蜜桃视频

For more than 20 years, Nickalaki Hokett has been assisting in a special education classroom at Boston Latin Academy in Boston, Massachusetts, as a paraprofessional. Now, with the help of the Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence, she’s preparing to lead a classroom of her own.

Teaching has always come naturally to Hokett. As the oldest child of seven siblings, and the only girl, she began teaching at an early age. 

“After school, I would play ‘school’ with my younger brothers, teaching them everything I had learned that day,” she shared. “As a result, the two brothers closest to me in age entered school already reading and writing.” 

Hokett’s early passion for education, encouraged by a family of educators, set the stage for her lasting commitment to helping others learn and grow as well as becoming a lifelong learner herself. 

In 2023, she took her first course through the Albion Center for Professional Development, offered through her workplace, and she loved the experience. When a second opportunity came to take another Albion course, she jumped at the chance. 

“It was a way to keep learning in a field I’m deeply passionate about,” she shared.

After the birth of her son, she began working as a paraprofessional and found a love for supporting special education students. Over the last two decades, she has supported students with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges, stepping in wherever needed. 

“People would tell me I had a gift for teaching,” she said. “But as a single mom, I didn’t feel I could pursue a degree at the time. My priority was raising my son.”

Still, she held her dream to become a special education teacher close, and when the right time to pursue that dream arrived, she took it. 

With the financial support of the Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence, Hokett is now able to take the next step toward making her dream a reality. In fall 2025, she will begin her journey toward earning a master’s degree in special education at 蜜桃视频.

“This scholarship is pivotal. It eases the financial burden and allows me to focus more fully on my development as an educator,” Hokett said. 

The Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence will provide Hokett with up to $4,000 per semester, with a lifetime maximum of $16,000—helping her save nearly 70% on graduate tuition.

Hokett’s passion for teaching others didn’t stop after her brothers grew out of playing “school” with her. She never lost sight of what truly mattered to her: helping every student realize their full potential.

“I’m committed to supporting students with diverse learning needs and being an advocate for their success,” she said. “With the right guidance, encouragement, and resources, I believe they can achieve remarkable things.”