Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate

Amy Qualliotine joined the Center in 2012 and focuses on family economic security, education, and employment outreach efforts. Before joining NWLC, she spent two years teaching incredibly brilliant 4th grade students in rural Louisiana as a Teach For America corps member. She has interned at the Center for Strategic International Studies, the Mortara Center for International Studies, and for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. Amy graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and will forever "Bleed Hoya Blue". 

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My Take

The One Time I Heard “That Job is for Girls” – and Liked It

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: February 01, 2013 at 04:11 pm

Since today is Hillary Clinton’s last day as Madam Secretary, I couldn’t help but remember this precious moment of empowerment she helped inspire.

4th Grade Government Art!

4th Grade Government Art!

This time last year I was teaching 4th grade Writing and Social Studies in rural Louisiana, and we were knee deep in the Government Unit. We spent a lot of time going over the role of each of the three branches (in addition to singing the Schoolhouse Rock Constitution song on an almost hourly basis).

At the end of the lessons about the Executive Branch we had a discussion about which position you would want to have when you’re older. Most went with President. But Derreck, who could always be counted on for entertainment, slammed his hand on his desk and announced that he would be Secretary of State because then he could go to Poland whenever he wants (do not ask me where he got Poland from).

Well, Aja did not like his answer. She stood up and proudly proclaimed, “You can’t be Secretary of State because that job is for GIRLS.”

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Tags: Feminism, A Women's Agenda | Add new comment

High School Moms, Episode 5: “Make You or Break You”

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: September 14, 2012 at 04:38 pm
Larissa
Larissa

“It’s never a waste of money to invest in someone’s human potential.” Those are the words of Brandy Chance, a Social Studies teacher at the Florence Crittenton School for pregnant and parenting teens in Colorado. She knows firsthand just how much potential is in the young women that attend FloCrit. If only more schools invested in that potential instead of discriminating against pregnant and parenting students. According to NWLC’s report, 64% of states lack anti-discrimination laws, regulations, or guidelines that would protect these students. 

On this week’s episode of High School Moms, we met two incredibly strong young moms who are wise beyond their teenage years. First we met 16-year-old Larissa. She has a 1-year-old son and gave birth to her second son during the episode. Much of the show focused on Larissa’s delivery. She went into labor sooner than expected and to say she was overwhelmed would be an understatement. Through tears, Larissa expressed her fear that she wasn’t prepared to have another baby. I was incredibly impressed by her maturity throughout the episode. She obviously has spent a lot of time reflecting on her situation and noted that “having a baby at a young age can either make you or it breaks you.” She is determined not to let it break her and the support she receives from the staff at Florence Crittenton will certainly help make that a reality.

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Tags: Pregnant and Parenting Students, Pregnant & Parenting Students, Education & Title IX | Add new comment

High School Moms, Week 3: Biological Injustice

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: August 31, 2012 at 03:07 pm
Kaylynn
Kaylynn

This week on High School Moms we met two more young women enrolled at the Florence Crittenton School for pregnant and parenting students in Denver, CO.  First we met Kaylynn who is struggling with her relationship with her mother, her son’s behavioral issues, her weight, her grades at school, and making financial ends meet – needless to say, it’s a lot for a 17-year-old mom to handle.   We also met Alyah, the daughter of a teen mom, who at 16 is nine months pregnant and understandably scared to death of the reality of giving birth. 

The greatest contrast between Kaylynn and Alyah has to do with the men, or lack thereof, in their lives.  Kaylynn didn’t provide us with many details, but it was obvious that the father of her son is not involved and that his absence contributes to a lot of her struggles.  Alyah on the other hand has a very supportive boyfriend – the 16-year old father of her soon-to-be born son.  Alyah told us that when she broke the news of her pregnancy, he hugged her and reassured her that everything would be okay.

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Tags: Pregnant and Parenting Students, Title IX, Pregnant & Parenting Students, Education & Title IX | 3 comments

Gabby Douglas and the Next Generation

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: August 06, 2012 at 11:16 am

Me: Are you watching?

Kaitylan: Yes ma’am I am!

Kaitylan: OMG Gabby is SOO cool. B-)

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Kaitylan and I were texting last Thursday night. Last year, she was one of my students. I was teaching 4th grade in rural Louisiana.

Enter: Gabby Douglas

When Gabby Douglas won the all-around title at the Olympic trials in July I was elated. I got butterflies in my stomach, a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes. I know – that seems pretty ridiculous given the fact that it was only the trials and I don’t know this girl.

Except that I do. After teaching 80 students over the last two years in rural Louisiana, I know they have been waiting for Gabby. Waiting for America’s Sweetheart to look like them.

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Tags: Athletics | 2 comments

Not So Fast – Title IX’s Work Isn’t Done Yet

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: August 02, 2012 at 10:52 am

“We’ve reaped the fruits of Title IX,” says Theresa Edwards, the U.S. chef de mission for U.S. teams.

Title IX certainly turned out to be the seeds of some pretty incredible fruit. As I sit on my couch (usually eating ice-cream, pie, or something else I bet those athletes have never even seen) watching the 2012 games, I am overwhelmed by the sheer power of Team U.S.A.’s female athletes. I mean have you seen McKayla Maroney fly, literally fly, on her vault? Or Missy Franklin make swimming at 1,000,000 miles per hour – okay, maybe not exactly 1,000,000 – look easy?

London 2012 is the first time that the majority of Team U.S.A. is female, and there is no doubt that thanks is owed to Title IX. In the 1972 Summer Games, the same year Title IX was born, 21% of the American competitors were women. Forty years later the American delegation is a whopping 51% female.

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Tags: Athletics, Title IX, Athletics, Education & Title IX | 1 comment