Walden University's Educator for a Day Grant Program Marks Fifth Year

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the fifth consecutive year of its grant program, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University will award $25,000 in grants to preK–12 schools that host Educator for a Day events as part of the nationwide celebration of American Education Week, being observed Nov. 13–19, 2011.

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This year, five schools from across the country will be selected from those nominated to each receive a $5,000 grant to enhance their classroom education, provide educational technology or supplies or sponsor special educational activities. Grants will be awarded based on answers to essay questions about what noneducators should know about the school, what makes the school unique and what the school would do with the grant. Educators and administrators can nominate their schools at www.WaldenU.edu/educatorforaday. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 17.

"My school used the money to buy new books written in Spanish in order to support our dual language Spanish/English program. It is so wonderful to have books that support the teachers' teaching points and the students' interests," said Courtnie Mirabelli, a kindergarten teacher at West View Elementary in Burlington, Wash., a 2008 grant recipient school. "I cried when I received the grant. This meant so much to our teachers, students, families and administration. It lifted our morale!"

Walden started the grant program in 2007 to honor schools and educators across the nation in support of the National Education Association's Educator for a Day program. Offering these grants serves as a call to action for teachers and administrators to participate by hosting aspiring educators, community leaders, parents and friends as they "shadow" teachers in the classroom. Schools that receive a grant will be required to arrange for these shadowing opportunities during Educator for a Day events on Thursday, Nov. 17.

"Walden is proud that our Educator for a Day grants, over the past four years, have made a significant difference for thousands of educators and students across the country to help improve teaching and learning in their schools," said Dr. Kate Steffens, dean of Walden's Riley College of Education and Leadership. "And those who take advantage of the opportunity to 'shadow an educator' on this special day will see for themselves the influence and impact teachers have in our nation's classrooms."

Walden's more than 40-year history of educating educators has created a community of more than 50,000 students and alumni who are leaders in their classrooms and schools. The Riley College of Education and Leadership programs emphasize practical skills and analytical tools that educators can immediately use in their classrooms and also connects its students with nationally recognized education experts, researchers and scholars. 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 46,500 students from all 50 states and more than 120 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 57 campus-based and online universities in 28 countries.

Walden offers more than 60 degree programs with more than 300 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