For the seventh consecutive year, $5,000 grants will be awarded to preK–12 schools hosting Educator for a Day events in November
Minneapolis—September 23, 2013—The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University will award $25,000 in grants to five preK–12 schools that host Educator for a Day events on Thursday, Nov. 21. For the seventh consecutive year, Walden is offering the grants as a call to action for teachers and administrators to invite aspiring educators, interested community leaders, parents and friends into the classrooms to shadow teachers during American Education Week (Nov. 18¬22).
Each school selected from those nominated will receive a $5,000 grant. Educators and administrators can nominate their schools at www.WaldenU.edu/educatorforaday. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 14.
“Our event provided an excellent opportunity to create partnerships with the local community and area businesses,” said Tom Dugas, assistant principal at Dulaney High School in Timonium, Md., one of the five schools that received a 2012 grant. “The Educators for a Day had the opportunity to take part in the educational process to help mold and shape our future leaders and decision-makers. Students and teachers were given the opportunity to learn and hear about the application of education in the workplace, and students were able to make real-world connections to their learning and studies.”
Schools may use the grant to enhance classroom education, provide educational technology or supplies or sponsor educational activities. Grants will be awarded based on answers to essay questions about what non-educators should know about the school, what makes the school unique and what the school would do with the grant.
“Our grant money was used to conduct a sophomore retreat day, titled ‘Building your Future,’ with breakout sessions such as how to read and understand your transcript and how to build and write a résumé, a college and career fair with more than 30 colleges and universities present, and a teen panel with recent graduates and alumni about completing their freshman year in college. The students were able to take away valuable information that will help them meet with success not only in their junior and senior years but as they head to college and the world of work,” Dugas said.
“Since 2007, thousands of students, teachers and administrators across the country have benefited from Walden’s Educator for a Day grants. In addition, aspiring educators, community members and local leaders have a special opportunity to experience for themselves the extraordinary impact teachers have in our classrooms each and every day,” said Dr. Kate Steffens, dean of Walden’s Riley College of Education and Leadership.
The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University, a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)–accredited institution, is the choice of more than 54,000 students and alumni who are leaders in their classrooms and schools. The college is dedicated to improving educator effectiveness and preparing educators to make a positive impact on student achievement. For more information about degree programs in the Riley College of Education and Leadership, visit www.WaldenU.edu/education.
About Walden University
For more than 40 years, 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 52,000 students from all 50 states and more than 145 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online 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 more than 72 campus-based and online universities in 30 countries.
Walden offers more than 75 degree programs with more than 385 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. 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.