized they trusted me and wanted to learn from me, it was really an uplifting feeling,” said senior Megan Furia, 18. “I’ve loved every minute. It’s totally worth all my time.”
Application for the scholarship includes an informational form, two evaluation forms from teachers and two recommendations from community members, Taylor said.
“The Foundation board created the Jenny Preston Future Teacher Scholarship to honor Jenny’s dedication to Allen’s teachers and staff, and to thank her for all her hard work on behalf of our schools,” said Dr. Jerry Wilson, chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors. “We thought this was the best way to show our appreciation for the time and support she has given in helping the Foundation to grow and succeed over the last several years.”
The money raised for the scholarship is through private donors, including Preston, Taylor said, which means Preston will not have a hand in picking the scholarship recipients. A board comprised of Foundation members and teachers will interview scholarship applicants and select the final beneficiaries.
Contributions to the scholarship funds can be made online at www.allforallen.org, www.allenisd.org and by calling the Foundation at 972-727-0362.
