Announcing the Carolyn Irene Brothers Psychology and
Special Education Teacher Scholarship Endowment
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The University of California, Irvine School of Education is delighted to announce that Carolyn Brothers – a School of Education alumna, and lifelong resource specialist and special education teacher for students with special needs – has donated $200,000 to establish a new scholarship endowment in support of undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in special education.
The Carolyn Irene Brothers Psychology and Special Education Teacher Scholarship Endowment is the first undergraduate scholarship endowment in the School of Education. It recognizes junior and senior level students for their leadership, dedication and desire to teach children who are exceptional learners. “Kids with learning disabilities have an unseen disability,” said Brothers – who received her B.A. in psychology in 1978 and two teaching credentials in 1980 from UCI, and an M.A. in school counseling in 1988 from the University of La Verne. “You need knowledgeable and caring teachers to pinpoint how to assist these kids. The first recipient of the endowment is Zoe Liuag, senior education sciences and psychological sciences double major. In addition to her courses in child development, education and psychology, Liuag currently works as a special education teacher’s aide and instructional assistant in the Irvine Unified School District through its partner, Strategic Kids. In this role, Liuag works with exceptional learners to facilitate their socioemotional and academic success. |
Carolyn Brothers
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“My students, in particular, are diagnosed with emotional and behavior disorders, usually due to exposure to past traumas, and I believe this is the target population I would like to continue to serve,” said Liuag. “There are very few occupational environments in which I have found greater joy than I hold for this classroom.”
Liuag would like to continue her studies after graduating with her Bachelor’s degrees and ultimately become a special education teacher in Irvine Unified School District’s Behavior, Social, Learning, Communication (BSLC) program.
“The way a child feels and what they encounter outside of the classroom directly contributes to their academic performance,” said Liuag. “So I believe by providing them with a well-trained, dedicated teacher that advocates for them and places a strong emphasis on their socioemotional wellness, they will have better schooling experiences. I would like to be this person for children who oftentimes have nobody.”
A Los Angeles native, raised in West Hollywood, Calif., Brothers wanted to be a teacher since fifth grade. While attending West Hollywood Elementary School, a teacher asked her to help fellow classmates with math assignments. She loved the experience and continued on to read with kids in the lower grade classrooms. Although there was no special education then, she was hooked, she said.
Brothers attended UCI for undergraduate studies and majored in psychology. As a student, she began assisting in local classrooms in the area. On her first day, she said, the teacher was overwhelmed and asked Brothers to simply walk around and assist students with various tasks. On that first day alone, Brothers identified five kids that needed special education assistance and were later identified as children with learning disabilities.
“I walked around the room and I met and worked with those five children, and that’s when I decided to go into special education,” she said.
Brothers would go on to earn her multiple subject and special education credentials from the UCI Department of Education. Multiple credentials and certifications followed from other organizations, including what was then called a resource specialist certificate.
Brothers started her career at San Jacinto High School. Then, one spring, she decided to pursue opportunities closer to the coast. She drove to many of the district offices in Orange County to request applications before arriving in Garden Grove. There, she was informed that they weren’t hiring general teachers, only special education teachers.
“I said, ‘I’m in special education,’ and they said, ‘wait right here,’” Brothers recalled. Although she was neither dressed for an interview nor had her resume in hand, she was interviewed and hired on the spot. She would go on to work in the Garden Grove Unified School District for more than 25 years.
Today, Brothers wants to improve the training of educators who are focused on special education. “The need to support special education students has amplified in the past few years,” she said, “and the pandemic has exacerbated an already dire situation.”
“With COVID, kids are further behind than they used to be, so those that have learning issues are going to be even further behind because they didn’t receive the services they needed,” Brothers said. “By and large, there was no one there to put them into special education classes or support their needs. Typically, it more difficult for the parent to teach [these] child[ren], which was of extra importance during the pandemic.”
Special education teachers continue to be in high demand across the country. Highly skilled, well-trained teachers with a devotion to helping children and adults with special needs fill a vital role in the nation’s educational system. Without them, many students would be denied the chance to achieve their full potential. However, becoming a special education teacher can have many challenges, including finding the funds to pay for college.
“We are incredibly grateful for Carolyn’s important and generous gift,” said Frances Contreras, School of Education dean and professor. “Carolyn has been a valuable leader on our alumni board for many years. Her gift provides tremendous scholarship resources that will alleviate debt for students while also promoting purposeful careers in special education.”
“My hope is that by having this scholarship, more students will enroll in special education courses leading to additional course offerings for education students. This is a field which will continue to need new teachers because more children require services.”
As a longtime special education teacher, Brothers, who is also an inaugural board member of the School of Education’s Anteaters in Education Alumni Chapter, offers advice to any individuals interested in pursuing a career in special education:
“You need to love kids and you need to love teaching. Don’t go into the career unless you have those two loves to back you up! Teaching is not an easy career, and it affects everyone you touch and the world’s future!”
Liuag would like to continue her studies after graduating with her Bachelor’s degrees and ultimately become a special education teacher in Irvine Unified School District’s Behavior, Social, Learning, Communication (BSLC) program.
“The way a child feels and what they encounter outside of the classroom directly contributes to their academic performance,” said Liuag. “So I believe by providing them with a well-trained, dedicated teacher that advocates for them and places a strong emphasis on their socioemotional wellness, they will have better schooling experiences. I would like to be this person for children who oftentimes have nobody.”
A Los Angeles native, raised in West Hollywood, Calif., Brothers wanted to be a teacher since fifth grade. While attending West Hollywood Elementary School, a teacher asked her to help fellow classmates with math assignments. She loved the experience and continued on to read with kids in the lower grade classrooms. Although there was no special education then, she was hooked, she said.
Brothers attended UCI for undergraduate studies and majored in psychology. As a student, she began assisting in local classrooms in the area. On her first day, she said, the teacher was overwhelmed and asked Brothers to simply walk around and assist students with various tasks. On that first day alone, Brothers identified five kids that needed special education assistance and were later identified as children with learning disabilities.
“I walked around the room and I met and worked with those five children, and that’s when I decided to go into special education,” she said.
Brothers would go on to earn her multiple subject and special education credentials from the UCI Department of Education. Multiple credentials and certifications followed from other organizations, including what was then called a resource specialist certificate.
Brothers started her career at San Jacinto High School. Then, one spring, she decided to pursue opportunities closer to the coast. She drove to many of the district offices in Orange County to request applications before arriving in Garden Grove. There, she was informed that they weren’t hiring general teachers, only special education teachers.
“I said, ‘I’m in special education,’ and they said, ‘wait right here,’” Brothers recalled. Although she was neither dressed for an interview nor had her resume in hand, she was interviewed and hired on the spot. She would go on to work in the Garden Grove Unified School District for more than 25 years.
Today, Brothers wants to improve the training of educators who are focused on special education. “The need to support special education students has amplified in the past few years,” she said, “and the pandemic has exacerbated an already dire situation.”
“With COVID, kids are further behind than they used to be, so those that have learning issues are going to be even further behind because they didn’t receive the services they needed,” Brothers said. “By and large, there was no one there to put them into special education classes or support their needs. Typically, it more difficult for the parent to teach [these] child[ren], which was of extra importance during the pandemic.”
Special education teachers continue to be in high demand across the country. Highly skilled, well-trained teachers with a devotion to helping children and adults with special needs fill a vital role in the nation’s educational system. Without them, many students would be denied the chance to achieve their full potential. However, becoming a special education teacher can have many challenges, including finding the funds to pay for college.
“We are incredibly grateful for Carolyn’s important and generous gift,” said Frances Contreras, School of Education dean and professor. “Carolyn has been a valuable leader on our alumni board for many years. Her gift provides tremendous scholarship resources that will alleviate debt for students while also promoting purposeful careers in special education.”
“My hope is that by having this scholarship, more students will enroll in special education courses leading to additional course offerings for education students. This is a field which will continue to need new teachers because more children require services.”
As a longtime special education teacher, Brothers, who is also an inaugural board member of the School of Education’s Anteaters in Education Alumni Chapter, offers advice to any individuals interested in pursuing a career in special education:
“You need to love kids and you need to love teaching. Don’t go into the career unless you have those two loves to back you up! Teaching is not an easy career, and it affects everyone you touch and the world’s future!”
About the University of California, Irvine School of Education
The UCI School of Education is focused on advancing educational sciences and contributing to improved educational opportunities and outcomes for individuals across the entire lifespan. A diverse, dynamic and collaborative institution, the School of Education’s research, community partnerships and programming are dedicated to producing innovative scholarship, addressing the needs of local schools, and inspiring future generations of educators. Led by Dean Frances Contreras, the School of Education is ranked No. 10 graduate school of education and No. 4 among public schools of education by U.S. News & World Report. Currently, more than 1,000 students are enrolled in the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, and a network of more than 10,000 alumni. The School of Education has been a part of the University of California, Irvine since 1967, when it was established as an Office of Teacher Education. In 1991, it grew into the Department of Education and, in 2012, became the School of Education.
Media Contact:
Stacey Wang Rizzo
Director of Communications and Marketing
UCI School of Education
949-824-7173
[email protected]
The UCI School of Education is focused on advancing educational sciences and contributing to improved educational opportunities and outcomes for individuals across the entire lifespan. A diverse, dynamic and collaborative institution, the School of Education’s research, community partnerships and programming are dedicated to producing innovative scholarship, addressing the needs of local schools, and inspiring future generations of educators. Led by Dean Frances Contreras, the School of Education is ranked No. 10 graduate school of education and No. 4 among public schools of education by U.S. News & World Report. Currently, more than 1,000 students are enrolled in the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, and a network of more than 10,000 alumni. The School of Education has been a part of the University of California, Irvine since 1967, when it was established as an Office of Teacher Education. In 1991, it grew into the Department of Education and, in 2012, became the School of Education.
Media Contact:
Stacey Wang Rizzo
Director of Communications and Marketing
UCI School of Education
949-824-7173
[email protected]
