Alumni Success Stories: Shelly Agris
Hancock Elementary School principal Rochelle (Shelly) Agris could have retired with full benefits three years ago, but she's still going strong with no plans for retirement. "For many of my kids here at school," says Agris, "we're the ones who are going to fight for what they need. I take that very seriously. It's tremendous satisfaction when you can make the difference in little kids' lives." That kind of selfless dedication earned Agris the 2003 White-Williams Scholars Valedictorian Alumni Award.
Shelly remembers a time more than 50 years ago when she was the student in need and a kind counselor at West Philadelphia High School cared enough to lend a hand. The counselor brought Shelly to the attention of White-Williams Scholars, the non-profit organization which rewards, encourages and supports high-achieving Philadelphia public high school students who live in poverty. Each year, White-Williams Scholars provides more than 1,700 exceptional students with monthly stipends and educational support. The payoff is evident in the numbers—in a city with a greater than 50 percent drop-out rate, every White-Williams Scholar graduates from high school. Ninety-five percent of Scholars go on to college, most being the first in their family to do so. Says Shelly, "I remember how important the money was. There were six kids and both of my parents worked, but money was very, very tight. The money from White-Williams Scholars was absolutely the difference between being part of something and being excluded … of feeling decent or not, because you had the few extra bucks to do something with dignity. You could have an ice cream sandwich with the girls at lunch."
Shelly grew up one of very few Jews in a rough, poor West Philadelphia neighborhood that was a melting pot of cultures and colors. Her family was so poor that they couldn't afford to send the children to Hebrew school or to bat mitzvah their daughters.
Shelly's background serves her well at Hancock, which she calls a "mini United Nations." Says Shelly, "I have the ability to be comfortable with everyone, because of the kind of neighborhood I grew up in. My upbringing also made me extremely empathetic to all of the different kinds of needs of children."
Like many Scholars, Shelly's parents were uneducated. Her mother quit school in eighth grade to help raise and support her own siblings. Her father emigrated from Russia at 18. Even as a child, Shelly knew she wanted to be an educator. She loved to play school and always talked of being a teacher. Her only obstacle was paying for college.
Shelly earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Temple University. Her high achievement was the key to her college education; she earned a Senatorial Scholarship which paid her tuition, and worked summers for spending money.
Even after all her hard work, Shelly faced adversity. She was widowed 27 years ago, when her only child—a son—was three. According to Shelly, the hard knocks she overcame only made her more committed to help others in need. This attitude is not rare among former Scholars. Just as current Scholars agree that education is their key to a better life, former Scholars tend to feel passionately that they must give back as was given to them. Their methods vary, and range from helping careers to dedication to volunteering.
