Janice S. Jones Scholarship Program | American Association for Employment in Education

"Thank you for your dedication in helping future critical need teachers as well as future teachers of color. Your interest in our success impacts not only our ability to become the incredible teachers that we dream of, but our ability to teach our students to the best of our capacity, uninhibited by the loom of financial constraint." - Amy T., AAEE scholarship applicant

Teacher Scholarships

The application window for the current scholarship year is now closed.

"...I have always valued my association with AAEE for information, professional contacts and personal contacts. You just can’t beat good relationships. As a retiree, I still enjoy my AAEE friends and the information received from the National Office..." - Ms. Janice S. Jones

The American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE), an organization which promotes professional standards and practices in teacher preparation and job recruitment, recognizes a national shortage of candidates preparing for careers in certain teaching fields as well as teachers of color. This scholarship program is designed to address these needs by providing two $1,000 awards annually.

The Janice S. Jones Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Janice Jones, the 2002-2003 President of AAEE. In 2005, she received the Priscilla A. Scotlan Award for Distinguished Service; subsequently, she served as a consultant to the AAEE Board of Directors from 2005 until her death in 2007. Janice was a lifelong resident of Evanston, Illinois. Dedicated to the Evanston community, she began teaching Special Education. She taught for 14 years, with a two-year hiatus in Bermuda as an educator for the U.S. Department of Defense. Her final position, which she held for 18 years, was Director of Human Resources with Evanston Township High School District 202. She retired in 2004. An ardent proponent of quality education for all, she was well known for her lifelong advocacy of services for students with special needs. She was also recognized as an outstanding mentor for minority students studying to become teachers.

Janice was a consummate professional who exemplified the values of AAEE. The scholarship fund that bears her name exists to carry on her tradition of excellence in education and leadership. Its goal is to support emerging educators who have demonstrated promise and commitment.

Critical Need Teacher Scholarship

Student Eligibility

Candidates for this award will be enrolled in a teacher preparation program through an accredited institution of higher education and will continue in the Spring 2023 semester as full-time students. Only students from a college or university holding institutional membership in AAEE are eligible to participate. This award is a one-time, non- renewable $1,000 grant designed to assist in the career development of these promising teacher candidates in the identified critical need areas.

Selection Criteria

Students applying for the Critical Need Teacher Scholarship must be any student formally accepted in one of the following "critical need area" as identified by the AAEE Executive Board based on "Supply and Demand" research.

Students will submit the application online and may be asked to provide additional information such as an essay and/or official transcripts. Candidates will be selected through a consideration of their academic success, service to college and/or community, and potential to achieve excellence as a teacher.

Students applying for the Critical Need Teacher Scholarship must be planning to teach at least one of the following subject areas:

Bilingual/Multicultural Education
Chemistry
General Math and Science
Mathematics
Physics
Special Education (all categories)

Application Procedures

The application period is currently closed. Become an Educator Candidate to get updated on the next open application window.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!

Teacher of Color Scholarship

Student Eligibility

Selection Criteria

Students applying for the Teacher of Color Scholarship must meet one of the following definitions:

African American/Black - a person having origins in any of the black racial groups in Africa;
Hispanic American - a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race;
Asian American - a person with origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, including Pakistan, and the Pacific Islands (including, among others, Hawaii, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia);
Native American - a person who is a member of a federally or state recognized Indian tribe, or whose parents or grandparents have such membership, including the native people of Alaska.

Application Procedures

The application period is currently closed. Become an Educator Candidate to get updated on the next open application window.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!

Eligible Colleges/Universities

Albion College
Albright College
Aquinas College
Arcadia University
Ashland University
Augustana College
Ball State University
Baylor University
Bemidji State University
Berry College
Brandeis University
Brigham Young University
Bucknell University
Buffalo State College
BYU Idaho
Caldwell University
California State University at San Marcos
Carroll College
Central College
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
College of William & Mary
Colorado Christian University
Colorado School of Mines
Concordia University - Seward
Defiance College
Duquesne University
Elon University
Emporia State University
Fairfield University
Grand Valley State University
Grove City College
Hamline University
Hunter College
Huntington University
Illinois State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University - Bloomington
James Madison University
John Carroll University
Kansas State University
Kent State University

Kutztown University
Le Moyne College
Lebanon Valley College
Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling
Mercyhurst University
Miami University
Midwestern State University
Missouri State University
National Louis University
Nebraska Wesleyan University - Lincoln, NE
Northern Kentucky University
Peru State College
Purchase College at SUNY
Purdue University
Rhode Island College
Rio Salado College
Roger Williams University
Rutgers University - Camden
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Mary's College
Salisbury University
Sam Houston State University
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Southern Utah University
Springfield College
St. Norbert College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
State University of New York at Fredonia
SUNY College at Cortland
SUNY Oswego
Syracuse University
Texas Tech University
The Ohio State University
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at El Paso
University of Central Missouri
University of Delaware
University of Houston - Victoria
University of Kansas

University of Louisville
University of Maine
University of Maryland (College Park)
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
University of Michigan at Dearborn
University of Minnesota at Morris
University of Missouri Columbia
University of Missouri - St. Louis
University of New Mexico
University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Iowa
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
University of Pittsburgh School of Education
University of South Carolina - Columbia
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Texas Austin
University of Utah
University of West Alabama
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Wisconsin - Stout
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wyoming
Upper Iowa University
Utah State University
Utah Valley University
Utica College
Viterbo University
Wartburg College
Washburn University
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington State University
Wayne State College NE
Weber State University
Webster University
Western Connecticut State University
Westfield State University
Wilmington University
Xavier University
York College of Pennsylvania

Thank you to our sponsor of the 2023 Janice S. Jones Scholarships!

Congratulations to the 2022 Scholarship Awardees!

2022 Teacher of Color Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Kayla Neal, recipient of the 2022 Janice S. Jones Teacher of Color Scholarship!

Kayla Neal is from South Bend, IN. She is currently a Junior majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. Kayla is actively involved on Purdue’s campus, including working on the Honors Leadership Council in the Honors College at Purdue representing as well as fostering community within the College of Education. She also works as an undergraduate researcher with a team of researchers focused on promoting educational equity through community-based organizations. She will be graduating from Purdue University with a B.A. in Elementary Education in Spring of 2023, after which she plans to stay in Indiana to inspire the same love for learning in her future classrooms that led her to wanting to become a teacher.

2022 Critical Need Teacher Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Kalita Bayes, recipient of the 2022 Janice S. Jones Critical Need Teacher Scholarship!

My name is Kalita Bayes and I reside in Columbus, Ohio. I have a 10 year old daughter who is my world. I am currently attending Ashland University and will graduate in the fall of 2023 with a dual Bachelors in primary grades and intervention specialist. Early childhood education has always been my passion with a special focus on reading and social emotional skills. My goal is to remain in the Columbus City School’s district to spark passion for our young learners by creating an engaging, fun, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

Past Scholarship Recipients

2021 Critical Need Teacher Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Tony Nicolalde, recipient of the 2021 Janice S. Jones Critical Need Teacher Scholarship!

Tony Nicolalde is a first-generation Ecuadorian American Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) who comes from Aurora, Illinois, and is currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in Special Education with a focus on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Illinois State University. In addition to his degree, he is also pursuing minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies with bilingual approval to help Deaf/Hard of Hearing students whose families' native language is other than English. Tony also plans to create opportunities for more American Sign Language classes in high schools and the integration of STEAM in special education.

2021 Teacher of Color Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Nitsav Ben-Dan, recipient of the 2021 Janice S. Jones Teacher of Color Scholarship!

Nitsav Ben-Dan hails from New York; she is currently completing her BA in Adolescent Education and Social Studies at CUNY Hunter College. History is her first love, and working with students is a close second! She wholeheartedly believes that history is critical to understanding one’s place in the world and plans to provide her students with an engaging and lively social studies education.

2020 Critical Need Teacher Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Carlos Piedrasanta, recipient of the 2020 Janice S. Jones Critical Need Teacher Scholarship!

Carlos currently resides in Rockville, Maryland but lived in Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Mozambique before coming to the United States in 2007. He will graduate from Grinnell College in the Spring of 2020 with an Independent Major in Educational Studies and will receive his Iowa Teaching License in English Language Learning (ELL) and Social Studies in the Fall. Growing up, Carlos witnessed the importance of strong ELL programs and their significant role in supporting ELL students who often confront several challenges. For this reason, Carlos is determined to provide his future ELL students with a rigorous and supportive educational environment that encourages them to recognize, and ultimately grasp, their potential.

Teacher of Color Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Cynthia Piepenbrink, recipient of the 2020 Janice S. Jones Teacher of Color Scholarship!

Cynthia Piepenbrink, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, received her BA in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University, and is currently completing her MA in Secondary Science Education, with an endorsement in Chemistry, at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Prior to beginning her studies at UNL, Cyndy worked as a laboratory technician at the University of Notre Dame and taught middle school science at Roland Park Country School in Baltimore, Maryland. She hopes to use the platform of science education to connect her students to the broader scientific community.

2019 Janice Jones Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Allison Moga, recipient of the 2019 Janice S. Jones Scholarship!

Allison Moga, originally from Royalton, Minnesota is currently pursuing a dual degree in Spanish Education and Teaching English as a Second Language with a double minor in Music and Bilingual/Bicultural Education from Winona State University. Currently, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina in an effort to increase her knowledge about the Spanish language and culture. She intends to bring all the rich ideas, traditions, skills, and cherished experiences that she has acquired through volunteering, studying, and traveling to various countries to eventually inspire and connect with her future students.

UPDATE: "I will be graduating this May, and I am hoping to find a position for this upcoming school year of 2021-22. I have several interviews lined up, so I am excited for what the future holds!"

2019 Janice Jones Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Haley MacInerney, recipient of the 2019 Janice S. Jones Scholarship!

Haley is from Peosta, Iowa. She is double majoring in Spanish and Foreign Language education at the University of Iowa with an aspiration of obtaining her ESL endorsement post-graduation. Previously, she has studied and interned in Santiago, Chile and fell in love with Latin America. She will graduate in Spring 2020 and hopes to teach English in Latin America for a few years and then return to the states to teach Spanish; bringing with her the rich cultural and language knowledge to share in her classroom. She hopes to bring the passion and excitement for languages and cultures into each of her students' lives by making the language classroom an immersive experience.

2018 Janice Jones Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Cambria Jones, recipient of the 2018 Janice S. Jones Scholarship!

Cambria is from Fullerton, California. She is a Mathematics and Spanish double major and is completing the Secondary Education Certification Program at Hanover College in southern Indiana. As part of her continual efforts to increase her Spanish fluency she is excited to study abroad in Spain in May of 2018! After she graduates in May of 2020 she is eager to share her love for Math and Spanish with her future middle school students. Her goal is to make a positive impact on her students just like her many influential teachers made a positive impact on her throughout her education.

2017 Janice Jones Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to our 2017 Janice Jones Scholarship Awardee, Bethany Schlipf!

Bethany is from Gridley, Illinois. She is completing her BA in Bilingual Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish and an ESL endorsement. She will graduate from Illinois State University in Spring 2019. Bethany has spent several weeks as a volunteer in Guatemala and Mexico. She hopes to use her love for Spanish and working with children by teaching students from low-income families in a rural or urban area. She also has a desire to teach abroad in a Spanish-speaking country.

2016 Janice Jones Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Analesa Zimmerman, recipient of the 2016 Janice Jones Scholarship, an award of $800.

Analesa is a native of Portland, Oregon. She received her BA in Romance Languages from the University of Oregon, an MA in Spanish from Portland State University, and is currently completing her Master in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College. She will graduate in Spring 2016 with her MAT in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and ESOL and bilingual endorsements. Prior to beginning her studies at Lewis and Clark, Analesa received a Fulbright grant to Mexico as an English Teaching Assistant. She hopes to work in the Portland area as a dual immersion teacher in the 2016-2017 school year.

UPDATE: Analesa is a third grade teacher in a dual immersion classroom at a Title I school in Milwaukie, Oregon. She reports, “Things are going great so far! It is my ideal teaching job.”