Transforming Lives: Tomorrow’s Teachers Fund
CASE is guided by its vision statement: advancing education to transform lives and society. In this issue of Currents, we begin a new, regular spotlight that showcases the many ways in which our members are supporting their institutions in crucial endeavors that change lives.
Challenge: In the United States and many parts of the world, school systems are experiencing a shortage of new, qualified teachers. The high cost of a college education (and for many teachers education at the graduate level), along with increasing rates of teacher attrition exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic are among the reasons contributing to the shortage.
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In Virginia alone, the state’s Department of Education reported more than 3,500 unfilled teaching positions in 2022–2023. The shortage, stress on remaining teachers, and lack of training for teachers filling these gaps impact student learning.
Solution: The Tomorrow’s Teachers Fund provides an endowment for tuition and fees assistance for students at the University of Virginia (U.S.) School of Education and Human Development, ensuring affordability and accessibility to students who dream of becoming teachers. The fund, which launched in 2023, provides tuition assistance of up to $30,000 for students with demonstrated need who are pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in teacher education. Funds are also available to cover teacher licensure and accreditation fees.
Advancement Matters: The School of Education and Human Development Foundation set an initial fundraising goal of $1 million in current-use funds, which is well on its way to being fully achieved. These funds became available to qualified students beginning the program in June and August 2024. Ultimately, an endowment of $50 million will be established to support the program in perpetuity by providing a minimum of $2.5 million annually for tuition assistance and related expenses.
Transforming Lives: The Fund is projected to provide assistance to more than 600 student teachers within five years, benefiting up to 90,000 students in K–12 classrooms. In Virginia alone, 600 additional highly qualified teachers would reduce the current teacher shortage by nearly 20%.
“Tomorrow’s Teachers Fund increases access to high-quality teacher preparation, especially for those who have the desire to become dedicated teachers, but not the means,” says Mike Cashman, Executive Director, School of Education and Human Development Foundation. “The true beauty of investing in tomorrow’s teachers is the ripple effect it will have for the thousands of children who will be taught and inspired by highly qualified, diverse, dedicated teachers.”
Source: The SEHD Foundation case statement for UVA’s Tomorrow’s Teachers Fund, which received a 2024 gold Circle of Excellence Award in the Publications/Fundraising Case Statements & General Cultivation Publications category.
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Ellen N. Woods is Writer/Editor at CASE.
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January - February 2025 Issue of Currents
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