A $3,000 Soroptimist education grant was just what Sara Shalders needed to help finance her teaching studies as she will have to spend weeks on teaching placements when she will not be earning any money.
Sara was awarded the Soroptimist International of Waimea grant to help her through her studies with the University of Canterbury which runs a course at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology campus.
This is her second year of a three-year course.
Though she had studied when she was younger in a diverse range of subjects from anthropology to engineering papers, it was teaching that beckoned, but she was unsure what she would be like as a teacher.
“My family manages alternative education, so I grew up really involved with that and it made me see the good that early intervention can provide.
“Then a former primary school teacher invited me to spend some days in her classroom and it made me realise how happy I was in the classroom. That sealed the deal.”
She says she is fortunate that she has an employer who allows flexibility in her work and time off for teacher placements. This year she has four weeks of placements when she will not be working and says the cost of living makes it harder to cover that expense.
“The hardest thing with teaching is the placements because you’re off work for that period.”
She just missed out on paid placements as first-year teaching students this year are now earning while they are learning on placements.
Her $3,000 grant was used to pay course fees and she says that means she will lose less from her weekly pay to cover them which is welcome relief.
“Last year I volunteered one day a week in a classroom and this grant means I will be able to continue to do that.”
Sara says she knew little about soroptimists before her grant, but after feeling welcomed by the selection panel and finding out more, she is now a member.
“The financial assistance is fantastic, but I also feel I’m joining this network of women who want to support me.”
