OCREA Scholarship Winner Focuses on Learning Differences

By Sandra Carr

Keri Chriswell is driven to advocate for both her own children and the ones she educates at Azalea Park Elementary. A scholarship from the Orange County Retired Educators Association will help her continue to lead and inspire them.

A Tier 1 intervention teacher, Chriswell is in her final semester of coursework for her Master of Arts in elementary education degree from the University of Central Florida.

Chriswell’s oldest child prepared her for the teaching path after he was diagnosed with a seizure disorder that affected his ability to learn. She realized he learned differently than other students and became his educational advocate who helped him succeed in school.

“The scholarship is a huge blessing because I’m a single mother of five children,” she said. “My kids have watched me make enormous sacrifices of both my time and money to go back to school and invest in furthering my education to have a bigger impact on my students.”

Last year, Chriswell was a Tier 1 intervention teacher at Sunrise Elementary when she found out she was the recipient of the OCREA $2,000 Educators Graduate Scholarship.

“Our organization’s main objectives are to fund scholarships for educators and students and promote lifelong learning,” said OCREA Scholarship Chairwoman Janice Quint.

Chriswell said she feels exuberant joy when her students have aha moments and loves that she can help her students embrace their potential and reach their academic goals.

“Obtaining this master’s degree makes me feel more equipped to improve educational outcomes for my students,” said Chriswell, who has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from UCF and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

She will receive her new degree when she walks across the stage during the Fall 2023 commencement ceremony at the Addition Financial Arena in December.

“In today’s world, the educational needs of students involve various learning styles, so educators need to ensure they’re advancing their knowledge of how to reach them,” she said.

Teachers and media specialists at OCPS schools serving K-12 who are enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited college or university and have completed a minimum of one course are eligible for the Educators Graduate scholarship. Educators at OCPS charter schools are also eligible. The scholarship application deadline is Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.