Six Aspiring Educators Win Jack Kinnaman Scholarships

For more than two decades, NEA-Retired members have generously contributed to the Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship Fund to support NEA Aspiring Educators (AE). A long-standing NEA member and leader, Kinnaman was a teacher for nearly 30 years. He retired in 1986 and later served as vice president of NEA-Retired. After Kinnaman died in 2002, NEA-Retired established a scholarship fund in his honor. Today, the scholarship supports six aspiring educators each year. Let’s meet the 2024 winners, who each received a $3,500 scholarship!

Alexandra Taffera

Elementary and special education major, Marywood University, Pennsylvania

As the vice president of the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association, Taffera also serves as president of her university’s chapter. Together with her fellow AE members, she organizes events throughout the school year to strengthen connections within their campus community.

The team is also dedicated to emphasizing the significance of their state and national unions, which provides Taffera the opportunity to advocate for pre-service educators on issues such as fully funded student teaching stipends. 

“Being a part of this community just makes me want to do better, make change, be a leader, and help not only the educators in our field but the students and the future change-makers,” she says.

Zachary Sheriff

Education major, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Texas

Sheriff revitalized the Texas State Teachers Association-Aspiring Educators (TSTA-Aspiring Educators) chapter at his school, transforming the group into a thriving community. To reverse years of declining membership, Sheriff dedicated countless hours to ensuring that his peers had the resources they needed to succeed. 

Drawing on TSTA and NEA resources, he provides AE chapter members with valuable professional development. He also sets up informational tables at college events to raise awareness about the union’s impactful work around safe and just schools, as well as to recruit new members—particularly educators of color.

Sheriff has also become a vocal leader in his organization. “The TSTA-Aspiring Educators program has been empowering and eye-opening for me,” he shares. “It has taught me the importance of fighting for the rights and education of those who look like me.”

Paige Jones

Middle school education major, Murray State University, Kentucky

Ever since kindergarten, Jones has wanted to be a teacher. She juggled at least two jobs at a time to pursue her teaching dreams. Now, a recent graduate, Jones is pursuing a master’s degree in teacher leadership.

As president of the Kentucky Education Association’s AE chapter, she says she gained invaluable professional development skills and opportunities.

“KEA and NEA have flipped my world upside down for the better,” Jones says. “I never thought I could be so passionate and so outspoken about topics that I feel deeply about.”

She adds, “It brings me peace of mind knowing that I'm part of a union that invests in future educators and genuinely cares about our success.”

Kaleb Mayes

Movement sciences major, University of Idaho, Moscow

Mayes didn’t originally plan to go to college. But that all changed when he discovered his passion for teaching. Now 25, he’s pursuing a physical education degree as a first-generation college student. He says the Kinnaman scholarship will help him support his family, including his wife and young son.

Mayes has played a key role in building his university’s AE chapter. Now serving as the chapter’s secretary, he works hard to recruit new members and represents his university at state conferences.

The are “incredible experiences,” Mayes says, “where I learn so much about the work or our union and the importance of staying involved.”

He adds: “I am grateful for the opportunity to share my voice and help make the future of education brighter.”

Audrey Sargus

Middle childhood education language arts and social studies, Kent State University, Ohio

Sargus didn’t plan to become an AE leader, but today she is president of Kent State Aspiring Educators and chair of the Ohio Education Association Aspiring Educators

Connecting and networking with members across the state and country, she says, has been an invaluable aspect of her AE experience. Fueled by this support from her community, she took the leap into leadership roles.

The Kinnaman Scholarship will help Sargus finish college strong and debt-free. “This scholarship shows how important it is to have a union backing you,” she says.

Amber Bloom

Early childhood education major, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Growing up with a mom who is an educator, Amber Bloom’s teaching aspirations are in her genes.

“The classroom became a place where I was comfortable and where I felt like I could be myself and I could be excited,” Bloom says. “That translated to wanting to make my classroom a place where my kids felt like they belonged.”

Bloom also found inspiration as an AE member, holding several positions with the Student Pennsylvania Education Association (Student PSEA) executive team and becoming president of her university’s chapter.

“Being a part of Student PSEA has allowed me to find my purpose outside of my classroom,” she says. “I didn't realize that advocating was something that I was so passionate about.”