School of Ed. celebrates diversity in education

Desi Nesmith, principal of Hartford's SAND Elementary School, spoke Tuesday night on "Celebrating Diversity in Education."

The Neag School of Education invited alumni and current minority students to dinner with UConn cultural center directors and students from Buckley Upper High, among others. Nesmith then delivered a speech to encourage "closing the achievement gap," and three students were awarded the Hearst Scholarship Award. A Cappella group A Minor provided entertainment.

Neag School of Education Dean Tom DeFranco introduced Nesmith saying, "We shall not rest until the achievement gap is eradicated. At the Neag School, we are working very hard to meet this challenge."

Nesmith, who is a graduate of three UConn education programs, said he knew from the time he was young that he wanted to teach. He started teaching fifth-grade students at Hartford's Mayberry Elementary School in 2002, at which point he began a partnership with UConn to bring fifth-grade students to campus for college experience.

The state department then offered him an internship, in which he says many "doors of opportunity" opened for him. He went on to work for UConn Mentor Connection before becoming the SAND Elementary principal.

Nesmith began by explaining the ways in which the Neag School prepared him for his career.

"Did I come out with the skills I needed?" he asked. "You'd better believe it."

He went on to explain to the current Neag and Buckley students that, "you see the need for teachers of all colors. Our kids need it." He also cautioned them that, "it's so important to remember these are little people. They are already dealing with things that you and I cannot imagine."

Following his speech, three Neag students were presented with the $1,000 Hearst Scholarship Award. The recepients were Asia Boxton, a 5th-semester student with a concentration in secondary history, Melanie Rodriquez, a 5th-semester student with a concentration in elementary education, and Sheena Boyle, a 5th-semester student with a concentration in secondary English.