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New Scholarship For Teachers Pursuing Special Education Certifications

AWS Foundation has established the AWS Foundation Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. This scholarship will provide financial assistance for certified teachers in Northeast Indiana desiring to obtain additional special education certifications. Eligibility for the scholarship requires applicants to teach in the following counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Miami, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley. They will award one recipient $2,500 in December 2018. Beyond this initial award, ongoing scholarship opportunities will be available.

“Ensuring quality education for students with disabilities is a priority,” says Larry Adelman, AWS Foundation Board Chair. “These scholarships enable educators to seek the necessary training without the financial burden that often hinders them from pursuing additional coursework.”

Indiana currently faces a teacher shortage, especially in special education. At the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year, Allen County alone had more than 25 openings. Many do not seek the additional special education certifications due to the cost. AWS Foundation hopes to increase the number of certified special educators in Northeast Indiana by breaking down the financial barrier through this scholarship fund.

Applications can be found online at jsnyder or by calling Krista Arnold at 260-969-3307.