Anthony Kilgore

When I was in high school, I was raised in a humble apartment. Money was tight and post high school education wasn’t mentioned. My Astronomy teacher (Mr. Hicklin) was taking his son on a college tour at YSU and spoke to me one day after church and asked my mom if he could take me as well. It was the first time I had even been in a college campus. Mr. Hicklin’s encouragement and guidance was what got me on the college path. From there, I wanted to pay that kindness forward to others as a teacher.

In my first year, I had a 9th grader who could tell me every answer in class, but would fail all the exams. I asked him to stay after school and I pulled out the exact same exam and read it to him and had him orally respond. He answered everything correctly. I realized he had undiagnosed dyslexia. I was able to get him tested and the help he needed. His mom wrote me a letter at the end of the school year that I still have 23 years later that makes me feel like I truly helped changed his life.

As a dad of a five year old and an 18 month old, $25,000 would pay off the last of both mine and my wife’s (also a teacher) student loans as well as help take care of my daughter’s day care expenses. Our nation has to figure out how to help with both of these financial hardships. Especially for teachers!