ECSU Master's Student from South Windsor Participating in Holmes Program

WILLIMANTIC, CT — Colombia native Ayda Parra Rojas of South Windsor is one of two students participating in the Holmes Program at Eastern Connecticut State University. She is in pursuit of a master's degree in Elementary Education.

A project of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), the Holmes Program supports students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing careers in education. Eastern is one of only two Holmes Program participants in the state and 45 across the country.

Parra Rojas is working on dual-credit programs with high school students from surrounding towns. She's also performing research on the recruitment, development and retention of minority teachers, as well as special education and language acquisition.

"My aspiration is to obtain certification in the state of Connecticut to teach bilingual students," said Parra Rojas. "Then I will pursue a Ph.D. in special education and bilingualism so I can support bilingual students and teachers in this area.

"The sense of community at Eastern makes a difference for non-traditional students like me," said Parra Rojas, who comes to Eastern with another master's degree and previous teaching experience. "I'm supported with the necessary plan of study required by the state, a strong body of experienced professors and skilled administrative people, and the financial support of the Holmes Program, which will all help me to fulfill my goal of becoming a certified teacher."

Education Professor Tanya Moorehead, program advisor at Eastern and Holmes alum, added, "Hosting the Holmes Program fits in with the mission and vision of Eastern. The education field as a whole is predominately white female, particularly in elementary school. This gives us a way to recruit and develop different faces and backgrounds in the teaching world, because the faces that we're teaching aren't always represented by the faces that are teaching them."

Photo courtesy of Eastern Connecticut State University