For the past school year, Kira Dallaire has taken on one of the longest and most-demanding internships we have: in-school intern. She was up to the challenge. No matter how many projects we throw at her, she catches and champions them in stride and style. Kira is a resident of Ypsilanti and believes deeply in the power of her community. She puts her principles into action right in her own backyard; she is able to walk to tutoring at the WST lab and our drop-in writing programs at the Michigan Avenue branch of the Ypsilanti District Library, and drive a few blocks to many of our in-school programs.
Kira’s background makes her an incredible asset to our programs: for her undergraduate degree, Kira studied elementary education and has over eight years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Kira is currently a student in the special education graduate program at Eastern Michigan University. Her program focuses on learning disabilities in particular, and she explained her graduate research is centered around “the disproportionality of minority students in special education programs, inclusion, resilience, and culturally responsive teaching.”
An advocate through and through, Kira brings her experience and thoughtfulness to all of our programs. She has played a key role in the improvements we have made this year, adding her insight and ideas as we worked to make in-school programming more effective, evidence-based, and inclusive. Collaborating with Kira is a joy—she brings many fabulous ideas to the table and elevates any team she is a part of through her fiercely dedicated spirit. Kira’s organization, attention-to-detail, and thoroughness help the wildest projects stay smooth from start to finish.
Kira has a HUGE fan club of students at our on-going Writer’s Workshop at Adams STEM Academy in Ypsilanti. She has the ability to engage even the most reluctant and disengaged writers and create shining moments in her interactions with students. As you can imagine, this requires patience, skill, warmth, and a good sense of humor—qualities that Kira has in spades.
Kira is one of those uncommonly magical and tenacious people who doesn’t just have passive opinions, but who actively lives her principles every day. Kira Dallaire, you raise the bar and make everyone around you strive to be our best selves—we are so lucky to know you!
