Jazmyn McCallum

2024 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

“I noticed there was a shift in their treatment towards me, and I couldn’t blame them. How do you talk to a child who’s experiencing grief at such a young age?”

After the loss of her older sister, first-grade student Jazmyn McCallum began to withdraw. The situation was only made worse when teachers and other students began to treat her differently, unsure how to relate after such a tragedy. But her second-grade teacher, Ms. Smithey, refused to treat her with pity. She was warm and encouraging toward Jazmyn, as she was with all her students. But she also had the same high expectations for her, pushing her to achieve and showing her she was capable of more than she realized.

Here is Jazmyn's story about Ms. Smithey, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2024 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.