Scholar Spotlight: Danielle Grant
Recently, I had a fruitful conversation with Danielle Grant, a fourth year JET Scholar in Boston. Ms. Grant shared a lot of insight about her experience, gave feedback on JET’s current development, provided advice for prospective JET Scholars, and expressed her commitment to the field of education. The following features questions we discussed and Ms. Grant’s paraphrased responses.
Share your name, pronouns, and current role
My name is Danielle Grant and I am a woman, paraprofessional, wife, mother, and an early education concentration at UMass Boston.
What’s your background prior to joining the JET program, personally, and professionally?
Prior to joining the JET program, I migrated from Jamaica. I always wanted to be a teacher and have been in the educational field for a very long time. I worked with deaf and blind students, and students with multiple disabilities. I started working for Boston Public Schools to solidify this journey.
How did you hear about JET?
I heard about JET through Boston Public Schools. I attended meetings with Pam way back and was a paraprofessional before the Covid-19 pandemic.
What motivated you to join the program?
I joined the program because I heard about it and its dedication in helping paraprofessionals become teachers. I jumped on board because I wanted to follow my ambition.
What has been your most valuable experience thus far as a JET member?
I appreciate the information they provide for potential teachers, attending seminars on Saturdays, and learning about the success cases of paraprofessionals becoming teachers.
What advice or lessons do you have for incoming JET members?
I would certainly tell them to just get on board and take full advantage of what is being offered and know that the individuals there will steer you in the right direction.
What, in your opinion, makes JET unique in its mission? Where do you see room or opportunities for it to grow as an organization?
I love the acronym JET and the word “journey” because that is part of my repertoire. I believed I was on a journey. I love JET’s objective and it epitomizes my own personal journey. I know that they have done many things in the past for paraprofessionals to get together in person. I began to build connections as I saw people in my circumstances close to the end of their journey. JET can potentially reintroduce these gatherings so that we can be in a room with people who are on the same journey and collaborate by sharing experiences from this journey. I would like to see JET offer MTEL prep courses and possibly pay for some things through grants and funding. However, I appreciate the resources and connections that JET does have with universities as well as answering common questions that are frequently asked. The efforts of community building and the success rates of JET makes it unique in its mission.
What motivates you to be an educator despite the structural challenges in the field of education?
It has always been a dream for me to become an educator. I believe that teaching is a noble profession for sure because it entails giving knowledge to students and inspiring them for higher achievements in life. I have helped children since I was little; I used stone as chalk. Helping a child learn is the baseline of who I am and it is embedded in me. The structural challenges in the field of education is exactly my motivation to become an educator so that I am able to make a difference. Now that my pre-practicum is soon finishing, I can say that a hard worker doesn't make excuses and instead follows through finishing what you start. My testament is that hard work does pay off.
JET appreciates Ms. Grant’s time in engaging in her thoughtful reflections with us and thanks her for her continued dedication as a JET scholar!
Interested in applying for the JET Program? Contact jetintoteaching@gmail.com for more information.