4 Stamford Educators To 'Explore The World' With Learning Grants

STAMFORD, CT — Four Stamford educators are set to embark on exciting adventures this summer thanks to professional learning grants from the Fund for Teachers (FFT) organization. Traveling across areas of Vietnam or the United Kingdom, the four recipients hope to return to Stamford with new insights they can share with their students.

The grants, which were awarded to a number of educators across Connecticut in the spring, allow recipients to embark on "self-designed professional learning odysseys," according to an announcement from Stamford Public Schools. The foundation provided about $875,000 in grants this year.

Stamford's 2019 FFT Fellows are:

Miranda DePoi (Alternative Routes to Success): DePoi will "retrace the footsteps of Alpha Company from Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried' across Vietnam to enhance a literary analysis unit on the novel that is authentic, historically educational and engaging."

Daria Van Nostrand, Linda Marchisio (Stamford High School): Nostrand and Marchisiowill "explore how fashion and storytelling are connected in Scottish culture to create collaborative lessons that increase students' engagement and encourage creativity."

Melissa Hadsell (Stamford High School): Hadsell will "explore the historical and cultural influences of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters across the United Kingdom to connect modern students with classic authors and experiences."