Teaching with Purpose: Stories from Three MTI Scholars

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 three DePaul University students including Katie Avery, Masters Student, Maurice Fleshman, and another DePaul Student.

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

Katie: My father was a teacher and his mother( my grandmother) was a teacher. It was the best way to honor my Dad and carry on his legacy everyday I walked into the classroom.  I currently teach 9-12 US History as a special education teacher but I am certified to teach K-12.  

Maurice: I tried subbing through Rose Educators and when I did my first job, I found that I had knack for this. I am aiming to teach grades fourth through ninth. My content area is English but I hope toteach Reading and History as well.   

Anonymous: Making an impact in students of color’s lives is what inspired me to become a teacher. With such a growing amount of diversity day by day, I found it invaluable to have educators, leaders, and representatives that can relate to the community, have a cultural understanding, and can help the youth feel seen. I work with high schoolers in the history and social studies area! 

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

Katie: It’s always going to be barriers to becoming a teacher especially when you are transitioning from another career but my professors and classmates at DePaul made the transition seamless and I felt very supported.  

Maurice: I have noticed gatekeeping and sometimes denying reality than doing what will help a student.  

Anonymous: Yes, the strict schedule with getting hours in, organizing your school, work, and personal life in order to get everything you need to get done on time is one of the barriers. 

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

Katie: I honestly wouldn’t have gotten my degree without the MTI scholarship.

Maurice: I have used it to help lessen the burden of how much graduate school has cost me.  

Anonymous: It has relieved a huge burden of school tuition for me. Without the scholarship, I don't know if I would be able to go to the school I wanted and be presented with a whole different network of people, ideas, and opportunities. 

How did you learn about the MTI scholarship? 

These students all found out about the MTI scholarship through their Financial Aid office or Golden Apple.