Latest news with #MisterC
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Beloved Grand Prairie ISD teacher hopes he's made his own teacher proud
The Brief This week, Dickinson Elementary School's Mister C earned a master's degree in education from UNT Dallas. The Teacher of the Year has been making a difference in the lives of children for the past 13 years. He says it's all because of a teacher who made a difference in his life when he was growing up in Oak Cliff. GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - A Grand Prairie ISD teacher is not just an educator. He's a difference maker. And it all started because of the difference a teacher made in his life. The backstory Steve Cipriano said a teacher at Wittnnetka Elementary School in Dallas changed his life. "I grew up in the 90s, and at that time, I lived in Oak Cliff. And I just kind of lived that lifestyle, I guess you might say," he said. A teacher named Mister Sifuentes, who went by Mister Si, inspired him to do better. "He would see us trying to copy some of these gang writings and all that in our notebooks. And he always told us you don't need that. That's not for you," he said. Cipriano worked odd jobs after high school before becoming a substitute teacher in Grand Prairie ISD's disciplinary alternative program. "And in that moment, I was like, 'Hey, I know these kids. These kids were me.' And I really like that once those kids caught on to me, they were like, 'Hey, you coming back tomorrow?' I was like, 'I might. If they give me a job back, I'm coming back tomorrow,'" he said. Tomorrow turned into 13 years and counting. And in 2019, Cipriano decided to go to college. "2023 is when I finished my undergrad, and then I just kept going. And I went for my master's the following two years," he said. Earlier this week, Cipriana earned that master's degree from UNT Dallas. What they're saying Assistant Principal Angelique Gaona said the students at Dickenson Elementary love Mister C, as they call him. "They want to go with Mister C. Every time, Mister C. They like scream for him. They were super excited when he won Teacher of the Year. He was paraded around the school and everybody was super excited. That was one of the things I wanted to showcase about him because he's just so loved here," she said. What's next Cipriano said he's not done yet with his education. He's planning to go for his doctorate degree. "But in the meantime, I'll still be making my Mister C curriculum on YouTube. I'm always going to be involved with kids no matter what," he said. It's his way of continuing the legacy of his own Mister Si. "I don't even know where he's at, but I hope I'm making him proud somewhere," he said. The Source FOX 4's Shaun Rabb gathered details for this story by talking to teacher Steve Cipriano and Assistant Principal Angelique Gaona at Dickinson Elementary School in Grand Prairie.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
12 kids awarded full tuition to Wright State
FAIRBORN, Ohio (WDTN) — A dozen students who aren't even in high school yet are all set for college. They've been awarded full rides to Wright State University. Eight of the 12 scholarship winners competed in a basketball competition. The other four were drawn at random. To be eligible, everyone had to participate in 80% of events during the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge at Wright State. 'STEM is such a critical piece to the entire world because science, tech, engineering and math is what drives essentially everything that we do,' says Mister C, who performs science experiments and is a 2001 Wright State graduate. In a world where STEM is the future, 12 kids already have their future set. 'It's a very, very big deal, thanks to God above, of course. But this makes us really, really excited for his future,' says Demetrius Taylor, whose eight-year-old son won a scholarship. A dozen grade school students were awarded full rides to Wright State University. 'That's just amazing. I'm so excited that Wright State has donated the scholarships, and it just means a lot to our family,' says Amy Boley, whose nine-year-old son won a scholarship. 'I am over the moon. He deserves it so much.' Share your good news with 2 for a chance to be featured! For a shot at a full ride, students took part in a basketball competition and the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge. 'So we're bringing together kids, basketball, STEM, all sorts of cool things, lots of exhibitors. And Hoopla STEM is just designed to inspire kids to want to do STEM and be participating in STEM events, not just a one day thing, but make it part of your life and essentially become a lifelong learner,' describes Mister C. About 1,500 kids explored hands-on exhibits on a floor full of demonstrations. 'As far the STEM program, I think that's great for students to learn, especially at this age,' says Shaquora Shelley, whose son won a scholarship. 'He has a long time since he's only in first grade. It means a lot. It's one thing, one less thing I have to worry about really financially.' The money will help ease the financial burden of higher-education as students work to advance their knowledge in a field that's growing just as fast as they are. This was the second year Wright State sponsored the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge but the first time the university hosted the event on campus. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
