LAKELAND, FL - Most school lessons begin on a whiteboard. The goal for Summer Rusher is to help each student expand his or her knowledge every day. And it all starts with a relationship.

“You have to build that trust, that friendship with your students, before you can teach them any kind of subject,” said Summer Rusher, Summer teaches 5^th grade at Grace Lutheran School in Winter Haven. One of her class’s current challenges is decimals.

“Math is my favorite subject,” Summer said. “I enjoy math; my students maybe not quite so much. But I try to make it as fun, engaging, as much hands-on activity as we can do.”

Summer loves being a teacher. She’s wanted to be one most of her life. But her journey to the front of the classroom has taken several turns. Summer is a documented Dreamer.

“A documented Dreamer is somebody that their parents brought to America – documented – meaning they are here legally. They have all the proper paperwork and have maintained status in the U.S.

Summer was born in England. Shortly after her first birthday her family moved to Florida. She’s been here ever since. Growing up like a typical American kid.

“I was a straight-A student, I was in National Honors Society, and I played soccer and football at the varsity level for several years,” said Summer.

It wasn’t until Summer’s senior year in high school when she realized getting into college wouldn’t be so simple.

I couldn’t understand why I was still getting all these letters ‘denied, denied, denied’, ‘sorry you’re not accepted,’” recalled Summer. “And I noticed in application processes and looking at scholarships I wasn’t the same as everybody else because I didn’t have this little magical number called a Social Security number.”

Summer found her way to Southeastern University in Lakeland, where she played soccer. But before her senior season, she turned 21 – no longer qualifying her to be a dependent under her family visa.

“During the summer of 2020 I had to self-deport back to my ‘home country’ (England),” said Summer. “So, I had to (go to the U.S. Embassy and) apply for something called OPT.”

Optional Practical Training is a temporary opportunity to gain knowledge and skills via employment in the U.S. This allowed Summer to graduate college and begin a teaching career at Grace Lutheran. But time is once again running out.

“Here coming up in June my visa does expire – my OPT expires,” said Summer. “I will have to go back to my home country, which I do not want to do. I have been here since I was a year and a half - this is my home.”

The only way to prevent deportation is for her employer, Grace Lutheran, to file for an H1-B visa. It would give Summer three more years in the U.S. Friend, and fellow educator, Asia Dean, is rallying support for Summer.

“It breaks my heart, and it makes me realize how privileged I am with my status here, as a citizen, but at the same time it makes me want to fight even harder for her,” said Dean.

Summer is taking in every moment she can to do what she loves in the only home she’s ever known. She is out on the SEU practice fields – basking in the memories. Summer is one of an estimated 200,000 documented Dreamers who are in the same situation. Even with Grace Lutheran’s intent to apply for that H1-B visa, the self-proclaimed math lover knows the odds of getting to stay only go up from 30% to 40%.

“I can’t help but think how different my life would be if I was in England and if I wasn’t teaching,” said Summer. “If I was in England I wouldn’t even know what I would do. I really don’t like to think about it.”

As time grows short the days get longer for Summer Rusher. She is hoping to remain in the only home she has ever known. But Summer knows that miracle is one so many of her fellow documented dreamers are waiting for as well.