Walden University Announces 2009 Educator for a Day Grant Recipients

Minneapolis—November 16, 2009—The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University today announced the recipients of its 2009 Educator for a Day Grants. Walden will award the $5,000 grants to three selected P–12 schools that host Educator for a Day events as part of the nationwide celebration of the National Education Association’s American Education Week, observed Nov. 15–21, 2009. Each school will host at least one aspiring educator, who will shadow a teacher during the school day on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The 2009 Educator for a Day grant recipients are:

Colegio Radians, Cayey, Puerto Rico—Aligned with the increased focus on environmental solutions worldwide, the school will use the grant money to develop its Experimental Research Center for Sustainable Agriculture program, a “green” project where students will learn to grow several crops in a small space. The program’s goal is to also train teachers and students from other schools to extend the program’s reach.

Little Oak Middle School, Slidell, La.—Located in a community affected by major economic upheaval, emotional stress and other social issues since Hurricane Katrina, the school will use the money to establish an innovative student program to instill motivation and well-being in the school and among community stakeholders.

Sterling School, Greenville, S.C.—To increase community involvement with the school and to help its students succeed, Sterling School plans to use the grant to implement “Imagine the Possibilities,” a summer enrichment program to help students avoid setbacks in their learning during the summer. The goal is to develop a student-centered camp to reinforce basic skills and establish routines and behaviors for success.

“Each recipient chosen for a grant this year demonstrates a sincere commitment to make an impact both inside the classroom and beyond. The work of these educators, and all our nation’s teachers and administrators, makes a profound and lasting difference in the lives of our children every day,” said Victoria Reid, vice president of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.

The winning schools were selected from nominations submitted by teachers and administrators nationwide. Walden created the Educator for a Day grant initiative in 2007, and because of its impact on the honored schools and teachers, this initiative is a fitting tribute to the valuable work of educators across the country. Previous grant recipients include schools from Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Washington.

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden is named in honor of the former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, a leading advocate in advancing education as a national priority. Walden programs serve educators at various stages of their profession, including new and veteran classroom teachers, faculty members and administrators, and career-changers who are interested in teaching in two critical areas of the current teacher shortage: early childhood education and special education.

For more information about The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

About Walden University
Since 1970, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 33,000 students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of 45 online and campus-based universities in 20 countries.

Walden offers more than 36 degree programs with more than 140 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration, technology and engineering. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.