Walden University Announces 2013 Educator for a Day Grant Recipients

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in the seventh consecutive year of its grant program supporting nationwide Educator for a Day events during American Education Week (Nov. 18–22), The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University today announced the five preK–12 schools that will each receive a $5,000 grant. The funds will be used to enhance classroom education, provide educational technology or supplies or sponsor special activities.

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"Seeing educators and administrators at work in their classrooms and schools makes a powerful impact on all who experience it. This year's recipients will proudly share their exemplary students' successes and achievements with individuals in their community and help spread the word about the difference they are making in the lives of children every day," said Dr. Kate Steffens, dean of the Riley College of Education and Leadership.

The 2013 Educator for a Day grant recipients are:

Baxterville School, Lumberton, Miss.—A preK–8 school in rural southern Mississippi challenged with a limited budget, the school will use the grant to purchase classroom sets of books and magazines to help literacy and reading educators teach Common Core State Standards. For the Educator for a Day event, students from the Lamar County Center for Technical Education Teacher Academy and community stakeholders will shadow teachers in classrooms.

Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary, Venice, Calif.—With 536 students in grades preK–5, the public school is culturally, ethnically and economically diverse and has received a number of awards for excellence. The school will use the grant money to purchase SMART Boards for the library to provide the latest learning tools for the entire school community. Micah Linton, a Venice artist, toy and game designer and author of the children's series The Weebeasts, will teach lessons to K–5 students about recycling and the environment for the event.

Evans High School, Orlando, Fla.—This urban high school with more than 2,500 students who face socioeconomic and academic challenges yet "beat the odds" will use the grant to support and increase student learning outcomes through the school's Positive Behavior Support Program. On Nov. 21, community school board members, pastors and elected and district officials, escorted by student leaders, will shadow faculty throughout the day.

James A. Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles, Calif.—A community-based K–12 learning center and part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the college preparatory school had more than 99% of its seniors graduate last year despite coming from families living at or below the poverty level. The grant will be used to renovate and refurbish classrooms to enhance learning and student participation in STEM programs. The Educator for a Day event will include parents and mentors from the local business community participating in activities throughout the day, including an ethics fair held by the 10th grade.

North East Carolina Prep School, Tarboro, N.C.—This nontraditional public charter school located in an economically depressed region with high unemployment has 900 students who are actively involved in their own learning. The grant will be used to purchase materials and books to be used for literacy programs in grades 4–9. Representatives from local government will join aspiring educators from local teacher education programs to shadow NECP teachers during their daily routines on Nov. 21.

"We have made the shift to 21st Century learning, which includes rich integration of technology. This grant will enable us to provide SMART Boards learning into our library so that students, teachers, and families can use it for research, storyboarding, and creating and displaying projects, "said Andrew Jenkins , principal at Couer d'Alene Avenue Elementary.

Applicants shared their ideas for hosting at least one aspiring educator who will shadow a teacher during Educator for a Day events on Thursday, Nov. 21. Grants were awarded based on teachers' and administrators' answers to essay questions about what noneducators should know about their school, what makes their school unique and how their school would use the grant money.

Since the grant program began in 2006, thousands of educators and students have benefited from Walden's Educator for a Day grants to help improve teaching and learning in their schools.The Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University, an institution accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 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 educators' effectiveness and preparing them to make a positive impact on student achievement.

For more information about the college and its degree programs, 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 50,000 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 75 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.ncahlc.org.

SOURCE Walden University