Maybe you’ve considered going back to school, but you’ve got so much going on in your life that it doesn’t feel like the right time. Davis Connect Tech-Ed Specialist Tiffany Dance has a message for you.
“There’s really never a perfect time to go back to school and continue your education, but it’s so important to just start as soon as you can,” Dance said. “It’s hard, it’s difficult, but I’ve learned so much from going back to school that I know it has benefited me not only in my career but also in my everyday life.”
Dance started as a second-grade teacher at Davis Connect and worked her way up to Tech-Ed Specialist this summer. She decided to pursue a master’s degree from Southern Utah University in hopes of moving into an administrative role. While Tiffany loved earning her master’s, she admits it was expensive, so she looked for scholarships to help.
She quickly discovered The Utah Retired School Employees Association (URSEA), a non-profit devoted to protecting the interests of retired educators. Every year, URSEA offers eight scholarships to Utah teachers who are continuing their educational journey.
After submitting her application, Dance was one of two teachers in the Davis School District selected for the $1,250 scholarship.
“They need to know what’s new, what works, and what’s best for the students and to share information,” URSEA Scholarship Chairman Sarah Voigt said.
Voigt visited Davis Connect recently, and personally presented Tiffany with her scholarship. Dance was grateful for the assistance and urges all educators to never stop learning. “If you’re not growing, you’re dying,” Dance said. “If you’re not growing and learning, then you’re just staying stagnant, and you can’t progress or feel accomplished.”
After that, it was off to Viewmont High School, where URSEA Treasurer Larry Millward presented Language Arts teacher Michelle Smith with her scholarship.
Smith believes all humans are teachers and should never stop learning. “Educators just have a license to do it professionally,” Smith said. “At our core, humans are teachers because we grow and raise kids in whatever capacity that comes in. I think we are all responsible for educating in some way—it’s just that some of us are paid to do it.”
Smith is currently finishing her second master’s degree from Western Governors University and hopes to transition into an administrative position. In the last part of her career, she plans to focus on diversity.
“I’m kind of a rare bird in my district as far as who I represent,” Smith said. “I’m a teacher of color, and one of my missions is to really stand in that space and recruit as many teachers of color as I can, so we can represent not only students of color but all students. This will give a more accurate profile of our state.”
URSEA takes pride in the scholarships it provides to elementary and secondary teachers. If you’re continuing your education, be sure to look out for their scholarship applications in 2025.
