Sulam has received the major gift from Ms. Lenore A. England, a philanthropist born and raised in Washington, DC. Ms. England has dedicated this major gift toward an innovative initiative to attract individuals into the noble field of special education. Through the STAR initiative, Sulam teachers will be reimbursed appropriately for their excellent work, given access to high level professional development, and certification through accredited institutions. Our goal is to attract and maintain high level professionals who in turn train, mentor, and support those new to the field. This effort hopes to address the teacher shortage while bringing high level educators back into the field of eduction.
“Given the current climate in the field of education, I believe the most innovative thing you can do is invest in your people. Teachers are the most important asset for student progress,” said Lianne Heller, Executive Director of Sulam. “The big question on every school leader’s mind is how to make teachers feel valued for the work they do, create a pipeline for new educators, and at the same time facilitate their professional growth and development. The Lenore A. England STAR Initiative begins to address this issue head on”.
“I am honored to establish the STAR Initiative”, says Lenore England. “Retention is a critical component of future strategic planning for Sulam. I look forward to learning more about the review and implementation of improved training, development programs, and compensation, in order to effectively support the superb and dedicated Sulam staff.”
The donation will build staff capacity at Sulam through competitive reimbursement and high level professional learning opportunities, including pathways to certification through accredited institutions.
The STAR Initiative will begin with the 2023-2024 school year.