Esmeralda Silva’s route to becoming a teacher didn’t start in the traditional way. After graduating from high school, she spent two decades in the medical field where she worked as an outreach coordinator, connecting community members with medical resources, and then began working at a local clinic where she served as a Spanish interpreter.
“Through this work, I witnessed the challenges many families face, especially those navigating language barriers,” said Silva. “These experiences reinforced my desire to serve my community in meaningful ways. Although I always knew I wanted to return to school, life circumstances delayed that goal.”
Esmeralda was able to return to Boise State as a Spanish, Secondary Education major twenty years after graduating high school, and she believes that waiting helped increase her determination to succeed.
“Going back to school as a single mother gave my educational journey deeper purpose,” said Silva. “It was no longer just about personal achievement – it became about modeling perseverance for my children and demonstrating to my community that higher education is possible, regardless of how much time has passed.”
Because Silva attended a rural school herself, she always felt drawn to rural education. The College of Education awarded her a Rural Student Teacher Fellowship for her final semester at Boise State this spring. She is currently student teaching at Middleton High School in a Spanish classroom, and says she is loving the opportunity. Her mentor, Mr. Lucore, “…has played a crucial role in my growth throughout this experience,” said Silva. “He supports me with lesson planning and classroom management, provides thoughtful, constructive feedback, and models what it means to be an active, engaged community member.”
When asked about how the Rural Student Teacher Fellowship has helped support Silva’s goals, she explained that the scholarship, “…does more than provide financial support–it provides opportunity. It allows future teachers to gain a unique and valuable experience in rural education, where we learn adaptability, community engagement, and relationship-building in ways that cannot always be replicated elsewhere.”
Having financial support through scholarships has helped Silva relieve some financial pressure that comes with having to reduce work hours. A survey of 87 Boise State student teachers revealed that 85% of those student teachers were employed either part-time or full-time prior to beginning their student teaching semester, 46% percent of those respondents have had to cut their hours at work and 54% percent have had to quit their jobs entirely. The financial toll for students can be significant, and more scholarships are needed to assist students in need.
Whether in a rural setting or elsewhere, the mission and vision of Teacher Education at Boise State is to create well-started, strong future educators, who are able to fully focus on their student teaching semester. This helps build solid teacher candidates who go on to excel in the classroom. Financial support for student teachers in their final semester is essential to provide them with a high level of preparedness. Funding for additional scholarships is key to making that happen.
“Instead of constantly worrying about finances, I have been able to focus more intentionally on lesson planning, classroom engagement, and professional growth,” said Silva. “Beyond financial support, this scholarship has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the student teaching experience and make the most of this important semester.”
Rural education, Silva notes, is all about community. “What stands out to me most is how rural schools foster belonging and resilience in their students. In my experience, rural communities are not disconnected from the world; they are deeply connected to one another. There is a strong sense of identity, pride, and mutual support that shapes students both academically and personally.”
The College of Education hopes to expand the fellowship to additional students in other districts across Idaho, and hopes to provide financial support to more student teachers so they can reap the benefits of a fully immersive classroom experience, without the stress of paying for transportation, tuition, childcare, and other expenses.
Silva noted, “When donors invest in teacher education, they are strengthening the preparation of future educators and positively impact the schools and communities those teachers will serve for years to come.”