Burlington School District (BSD) is thrilled to announce that another BSD educator has been awarded a Fellowship by the Rowland Foundation. The Rowland Foundation awards fellowships to educators from six Vermont schools who have proposed projects that align with its mission of investing in Vermont teachers to positively change the culture and climate of schools. Jana Fabri Sbardellati, 7/8 Humanities teacher at Hunt Middle School, was recognized for this accomplishment at a Board Meeting on November 4th and we hope you will join us in congratulating her on being awarded the competitive Rowland Fellowship.
“We are thrilled for Jana and even more for students in BSD. Jana’s project focuses on the integration of financial literacy and career exploration into the academic core of middle-level education, striving to not only prepare young people for the reality and necessity of financial independence but to inspire them to take an active role in their financial lives. This project will improve the overall health of our young people as well as instill in them skills to change the world,” shares HMS Principal, Melanee Alexander.
Jana adds, “As a member of my collaborative work group said, ‘There is a determinant relationship between financial stability, mental health, physical wellness, and life satisfaction.’ I see this vital topic as both an engagement and equity lever. If people aren’t learning this information at home, it is essential for schools to provide it and to help close this particular opportunity gap. I am so excited to bring this work to the students at Hunt Middle School.”
This award includes a grant to cover a substitute for the year to release Jana from the classroom so she can research and implement her change project. She will receive extensive support through the Rowland Foundation, working in a cohort model with educators from all corners of the state. Collaborating with a group of educators from HMS, the focus will be on researching ways to incorporate financial literacy and exploration of potential future pathways in a developmentally appropriate way for middle schoolers. The work developed this year will be phased in at HMS over the course of the next three years, with opportunities to share this work beyond HMS and BSD down the road.
“Jana Fabri Sbardellati is a force in the education world, and we are lucky to have her as part of Burlington School District,” said BSD Superintendent Tom Flanagan. “I’m really excited for her to have this opportunity, which will enhance the already-amazing work she is doing to ensure we are a District focused on student and staff belonging and well-being. Congratulations, Jana!”
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Burlington School District (BSD) is a pre-k-12 public school system of about 3,200 students in Burlington, VT. BSD’s mission is to graduate students who: value different cultures, engage with the community, communicate effectively, think creatively, skillfully solve problems, and achieve at their highest academic, intellectual, and personal potential. Join the Journey! www.bsdvt.org
