The Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) is dedicated to cultivating the next crop of teachers and public education professionals in Texas. As a part of this mission, TRTF has created the Beginning Teacher Scholarship program. At $750 apiece, Beginning Teacher Scholarships are a great way for new teachers to pay for certification tests and classroom supplies. In 2018, TRTF will distribute 15 Beginning Teacher Scholarships!
Bailey Bohlken began her first year of teaching at Sulphur Springs High School this fall. Bohlken is teaching algebra and is also a softball coach. She received three scholarships during her studies, and the scholarships helped pave her way into the teaching field.
“When I was in school, (the scholarships) helped with tuition and books and just different expenses that I had,” Bohlken said. “As a new teacher, they’ve helped pay for my certification tests and also helped set up some new stuff for my classroom.”
Bohlken comes from a family of educators. Her mother, Dana Bohlken, has worked for more than 20 years as a teacher and coach. Two of Bohlken’s aunts and uncles have worked as teachers, and Bohlken’s sister is in her third year of teaching.
“She gets lots of advice. She gets lots of dos and don’ts,” said Dana Bohlken. “The good thing is we have lots of experience from different age levels and different subject areas, and so it’s just kind of a wide knowledge base.”
Bailey Bohlken received her greatest inspiration from her high school math class. It was in those classes that she learned the value of problem solving.
“I just fell in love with it, and it really clicked for me,” Bailey Bohlken said. “That was kind of the time that I figured out that, ‘Hey, this might be something that I really want to do for the rest of my life.’”
You can help support future educators like Bailey Bohlken by donating to the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation today! Download an application for the Beginning Teacher Scholarship by clicking here.
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