Christy Balraj on Educational Advocacy
As a retired educator, Christy continued her work with children as a CASA volunteer.
I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mom was a teacher, my father found teachable moments in just about everything we did, my favorite aunt is a retired teacher, and a close friend and mentor is a retired teacher. Looking back, I always gravitated to jobs working with kids. I am saying all of this to say, it should have been no surprise to anyone when I declared Elementary Education as my major in college. Not long after college I earned my master's degree in Educational Administration. Fast forward 30+ years, I am a retired educator and immensely proud to continue my work with children as a CASA.
Educational advocacy for kids in care is of the utmost importance. Our kids' lives have never been stable, once in care they are at risk of being shuffled from one placement to another. Student transiency creates gaps in learning and educators work tirelessly to close those gaps. So as an advocate it is imperative that I maintain a presence in my child's school to make sure the gaps are closing and to help provide continuity. Educators appreciate information that will help make their interactions with our children more positive and productive. I chose to email my teachers and administrators monthly so I could reinforce or reward my child during our monthly visit. Included in every email was the assurance I would do my best to support the school and my child. The school, foster home and I were a united front and we worked hard to see our child succeed, as a result, we celebrated many times this year.
"Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace."
Confucius summed it up perfectly. We cannot change our children's past but through educational advocacy we can put our children's lives on the right trajectory to achieve some measure of peace. This shall be my mantra going forward.