Making Dreams a Reality

American University undergraduate student Chloe Ifill, SOE/BA ’24, received a head start on her AU education through the School of Education’s DCPS Teacher Pipeline Project. Chloe was a dual enrollment student, taking two education classes at AU while completing her senior year at a DC public high school. “Being a part of this program was a good way to experience college before attending full time,” said Chloe. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but taking these classes while still in high school gave me the confidence and awareness that I could thrive at AU.”

Chloe was among a select group of DC high school students chosen to be AU Teaching Fellows, which earned her a full scholarship in exchange for a commitment to serve as a DCPS teacher. A recipient of the Ruby King Bush Scholarship established by AU trustee Wes Bush and his wife, Natalie, through their Golden Paws Foundation, Chloe’s passion for learning, love of reading, and guidance from admired teachers sparked her interest in pursuing a BA in teacher education, with an emphasis in English literature.

Her AU professors have modeled the kind of teacher she aspires to be in the classroom, noting they are concerned about how you are as a person before teaching you as a student. Chloe has dreams of teaching English abroad and possibly serving as a school administrator to bring positive change to the education system. “I believe it is a part of my destiny to become a teacher,” she said. “My scholarship at AU is making that dream a reality.”

Through the Change Can’t Wait campaign, donors can invest in distinctive AU programs, like the AU/DCPS Teacher Pipeline Project, to help create transformative educational opportunities for students as they pursue their passions.