It takes a village.

The start of a new school year will forever be a sacred time for me. As a teacher, it is when I return to interacting with students--by far the most inspiring, enjoyable, and fulfilling part of the job. It is also when I finally get to put to use my months-long investment in professional development, reflection, and preparation to be a more effective teacher. As uplifting as the start of school is for me now, it was even more meaningful to me as a student. As a student, the start of the school year meant the return to people who supported and cared for me, and an environment that was safe, nurturing, and full of hope. 

Growing up, I was enveloped by poverty, neglect, and trauma, all obstacles to a healthy and productive future. My education was truly the only opportunity I had for growth beyond that environment. There was nothing to fall back on and nowhere to go without it. I was not going to succeed in my education without the investment of outside programs and people. I was dependent on generosity. I relied on after school programs to have a safe space to exist and do homework. I relied on donations for school supplies, clothes, and food. I relied on extracurriculars to increase my exposure to the world, teach me life skills and social norms, and to develop intellectually. I relied on caring people to be seen and treated as a valuable person with potential and to be challenged to grow in academics. 

I am now breaking the cycles of poverty, neglect and trauma, but I did not make it here alone. I am not continuing in my growth alone, and I am not alone in experiencing these kinds of obstacles. There are so many bright, hard-working, capable children, and adults who were once those children, who are not meeting their potential and goals because they lack support. Living this and being aware of this is what makes me so strongly committed to programs and charities that support learning at every stage of life.

I am excited to be a board member of the Treehouse Foundation, a giving organization dedicated to supporting in-need populations through education. With the Treehouse Foundation, I get to give back to Wisconsin, a community that made my growth and success possible. I get to collaborate with peers who are of the same mindset to use our skills and resources to improve the quality of life for others. I get to be who I needed when I was younger. Hopefully, I also get to inspire more people to be excited about-- and capable of-- bettering their community through their generosity and education.

Cassandra Mironczuk

Board Member