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Chante White began at SCAN in 2021 and serves as the Therapeutic Aide in the Pond Room at the Circle Preschool Program. We are thankful to have Chante's kindness, passion, and dedication as part of the SCAN team as Circle Preschool kicks off their school year!
How did you first get involved with SCAN?
I first got involved with SCAN when I applied for the Therapeutic Aide position with the Circle Preschool Program. I had just moved back to Richmond after living in Winchester, VA and instantly knew I wanted to be a part of SCAN after reading up on its mission and purpose. I’ve been with Circle Preschool since 2021 and have been enjoying my time here ever since! I have made incredible professional and personal connections with my colleagues and students alike.
What has your life/work experience been that brought you to SCAN? What is your current role?
As the oldest granddaughter on both sides of my family, I was tasked with being the caretaker of my younger cousins from an early age. I was the babysitter, tutor, driver, etc. As I got older, I learned to enjoy the responsibility of teaching and caring for others. This led me to my ongoing journey in education and early childhood development. In recent years, I have worked as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant for children diagnosed with Emotional Disability and Autism as well as a Reading Intervention Assistant. These experiences have done nothing but increase my love of teaching and learning more about how the adolescent brain works. Now, as one of the Therapeutic Aides for CPP, my previous life and work experiences have greatly prepared me for this role.
What inspires you to stay involved with your work at SCAN?
At the end of this school year, our Lead Teacher, Ashley and I said our farewells to our 2022-2023 class as they set sail for kindergarten. Watching them grow in their confidence and in their skills throughout the year has been inspiring to say the least. It only makes me want to strive harder to prepare the next set of kiddos we will have the privilege to have in our class this year. This time with CPP has encouraged me to continue my education so that I may continue to serve this population as a future Clinician (fingers crossed!).
Is there anything you wish other people knew about SCAN?
I wish more people knew about SCAN’s existence. Whenever I talk to someone about SCAN and my position, they either have never heard of it or know very little. I also wish other people knew about all of the programs and resources SCAN has to offer.
What has been the best experience with SCAN so far?
So far, watching my students grow has been the best part about working for SCAN. I've seen them grow not only physically, but also in their academic, social, and emotional skills. Our kiddos do such an amazing job learning how to be kind friends, how to advocate for themselves, and how to cope with hard feelings. Having learned more about children's brains and how they function during trauma/triggering experiences has given me a better grasp of just how hard our students work to be able to communicate and socialize effectively and appropriately. It gives me pure joy to see them enjoy being the kind and caring friends that they are!
What are any challenges you have faced in your work with SCAN?
It can be difficult witnessing our students have hard feelings and have negative self-images, especially as it’s no fault of their own and due to the trauma that they have experienced. But it helps knowing that our program is helping them cope and learn to be cheerleaders for each other and themselves. This year, our mantra was, “I am smart! I am kind! I can do it!”
Do you have any goals or hopes for the next year with SCAN?
My hope is that our students will have an amazing year that’s full of love, joy, kindness, and all the great things that come with just being a kid!
Are you involved with any other community organizations, hobbies, or activities?
Outside of SCAN, I am heavily involved as a youth leader with my church in our youth and teen ministries, serving alongside my husband, our youth pastor. We serve our students in almost every area of their lives whether it be spiritually, financially, academically, socially, etc. We also guide them to be servant leaders of their own communities. We have lots of fun together all while spreading the Good News!
What might someone be surprised to learn about you?
I am obsessed with interior design! For a while, my best friend and I were staging Airbnbs (for free!) and we absolutely loved it! I love coming up with different ideas and thinking of new ways to style a room, especially if it’s a small space. Last year, I spent several months curating my version of a man cave – but for me! I got a lot of joy from developing my own style and putting pieces together to make a peaceful, cozy, and cohesive space for myself.
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