By Todd Finkelmeyer
Thanks to the generosity of its alumni and friends, the UW–Madison School of Education announced an $11 million investment to support Wisconsin educators on April 18.
These funds extended the innovative UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge program; invested in the Early Career Teaching Institute; and bolstered the vital work of the Teacher Education Center, which was renamed the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center.
Longtime UW–Madison supporters and alumni Mary and Ted Kellner are giving $7 million toward these efforts.
“The impact from these funds will be felt by educators, students, and families across Wisconsin for years to come,” said Diana Hess, who at the time of the announcement was serving in her final weeks as dean of the School of Education. Hess, who started as dean in August 2015, returned to the faculty in June.
“I am so thankful for the ongoing support of the Kellners, and the generosity and vision of so many alumni and friends — including current and past members of our invaluable Board of Visitors,” Hess said. “So much of what we do wouldn’t be possible without their support.”
Mary Kellner, who earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UW–Madison in 1968, started her career as a classroom teacher before pivoting to earn a master’s degree from UW–Milwaukee in 1978. She worked as a guidance counselor for the Grafton and Mequon-Thiensville school districts in suburban Milwaukee before pursuing and earning her doctor of education degree at Cardinal Stritch University in 2007.
Kellner conducted her dissertation work in a high-achieving public elementary school in Milwaukee. She wanted to better understand the cultural aspects of leadership, collaboration, decision making, caring, and respect, and how they affected the school’s success. Kellner has spent most of the past two-plus decades volunteering and doing board work at numerous nonprofit organizations. She also leads the Kelben Foundation, a family philanthropic organization dedicated to improving education and health outcomes, providing college scholarships, and more.
“Working with schools and children is a labor of love,” says Kellner.
Ted Kellner earned a bachelor’s degree in business from UW–Madison in 1969. He is co-founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of Fiduciary Management, Inc., of Milwaukee, an investment management firm.
The $11 million in new gifts — including the $7 million in support from the Kellners — will make a significant impact on educators in Wisconsin via:
Extending the Teacher Pledge
The UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge, which first started supporting students in the fall of 2020, was extended through the 2028-29 academic year thanks to $8 million in new support, including $4 million from the Kellners.
The donor-funded program pays the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs for students in one of the School’s 15 Teacher Education programs. In return, students in the program pledge to teach in a public or private school in Wisconsin for at least four years — or three years in high-need subject areas or school districts.
As of August, 864 people have taken the Teacher Pledge — with 348 Pledge alumni teaching in classrooms across 88 Wisconsin public school districts and 14 private schools this past spring semester.
Tashia Morgridge, a School of Education alumna and longtime supporter of the School and UW–Madison, along with her husband John, praised the leadership of Hess for making the Teacher Pledge a reality.
“Diana’s mind works in creative, visionary ways and she has the great ability to bring ideas to fruition,” said Tashia Morgridge, a member of the School of Education’s Board of Visitors and one of the donors who made this Pledge extension possible.
Supporting the Early Career Teaching Institute
The School of Education is committed to supporting educators — and for its alumni, that extends well beyond students’ time at UW–Madison. This summer, from July 29 to Aug. 1, the School hosted its third annual Early Career Teaching Institute (ECTI) — a professional development opportunity on campus that’s specifically for alumni with at least one year of teaching experience.
The institute provides a $500 stipend and also pays for room expenses up to three nights so that early career teachers can more easily return to UW–Madison to take part in this special event.
Participants in the multi-day program engage with educators in similar roles and subject areas, take part in enriching group learning experiences, learn from nationally renowned keynote speakers, and take time to connect or reconnect with faculty, staff, and fellow alumni through meals and social events.
Bolstering the work of the Teacher Education Center
Of the new support from the Kellners, $2 million is going to honor Mary and her remarkable career with the renaming of the Teacher Education Center to the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center. These endowed funds will be used to strengthen the center’s purpose of furthering the Wisconsin Idea and elevating the teaching profession.
To this end, the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center will serve as a home for developing and implementing research-based and high-quality teacher education practices and policies. The center will also continue to provide leadership and support for the School of Education’s 15 Teacher Preparation programs, coordinate partnerships with local school districts, and serve as a liaison to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, among other state and national partners.
“It’s essential for Wisconsin to have a strong teacher workforce so that all children can succeed,” Kellner says.