Family Ties

By Susan Malovany

Everyone is seemingly interconnected in one fashion or another. Actor Kevin Bacon is even connected to everyone, or so it seems, by six degrees of separation.

However, NLU alumna Esther Ohito, who was born in Kenya, explains that her family belongs to the same tribe as a very famous U.S. citizen. "We are members of the tribe of President Barack Obama's father, the Luo tribe," she says with pride.

Ohito moved from Kenya to the U.S. at the age of 13 with her parents. Her father had worked for the Kenyan government and her mother had been a dentist. Ohito explains that the first teacher in her life in Kenya had been her grandmother. "My grandmother taught me to count numbers and to count primarily on myself," Ohito explains. "As I adapted to life in the U.S.—which to me then was this new, strange and confusing country—I anchored myself in my grandmother's lessons, and vowed to follow in her footsteps."

One of Ohito's favorite proverbs in Kenya was the Kiswahili saying, "Education is an ocean (that is, it has no end)." She explains, "Kiswahili is a major language in Kenya, and this simple saying served as my motivation at NLU, where I received my Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree in elementary education in 2004."

Ohito says her time at NLU was rewarding. "Getting my degree at NLU was a wonderful experience," she explains. "My professors were very open and accessible—that is the culture of the university. They really wanted me to succeed and be the best teacher I could possibly be. Plus, my classroom work was the perfect combination of theory and practice—it was never just a lecture format. I could really put to use what I learned in class in my own classroom."

She also says that NLU's education programs are so popular because they're convenient and flexible. "My M.A.T. class met only one night a week, and I had several locations to choose from," she explains. "Additionally, the financial aid office at NLU was very helpful and always available to answer my questions—they helped make it very affordable to attend."

She adds that she loves teaching, and that this career was made possible through NLU. "I teach English grades six through eight in Chicago at John J. Pershing West Middle School, and I just am so fulfilled teaching."

The Golden Apple Foundation of Chicago awarded Ohito a Teacher of Distinction honor in 2008. Teachers of Distinction are Golden Apple award finalists whose superior teaching work was noted by their selection committee. Teachers of Distinction are recognized for their distinguished contribution to teaching and are asked to participate in Golden Apple programs. "At Pershing West, I do my best to incorporate lesson plans in my classroom that are creative, interesting and engaging," she says. As a relatively new teacher in the field, she would like to be a role model for enjoying her profession, as did the faculty members at NLU, she says. "All the faculty at NLU were hands–on and easy–to–reach, great instructors."

Teacher training through AUSL/NLU program

While training to be a teacher, Ohito participated in the NLU Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) program. The Academy for Urban School Leadership first partnered with NLU in 2001 to improve student achievement in underperforming public schools in Chicago with specially–trained AUSL teachers. Participants in the NLU/AUSL program are called residents, and they spend one year working full–time in a CPS classroom—Ohito taught at the Chicago Academy High School—under the direction of mentor teachers while earning teaching certification and a full Master of Arts in Teaching degree from NLU.

During their training year, called AUSL's Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) program, residents earn a training salary, the master's degree (from NLU) and state certification in elementary, grades K–9 or high school grades 8–12. Graduates of the AUSL/NLU program contract to work in an underperforming Chicago Public School for a minimum of four years.

"The NLU/AUSL program I participated in is a wonderful program because it helps to retain teachers in CPS schools," Ohito explains. "I also liked the actual hands–on training I received by teaching right at the Chicago Academy during my training year because I got so much more experience in a short period of time—I was immersed in my classroom." She also really liked her mentor teachers at AUSL, and likewise the faculty members who taught her at NLU.

Teaching in urban schools rewarding

Ohito explains that she would like to continue teaching in Chicago schools during her career—she is in her fifth year teaching for CPS. "Chicago public schools can be challenging, but there is so much hope and it's so rewarding—I feel like I'm part of a big family," she says. "CPS understands the challenges but addresses them."

She adds, "My goal is to provide the kind of quality education for my urban students that students in wealthier suburban districts receive. Teaching at an urban school is not always easy, but then nothing worthwhile in life is ever easy." Ohito says her AUSL/NLU teacher training has paid off—94 percent of the 8th grade class she teaches at Pershing West is meeting or exceeding standards set by the Illinois State Board of Education.

In 2002, Ohito returned to Kenya through an undergraduate internship with another university. She worked with the Kenyan Ministry of Education to help develop extra–curricular activities geared toward benefiting the students in rural, economically–challenged areas of this country. "It was during this trip back to Kenya visiting its schools that I really fell in love with teaching," she says, "and I knew then that I would pursue it as a career. I'm so glad I did. I adore children and I love education. I am excited to be part of a community that truly treasures both."

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