A Day in the Life of an Educator: Walden University Announces Grants in Support of Educator for a Day Program

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- On Nov. 18, 2010, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University will award $5,000 grants to three P–12 schools that host Educator for a Day events as part of the nationwide celebration of American Education Week, being observed Nov. 14–20, 2010. This is the fourth year Walden will honor schools and educators across the nation with its campaign in support of the National Education Association's Educator for a Day program.

The grants can be used to enhance classroom education, provide educational technology or supplies or sponsor special educational activities. Offering these grants serves as a call to action from Walden for teachers and administrators nationwide to participate in an Educator for a Day program.

The deadline for nominations is Oct. 18, 2010. Three schools will be selected by a panel familiar with the issues currently facing P–12 teachers and administrators and chosen based on 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. In addition, recipient schools will be required to arrange for at least one aspiring educator to shadow a teacher during Educator for a Day events on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010. Educators and administrators can nominate their schools at www.WaldenU.edu/educatorforaday.

"Over the past three years—from the Pacific Northwest and Mississippi Gulf Coast to Puerto Rico and Providence—thousands of educators and students have experienced the benefits of Walden's Educator for a Day grants. We look forward to receiving many creative, thoughtful nominations again this year from educators who are making a difference in their students' lives every day," said Dr. Kate Steffens, dean of Walden's Riley College of Education and Leadership.

The 2009 Educator for a Day grants were awarded to: Colegio Radians, Cayey, Puerto Rico, to develop the school's Experimental Research Center for Sustainable Agriculture program; Little Oak Middle School, Slidell, La., to establish an innovative student program to instill motivation and positive well-being into the school environment; and Sterling School, Greenville, S.C., to implement "Imagine the Possibilities," a summer enrichment program to help students avoid setbacks in their learning over the summer.

Walden's 40-year history of educating educators has created a community of more than 45,000 students and alumni who are leaders in their classrooms and schools. As a leading provider of online education degrees, the Riley College of Education and Leadership is dedicated to increasing teacher effectiveness and student achievement by connecting its students with nationally recognized education experts, researchers and scholars. Walden's programs, while strongly grounded in theory, emphasize practical skills and analytical tools educators can immediately use to enhance student learning and outcomes.

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

About Walden University

For 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 42,500 students from all 50 states and more than 100 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 more than 50 online and campus-based universities in 24 countries.

Walden offers more than 45 degree programs with more than 195 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.ncahlc.org.

SOURCE Walden University