The June Stern Family Foundation -- Teacher Scholarships

"As a classroom teacher, I feel I can now better explain the rules of phonics and the appropriate sounds for letters in a word. I can also use the diagnostic tools immediately when I see a student struggle."
– Second-grade teacher, Eden Prairie

"Offering the children focused strategies to succeed was a joy! My students improved and commented, ‘This really works.’ The multisensory aspect provides so much opportunity to learn."
- Third-grade teacher, St. Paul

"I feel my students are able to read and spell words that past years' students would not have been able to do. Parents are commenting on their child's success."
– First-grade teacher, St. Louis Park

"Now I know how to help my struggling students!"
– Second-grade teacher, Woodbury

"I work with many young, struggling readers and the techniques are helping them to be more independent. They are more confident in trying to read and spell new words! It is fun to see their success."
- Special-education teacher, Burnsville

Since 2001, JSFF has sponsored over 135 reading-instruction scholarships for Twin Cities teachers in close to 60 schools. Each year, every trained teacher presents important reading, writing and spelling skills to a new class of students. In this way, more than 5,000 children have already benefited, and the number continues to grow.

If you are a K-3 classroom teacher, K-3 reading specialist or K-3 special-education teacher in the Twin Cities area who needs financial assistance to pursue a training opportunity that can further develop your skills for teaching reading, we encourage you to apply for a JSFF scholarship. The curriculum must include a clinical, supervised practicum and be aligned with Orton-Gillingham or similar methodology. If you are accepted, you will be asked to make a contribution toward materials (around $200); to participate in all classes; to complete a course evaluation; and to make a presentation to colleagues at your school about your course experiences.

Typically, teacher-training courses are held twice a year, for about two weeks in the summer or evenings and weekends in the fall. We have supported courses conducted by Orton-Gillingham of Minnesota, The International Dyslexia Association-Upper Midwest Branch (IDA-UMB), Winsor Learning (The Sonday System) and others.

Click here for the latest Orton-Gillingham of Minnesota course registration.

Click here to apply for a JSFF scholarship for this course.

Results from a survey given to Minnesota elementary teachers showed that only 27% of teachers felt prepared to teach reading based on initial licensure training. However, 86% of these same teachers reported reading improvement in the classroom after training in and teaching the five strands of reading—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension [as implemented in Orton-Gillingham approaches].

JSFF has awarded individual scholarships to teachers at these schools:

Adams Spanish Immersion, St. Paul (4)
Afton-Lakeland Elementary, Lakeland
Ascension School, Minneapolis
Aquila Elmentary School, St. Louis Park (6)
Barton Open School, Minneapolis (19)
Burroughs Elementary, Minneapolis
Carondelet Catholic School, Minneapolis (2)
Centennial School, Richfield (2)
Chanhassen Elementary, Chanhassen
Chapel Hill Academy, Chanhassen (2)
Creek Valley School, Edina (5)
Eagle Ridge Academy, Edina (3)
East Side Learning Center, St. Paul (2)
Eden Prairie School, Eden Prairie
Faithful Shepherd School, Eagan
Field School, Minneapolis
Good Shepherd School, Minneapolis (2)
Hale School, Minneapolis
Hayden Heights Elementary, St. Paul
Hilltop Primary, Mound (2)
ISD 196 Early Childhood Learning Center, Apple Valley
Island Lake Elementary, Shoreview
Jordan Park School, Minneapolis (2)
Kaposia Education Center, South St. Paul (4)
Lake Country Montessori, Minneapolis
Life Academy, Bloomington
Lincoln Center School, South St. Paul (2)
Lucy Laney at Cleveland, Minneapolis
Mary Queen of Peace School, Rogers

Maternity of Mary-St. Andrew School, St. Paul (2)
Minnesota Waldorf School, St. Paul
Montessori Training Center of St. Paul
Nativity of Mary School, Bloomington (11)
Northrop Urban Environmental School, Minneapolis (3)
Our Lady of Grace, Edina (4)
Park View Montessori, Minneapolis
Peter Hobart, St. Louis Park (4)
Presentation of Mary School, Maplewood
Ramalynn Montessori Academy, Bloomington (3)
Ramsey Elementary, Ramsey
Redeemer Lutheran School, Wayzata (2)
Royal Oaks Elementary, Woodbury
Saint Ambrose School, Woodbury (2)
Saint Bernard's School, St. Paul
Scenic Heights Elementary, Minnetonka
Seward Montessori, Minneapolis (4)
Shirley Hills Primary, Mound (2)
Sky Oaks Elementary, Burnsville
St. Bartholomew School, Wayzata (3)
St. Joseph's School, St. Paul
St. Stephen School, Anoka
Tatanka Academy, Minneapolis (2)
Transfiguration Catholic School, Oakdale
Vista View Elementary, Burnsville (2)
Way to Grow, Minneapolis
Weaver Lake Elementary, Maple Grove
William Byrne Elementary, Burnsville (3)
Zachary Lane Elementary, Plymouth (5)