Two educators at Forest Park School District 91 were able to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week at the White House.
Michelle Choice, reading teacher at Garfield Elementary, and Erica Conwell, fourth grade ELA and social studies teacher at Field-Stevenson Elementary School, attended the White House Initiative for Black Americans special Teacher Appreciation Event, which was held May 10 at the White House.
The event highlighted the “The Heroism of Educators,” especially the contributions of Black educators, provided a networking opportunity for Black educators from across the country, and included various speakers from across the education field.
Choice, who has been with the district for six years, said the invitation caught her by surprise, but she considered it a big blessing.
“I am so grateful to God for this opportunity,” Choice said. “I don’t take it for granted. I never looked at my teaching position and what I do with students as a career, it has always been a calling. I lean on my faith in God as I do this work.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Choice said she witnessed disparities in the education system as a child.
“The education system, to me, wasn’t fair,” Choice said.
Choice said she knew she needed to be a teacher, with literacy at the heart of what she does. She is pursuing a master’s degree from Concordia University.
Choice said that when she started her career in education, she never imagined it would take her all the way to the White House.
“It was encouraging and uplifting to be in a room of African American educators who have stories like mine,” Choice said. “That are from cities and places like I am that are doing the work for our Black students so they can see professionals, they can see us dress as professionals, they can see us act and behave as professionals and have something else to look forward to than what is seen or portrayed in the news.”
Conwell, a 2003 graduate of Proviso East, has been with the district for five years.
Conwell said she was pulled into being an educator after becoming involved in the school districts as a parent.
“I love seeing kids grow,” Conwell said. “I felt comfortable. In your gut, when something occurs, it just feels like this is the career path I was meant to go down.”
Conwell has a master’s in elementary education from National Louis University.
She said being able to attend this type of event was a great opportunity to network and further develop her “why” and strengthen her foundation as an educator.
“The best part of the network is that you have teachers from different backgrounds,” Conwell said.
This offered Conwell opportunities to learn from others in the education field who work in various branches and start brainstorming ways that she can expand the learning in her classroom.
“Sometimes you question if teaching is for you, because teaching is tough,” Conwell said. “I felt like this helped me and motivated me to continue on my path. As the speakers were saying, it’s a calling and it’s something you have to continue to work on.”
“Teachers of color, we are very important,” Conwell said. “We do make a difference.”