Theresa Schulte

2020 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

“The special education teacher was working on a puzzle with one of the students and they were peaceful and they were both smiling and I looked at her compassion and I realized I was old enough to be her mother. If she can do that, why can’t I?”

Theresa Schulte was a 49-year-old single mother of three when she started her first day teaching in a special education classroom for children with autism. By lunchtime she was in tears and ready to give up. Then she met Oshiana Thomas, a teacher more than 20 years her junior, who demonstrated to her the importance of compassion, no matter how challenging the behavior.

Here is Theresa's story about Ms. Thomas, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2020 Scholarship Finalists page.

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