Do you remember that teacher you had back when you were in grade school? You know, the one that you liked the most. The one that connected with you like none of the others. The one that made class fun and exciting. You know, the one that seemed to take a special interest in your success and really showed they cared about you as a person. Everyone has had at least one teacher like that throughout their education. Imagine if all of your teachers were like that. Did you ever wonder why all teachers are not like “that teacher?” Part of why those teachers are able to connect with their students is because of their dedication, commitment and just who they are as human beings. There is also an intentionality and purposeful actions those teachers create to foster that type of learning environment and those relationships. These teachers practice Culturally Responsive Pedagogy – a teaching methodology that is designed to get students to achieve at their highest levels by connecting the student’s life experiences with what they are learning. This is not by accident but rather by design. Too many of today’s teachers are unable to make those connections because they have not been trained how to do it.

That’s where The William J. Watkins, Sr. Educational Institute can help. Our “Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy” training provides teachers with the tools they need to become that memorable teacher – the one that made a lasting impact in your life. That is why we have created the “Impact 3000” fundraising campaign. It costs $3000 for a full year of training to empower a teacher to become “that teacher.” Over the course of an average 20 year teaching career teachers have a direct impact on roughly 3000 students. Thus, for every teacher we train, that teacher has the potential to impact the lives of 3000 students, in the same manner your most memorable teacher positively impacted you. That comes to $1/student. Imagine, for every dollar you contribute to The Watkins Educational Institute’s “Impact 3000” campaign, you have given a student a teacher like the one you had that positively impacted your life. The Watkins Educational Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and every dollar you contribute is tax deductible and goes directly towards the cost of training teachers in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Please select one of the giving levels below and click on the donate button to help a teacher make a positive impact on student’s lives today. Thank you.

Gift Amount

Gift “Impact”

Magna Cum Laude – $3000

 Provides one full year of Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy training for one teacher providing maximum positive impact to 3000 students.
Summa Cum Laude – $1500 Contributes to one full year of Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy training for one teacher with a positive impact to 1500 students.
Cum Laude – $750 Contributes to one full year of Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy training for one teacher with a positive impact to 750 students.
Dean’s List – $500 Contributes to one full year of Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy training for one teacher with a positive impact to 500 students.
Honor Roll – $250 Contributes to one full year of Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy training for one teacher with a positive impact to 250 students.
Gifted & Talented Donation Each dollar you contribute goes to one full year of Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy training for one teacher.