Hannah Gaber Saletan

Virginia Clark | Teacher

When her son-in-law encouraged her to take a computer class at A Working Woman In Need, Inc., a local non-profit that helps women gain life skills, the mother of four balked. “At first I didn’t even want to touch a button, I was afraid I’d lose everything on the screen!”

That basic knowledge led to a summer course at CambridgeCollege in Boston, where she met a group of women similarly juggling family life while achieving their ambitions. Though beset by struggles - including the murder of her son in 2005 – Virginia eventually earned a Master’s degree online, a sweet irony considering her previous fear of computers.

She now puts her education to daily use as a special needs teacher at Garden City Elementary. “I took my chances with Special Ed, and I’m so glad I did. My job allows me to touch lives and I’m so grateful.”

~Jessica Leigh Lebos