GIPS Continues Investing in Future Educators with 2025 PathBack Recipients
GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) continues to develop future educators. With the annual GIPS PathBack program, two soon-to-be teachers have the promise of their own teaching opportunities if they come back home after college.
GIPS hosted their eighth annual PathBack Reception Thursday night, before the May Board Meeting, to honor this year’s recipients. The PathBack Program awards students who have graduated from the Academies of Grand Island Senior High Education Pathway. GIPS PathBack offers the two recipients the opportunity to come back and teach at GIPS after completing their degree and credentials.
The 2025 GIPS PathBack Award recipients are:
Faith Diaz
Chloe Lopez
Faith (GISH Class of 2025) has been active both in the Education Pathway and on the GISH stage through Fine Arts. She was active in show choir for all four years where she also served as a section leader, and was active in vocal music. For the Education Pathway, she served as a member of the ‘Educators Rising’ program for two years. Diaz plans to attend Hastings College to major in Elementary Education and is considering a minor endorsement in Music Education.
“I want to be able to be a teacher that my students always remember in a positive manner.” Faith shared in her application essay, “I want to be a teacher that my students can remember ten to fifteen years after having me because of that positive impact I made.”
Chloe Lopez (GISH Class of 2025) has been a positive student leader in the Education Pathway and has a passion for Fine Arts. Throughout her time at GISH, she was a four year member of show choir, and a two year member of ‘Educators Rising’. Lopez plans to attend Wayne State to major in Elementary Education and earn an endorsement in Special Education.
“I chose this path because I like making a difference in kids’ lives.” Lopez reflected during her Senior interview, “My ultimate goal is to become a teacher and hopefully come back to GIPS. It [GIPS] just had a positive impact on me and I want to be able to do that for the next generation.”
The PathBack program was launched at GIPS eight years ago. Each year since, the district has awarded two students heading into the education field. Interested students must be graduates from the Education Pathway and submit an application. A team of district educators along with the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation review the applications and select two recipients.
Additionally, each PathBack student is connected to an education mentor within the district. Mentors are typically a teacher the student had during their time in GIPS. Mentors stay connected with the PathBack-ers throughout their collegiate careers and grant them opportunities to visit classrooms in the district when back on breaks or looking to complete observation hours towards their degrees.
PathBack is just one way GIPS seeks to support and inspire the future generation of teachers.
“Developing future teachers who have a deep connection to the Grand Island community and Grand Island Public Schools is a great way to help address some of the staffing shortage issues we, and all schools, are facing.” Matt Fisher, GIPS Superintendent, said, “Identifying top notch students as they leave high school and offering them a position with the district once they complete their college training is a great way to do this. Knowing that they have a job in a place they know they want to work is also a great benefit to the students.”