Teaching with Purpose: Stories from MTI Scholars—Amber Rosales

The Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship isn’t just about financial support, it’s about building a future where every student sees themselves reflected in their educators. Across Illinois, MTI recipients are shaping classrooms, inspiring young minds, and making a lasting impact on their communities.

In this blog series, we’re highlighting the journeys of MTI scholars: how the scholarship has supported them, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the successes they’re achieving in classrooms across the state. Their stories underscore why programs like MTI are vital to ensuring a strong, diverse teacher workforce in Illinois. By elevating these voices, we hope to shed light on the power of representation in education and the role that dedicated, diverse educators play in student success. Through their experiences, we see firsthand how equitable access to the teaching profession strengthens schools, enriches learning, and transforms lives.

Hear from Amber Rosales, Student at DePaul University.

What inspired you to become a teacher? What subject or grade level do you work with? 

Being a product of Chicago Public Schools, I have been exposed to many different teachers ranging in their level of effectiveness. I was raised on the southwest side of the city and involved in my community to the point where the classroom was a second home and my classmates were a second family. The first time I felt seen in a classroom was with my third-grade teacher, Ms.Jakob. She asked me every day how swim and water polo practice was and shared her love of Disney movies with the class. When I think back to good classrooms and teachers, that little mobile building and class 315 always come to mind. I would like to work with elementary school children and bilingual students, as I was a bilingual student. My mom is also a teacher, while she has told me her fair share of frustrating moments in her class her face lights up when her students succeed in their work. Those moments triumph over the frustrating parts of the job when a student's face lights up when they can problem-solve on their own. 

Are there barriers that you recognize or experienced to becoming a teacher? 

A lack of diversity in my classrooms is intimidating, sometimes being part of (only) a handful of students of color can be challenging, but I think this can also offer different perspectives. Students of color need to see teachers of color and a range of culturally diverse classrooms. A melting pot of languages, cultures, and traditions is important in every classroom. Personally, I also think there is an emotionally demanding aspect of becoming a teacher. Managing personal well-being, the responsibilities of a student, and the responsibility of shaping young minds. 

How have you used the MTI scholarship to assist you on your path to becoming an educator? 

The MTI scholarship has helped me financially access a teacher curriculum I believe in. Having this financial support makes it attainable to focus on my studies without the financial burden of making payments and picking up more hours of work. 

How did you learn about the MTI scholarship? 

College Counselor, Financial Aid Office