Mahogany Grimes  smiles as she reminisces about her sixth grade English teacher, Mr. Griffin.  “Writing wasn’t my strong point, I struggled with spelling words out, but I did well with attention to detail and comprehension. Mr. Griffin gave me the right resources to help me with my spelling,” Grimes said. 

Now, Grimes is a teacher at Roberto Clemente School in New Haven and strives to provide the same resources for her students. Becoming an educator has been a goal of Grimes’ for quite some time and with the help of a TEACH scholarship, she was able to achieve her dreams. 

“TEACH was able to help me find scholarships. When I was enrolled with RELAY I was maxed out of my financial aid from getting my undergraduate degree. Without the scholarship from TEACH I still would have gotten my certification, it just would have taken me longer,” Grimes said.  

Once a special education student, Grimes wants to provide the same way Mr. Griffin and her favorite teachers did for her.

“I had two amazing teachers who kept me on track and focused. They just kept believing in me,” Grimes said.  

Grimes has big dreams for her career long-term. Currently, she is enjoying inspiring her students and helping them reach their full potential. Eventually, she hopes to help those same students transition in to and stay in college by becoming Dean of Student Affairs for her alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University. 

“I want to work with first year, inner-city college students to help them transition from high school to college, “ Grimes said. 

Grimes is grateful to have received the TEACH scholarship to give back her community through teaching. 

“I still would have become a teacher, no matter what. However, receiving the TEACH scholarship helped me to finish my first semester while still working and raising my family, Grimes said.