With UTA support, student stays on path to graduation
Janie Chavira always planned to be a schoolteacher. Inspired by a brother with autism, the College of Education senior said she wants to be the type of educator who “is there for students with disabilities, finding resources for them and having them feel comfortable in my classroom—whatever they need.”
What Chavira, 24, didn’t plan on were unexpected challenges that almost made her drop out of The University of Texas at Arlington before she could complete her degree. First her father, a landscaper from Mexico who had intended to help fund her college education, became partially blind with glaucoma, limiting his ability to work.
Around the same time, Chavira unexpectedly became a mother to Valerie Ruiz, now 3, who loves to draw, paint, and play with little teacups, and who adores Corduroy, a beloved children’s book about a department store teddy bear. Trying to juggle single motherhood, new financial responsibilities and a full courseload almost overwhelmed Chavira.
Then a UTA financial aid officer told Chavira about the Mary I. Gourley Foundation Scholarship, which helps single parents across North Texas afford college through monthly financial support, allowing them more time to study and spend with their children.
“If it were not for that scholarship, I don’t think I would be continuing school,” said Chavira, who will graduate this week. “It has been a struggle, which is why I am grateful for the opportunity. It helps me pay my bills and have some money left over for my daughter.”
Chavira, who grew up in Fort Worth, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in education, early childhood through Grade 6/ESL. She is among the nearly 5,700 students expected to graduate May 12 at UT Arlington’s spring commencement ceremonies at Globe Life Field, joining an alumni network of more than 270,000 former Mavericks.
Chavira is a first-generation college student; her parents didn’t attend school beyond the fifth grade, she said. She was drawn to UTA because of how easily she could transfer from Tarrant County College and because she felt like the University would offer her social support through a parent group for college students called Parent Mavs.
Chavira said the University has helped her in other ways, too, crediting Carla Amaro-Jiménez, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, for inspiring her to stick with the teaching profession.
“Being in her class has been such an honor,” Chavira said. “She tells us every day how we as educators need to be striving for the best in everything that we do, that we are valued by the students and we should keep pushing. She motivates us to be better students, better educators and to keep going.”
Amaro-Jiménez said Chavira’s life experiences and determination will make her a stronger teacher.
“UTA students like Janie are determined, persistent and rise above,” Amaro-Jiménez said. “Modeling how to build strong student-teacher relationships is everything as a teacher. Students need to know they are valued and can come to you for support and advice.”
Chavira has been student teaching at D. McRae Elementary School in Fort Worth. She said she had to quit her warehouse job at FedEx to do so, making the Gourley scholarship support even more critical.
“Student teaching has been so fun because you have the opportunity to be by yourself sometimes and create relationships with students and motivate them to continue their work,” she said.
Her daughter has made Chavira’s college journey infinitely more challenging, but also strengthened her desire to become an elementary school teacher.
“It’s really interesting how they pick up so much,” she said. “I remember her being little and not being able to say anything, and now she is talking all the time. It gives me a different way of thinking about kids. Now I really want to work with kids. There is just something about working with kids that makes my heart happy.”