Today we’d like to introduce you to April Siver.
Hi April, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a retired high school teacher. My 33 years of teaching have been in North Texas. I worked about 4 years at the middle school level, and the rest at high school. My initial teaching certificate was in both General education Social Studies and Special Ed with a specialty in Learning Disabilities. Over the years I added other teaching and administrative certifications.
I learned my first year teaching that I do not believe that students with learning disabilities should be separated from the gen ed classes. They usually need some sort of assistance, but if they are given what they need, they can thrive and even excel. The key is to stop stigmatizing and humiliating them. Over the years this concept led me to learn from the school environment how to best help all students reach their highest potential. The more I learned, the more all of my students, both gen ed and special ed learned.
When I decided to switch to teaching in Dallas, I only applied for and got jobs in gen ed social studies. This led me to teaching seniors in US government, which led me to use my learned skills to help those who struggled with the state testing and the college readiness testing. This then led me to help them with all of the tasks required to apply to college.
My new goal now became – help them find and achieve their dreams.
Once I retired I expanded my goal from helping a group of students, to helping as many students and adults as I possibly can, achieve their dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
First Obstacle: The huge number of people who I truly believe are not living their dream and who have no idea how to make that happen.
First challenge, create a business that will allow us to grow to the level we desire. Step one is done, the business is set up to be successful and to allow growth.
Second Obstacle: Costs, both money and time. Second Challenge: Money, The available money is running low. I do not have the capacity to ask people to give money. I can write a grant proposal, but that is hard to do while running the business. Time, I need volunteers who are willing and able to work with no promise of a date they will be paid for their important work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Siver Career Center?
Our work is to do all we can to help those who want help improving their life, by providing what they need to find their dream and then to reach it. We do this through the following steps.
Mentoring to help them figure out what they want and what they need to do to get it.
Tutoring to prepare them for any tests or college classes required.
Guidance to help them evaluate how they will manage their pathway to their new life.
Our entire program, especially the tutoring part, is very specific and structured. It works because if it is followed it is successful.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me, and the rest of our board of directors, is that more people come home at the end of the day and greet their family with a smile on their face and good things about their day to talk about over dinner.
What matters to us is that we get to the place in this country where there are no more lines for back to school giveaways, Christmas toy drives, or holiday meals, instead people buy what they need for themselves.
What matters to us is that we believe that if people come home happy at the end of the day, and look forward to their next day at work, they will not abuse their family members, or go out and abuse a stranger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sivercareercenter.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiverCC
