As an investment in the education of children in the greater Rochester area, the University of Rochester's Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development is establishing a Greater Rochester Educator Scholarship and Grant Program for educators in area schools. In addition to four full-tuition, competitive scholarships, all educators in area schools are eligible for guaranteed tuition grants of up to $12,000 in qualifying master's or non-degree professional programs.
The funding is available to practicing school personnel who wish to pursue a program in teaching, school leadership, or counseling on a part-time basis, while remaining employed as an educator. Educators employed by public, private, and parochial pre-K–12 schools in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Orleans, and Genesee counties are eligible.
"We believe in the power of education," explains Warner School Dean Raffaella Borasi. "We believe that schools and educators have the power to shape lives and raise the economic and social well-being of our community. And we know that quality staff in schools make all the difference. To that end, the Warner School is investing in the 'people power' that brings schools to life and unites communities in excellence."
The four new full-tuition competitive scholarships will be awarded to exceptional area educators who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the community's children and show promise and capacity as change agents and leaders in schools.
The tuition grant will be awarded at the rate of $1,000 per course taken at the Warner School, for a maximum total grant of $12,000. While no G.R.E. scores are required for professional programs, students must apply and be accepted to a master's or non-degree teaching, administration, or school counseling program to receive the tuition grant. The next two admissions deadlines are April 1 and July 1.
"Since ours is a national research university, many of the educators we prepare graduate and leave the area," Borasi says. "Even so, we historically have put a strong focus on our relationships with local schools. These new programs are ways to deepen our ties with area schools and educators and engage in collaborations to build a stronger community."
Currently, Warner School faculty are teaming up with educators throughout the region on collaborative pre-K-12 professional development and education reform efforts. These projects, which have garnered over $10 million in funding, include a National Science Foundation-supported initiative to increase mathematics knowledge in several suburban and rural school districts; a U.S. Education Department project to create national centers of excellence in Rochester Catholic preschools; and a N.Y.S.-funded effort to support mathematics and literacy professional development in the Rochester City School District.
The Warner School will host an Information Reception for interested educators at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, in the Havens Lounge on the third floor of Wilson Commons, University of Rochester River Campus. For further information on the reception, the scholarship and grant program, and all educational offerings at the Warner School, visit www.rochester.edu/warner, or call (585) 275-3950 or e-mail warner@rochester.edu.
The Warner School is committed to defining educational leadership that is research-based and tested against the realities of our nation's schools and communities. Warner alumni in school systems, community and government agencies, colleges and universities, consistently distinguish themselves by their leadership and the positive results of their work. Founded in 1958, and renamed the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development in 1993, the School is recognized both regionally and nationally for its tradition of advancing educational knowledge and preparing practitioners who achieve significant results. The Warner School offers non-degree/certificate, master's, and doctoral programs in teaching and curriculum, educational leadership (school administration and higher education), school and community counseling, and human development.