�Anthony JonesAnthony D. Jones has been awarded the 2020-21 Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship. The fellowship pays $10,000 for participation.
The purpose of this program is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health-care outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master’s-level behavioral health professionals available to serve racial/ethnic minority populations.”I am particularly interested in how cultural differences and equity of care affect students of color and their academic performance, says Jones. “This will highlight the fantastic opportunity I had working under the advisement of Dr. Schroeder on an independent pilot study in the Environmental & Public Health Research Scholars program.”Jones’ research explores the influences of parents’ and teachers’ expectations on English language learners’ (ELL) self-efficacy and academic achievement.”Working with ELL students and their families was an eye-opening experience and a vital opportunity to understand diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds,” says Jones. “The study offered me a deeper understanding of the intersection of developmental and school psychology.”He continued, “Furthermore, it also allowed me to apply the advanced skills I have learned in my graduate studies, including evaluating measures for cultural relevance, procedures for interviewing families, and using SPSS.”Jones currently works as a public-school teacher in Tulsa, OK. This formative experience influenced his decision to become a school psychologist.”Teaching allowed me to gain first-hand experience working with children and engaging with them in a fun, creative environment while promoting resilience by teaching music,” says Jones. “Through music, I developed my students’ cognitive processing, reading skills, and positive peer communication.
I realized how passionate I was about working with students. The connection I had with my students made work feel fulfilling.”Jones plans to intern at A New Way Center in Tulsa. A New Way center is an agency that works with families and individuals to meet significant life challenges.
Through this internship, he will be doing what he is most passionate about�working with children in the school setting. Additionally, Jones’ participation as a fellow with the SEF consists of working closely on a project with his designated advisor. Jones will also participate as a fellow with the Southern Education Foundation (SEF).
The SEF is a summer fellowship that focuses on advancing racial equity and improving the quality of education from Pre-k through college. As a fellow, Jones will develop as a leader, engage with stakeholders, and acquire job skills through direct learning experiences.”My ultimate goal is to attend a Ph.D. program in school psychology. Afterwards, I hope to return to my community to advocate for students whose futures are blighted by deficits in our education system and continue to express my love for education.