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DKG Practice/Program

Grant Committee, consisting of three members,
expanded the application to include family
and community engagement, building a
safe classroom environment, and family
access to resources and knowledge. The new
committee chair made a connection with the
school system’s newly implemented mentors
program; and in 2023, eight teachers submitted
applications and two recipients were chosen.
Imagine the benefits for educators and DKG
if every chapter was able to forge connections
with one early-career teacher annually in
this way. DKG would become known for its
commitment to the mission of educational
excellence and professional growth of educators.
Our organization could become more visible and
attractive to potential members.

A Call to Action

Consider trying this project as a way for your chapter to support SEE. New teacher baskets or welcome-
back breakfasts are nice, but we need the opportunity to encourage a deeper purpose in our contacts with
new teachers and their administrators. With contacts focused on supporting great teaching that occurs in
the classroom, we demonstrate who we are: professionals impacting educational excellence.
Organized systemically and implemented via chapter projects by each state organization, SEE could
be the campaign DKG is looking for to keep our organization involved in helping early-career educators
succeed and at the same time give us the international recognition we need for potential membership.
“The opportunities to give back to women educators and students (68%) and community/connections
with women educators (67%) are the top reasons that drive members’ decision to maintain membership”
(DKG, 2023b, p. 12). With the number of SEE projects listed by the International Educational Excellence
Committee (DKG, 2015), ample support is possible for this move to implement mini grants to support
SEE for members and nonmembers with enthusiasm.
Of course, some may be opposed, citing that chapter funding is not available for another project. In
this case, due to the needs of early-career educators and the growth of our organization, chapters should
consider a review of projects and donations: Are they making a direct impact on teaching and learning in
the classroom? This opportunity to help early-career educators is most likely to work at the chapter level.
However, publicizing the project as part of a visibility campaign across the state organizations will make
the DKG mission well known. Let’s become synonymous with SEE and see awareness of DKG grow!

Carol LaPolice worked 23 years in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a classroom teacher and Instructional Leadership Specialist. A
member of Alpha Chapter since 2005 and a past chapter president (2014–2016), she is currently second vice president of Massachusetts
State Organization and first vice president of her chapter. Previous positions include state treasurer (2016–2021) and Northeast
Representative to the US Forum Steering Committee (2020–2022). carol.lapolice@outlook.com

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