Millbrook High School senior Skyla Stewart has endured numerous hardships in recent years, but nothing has swayed her from her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. She is in her second year at the Future Educators Academy (FEA) on Laurel Ridge Community College’s Middletown Campus.
The FEA sees high school juniors and seniors come to the campus every school morning before returning to their base high schools for afternoon classes. They take part in student teaching and practicums during their time at the academy, and earn an associate degree in Education concurrent to their high school diplomas. The students will then transfer to a four-year university to complete their bachelor’s degree in another two years.
“I’ve known what I’ve wanted to do since kindergarten,” Stewart said. “I started looking at colleges around fifth grade and I saw the prices and I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to afford college with how low income my family was, so that really upset me.”
During her sophomore year at Millbrook, Stewart learned about the FEA program, which is free for students.
“FEA has been extraordinary,” she said. “It’s opened up a lot of doors for me to meet future educators who will be going into the same career field as me and are around the same age. The connections are, I think, the most important thing about FEA.”
During her junior year, Stewart’s favorite class was Public Speaking with Sarah Pangle.
“I love to speak to other people,” she said. “I’ve really loved Ms. Pangle. She has been my favorite professor of all time. If anything happens, she understands. She can relate to us. This semester, my favorite class is probably English because we’re going over a lot of the American literature that I grew up learning about.”
Stewart joined an Educators Rising affiliate when she was in the ninth grade. Two years ago, she won a competition at an Educators Rising Conference at the Virginia level, and competed at the national conference, giving a speech on why she wanted to become a teacher.
History Professor Curtis Morgan has also won over Stewart.
“He was very kind,” she said. “He gave us everything we needed to know. He always expressed to us that we need to believe in ourselves and get through this, even if it’s hard.”
Stewart is the second oldest of six children.
“I’ve always taught my younger siblings how to do things,” she said.
This has included everything from how to hold a fork, to how to read and write. Stewart would also visit the daycare facility where her mom used to work and spend time with the children.
“I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to teach, and I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to help others,” she said.
“Laurel Ridge has been a home away from home for me,” Stewart said. “Whenever I’ve felt sad or needed help, I could always come to campus and Laurel Ridge would help me. If you can get into Laurel Ridge or FEA, then you’re set.”
The question was how she would be able to do that based on her circumstances.
“I’m the first in my family to go to college,” said Stewart. “Most of my family are high school dropouts. I’m the first person to be walking the stage graduating high school.”
When her family’s home caught fire last May, it left 10 individuals temporarily homeless and three pets dead. A week prior, Stewart’s great-grandfather had died.
“He was like my second dad,” she said. “We had nicknames for each other. He was very special. I didn’t know how to comprehend it at first.”
The loss of her grandfather, followed by the fire, took a mental and physical toll on Stewart.
“But, my professors understood, and I completed all my work,” she said. “Over time, I’ve kind of just found my own way.”
Stewart has spent the time since the fire living with grandparents, living with friends and spending some time living with her large immediate family.
“I’m still not in the most stable housing, but it’s more stable than it once was,” she said. “I’m doing better mentally and physically. Laurel Ridge was very kind and generous to me during those times.”
The Laurel Ridge community rallied around Stewart and her family, as did the wider community. In addition to some financial donations, Stewart said she has been able to get food and toiletry items from the campus food pantry.
As far as where she plans to transfer, there are 10 colleges on her list. At the top is Shenandoah University.
“I’ve wanted to go there since fifth grade,” Stewart said. “I’ve met a lot of the elementary education teachers who teach there. One of my favorite teachers from Millbrook went to Shenandoah.”
She said she would definitely recommend the FEA and Laurel Ridge to other students.
“Laurel Ridge has been a home away from home for me,” Stewart said. “Whenever I’ve felt sad or needed help, I could always come to campus and Laurel Ridge would help me. If you can get into Laurel Ridge or FEA, then you’re set.”