School of Education Harju Center for Equity in Education
Harju Center for Equity in Education
Thanks to a gift of $5 million from the estate of alumna Dorothea Harju, the Harju Center for Equity in Education at UW-Stevens Point has been established in the School of Education, focused on addressing educational inequities in Wisconsin. By supporting diverse and first-generation elementary education teachers, the Harju Center will help level the education playing field for Wisconsin children.
The Harju Center for Equity in Education will support rural education and prepare elementary education teachers. This includes 20 scholarships, which will first be available for students enrolling for fall 2020, and those at branch campuses in Wausau and Marshfield who major in elementary education at the main UW-Stevens Point campus.
The Harju Center will help supply more teachers to rural school districts and prepare them for the special needs of those areas. It will also help UW-Stevens Point serve underrepresented minority students in metropolitan areas.
Our Story
Thanks to a gift of $5 million from the estate of alumna Dorothea Harju, the Harju Center for Equity in Education at UW-Stevens Point has been established in the School of Education, focused on addressing educational inequities in Wisconsin. By supporting diverse and first-generation elementary education teachers, the Harju Center will help level the education playing field for Wisconsin children.
Harju Center
By the Numbers
Vision Statement
Dorothea Harju taught in a rural, elementary school district and had a passion for all learners and new educators. In the spirit of Dorothea and the legacy she left in the field of education, this endowment will support the preparation and sustainable development of all educators in the state of Wisconsin.
The vision of the Harju Center for Equity in Education is to empower current and future elementary educators to recognize and address persistent challenges, close achievement gaps, and overcome barriers to providing equitable, inclusive, and responsive instruction to students. Our goal is to have positive impacts on Wisconsin schools and learners through supportive collaboration, innovation, and professional development.
Aug. 6, 2024
Educators Rising Leadership Conference
This free one-day camp provided leadership development to students who are actively involved in Educators Rising organizations at their high schools. Attendees learned more about teacher education across Wisconsin, in addition to strategies to recruit more students for their local organization.
Grants
$10,000
Rural District Professional Development Grant
The Harju Center for Equity in Education offers rural school districts up to a $10,000 grant to promote professional development of their faculty/staff. The application for 2024-25 is now! Please submit the following materials to Harju.Center.for.Equity@uwsp.edu by Dec. 1, 2024.
- one-page description of the district’s professional development need (250 words max)
- brief description of what the grant would be used for including timeline and budget plan (250 words max)
- description of district’s current financial investment in professional development (250 words max)
Priority will be given to proposals that highlight the three main pillars of the Harju Center for Equity in Education which are:
- rural education
- elementary and middle level education
- issues of equity
If accepted, the grant will be distributed up to the amount of $10,000. Upon completion of professional development, the district is required to present the Harju Center with a description of how funds were distributed to further professional development for faculty/staff. In addition to the fund disbursement report, please prepare a five-minute recorded video presentation to be included on the Harju Center website. The five-minute video presentation may be chosen to be presented at the spring School of Education Celebration of Teaching and Learning Banquet.
- How often is my district eligible to apply for this grant?
- If funded, once every five years. If not funded, every year.
- What can we use this grant funding for?
- Expert in the field of professional development, guest speakers, resources furthering professional development of faculty/staff, training materials, resource books
- Can you give me some insight on the types of activities that the Harju Center is hoping that this grant will be used for?
- Proposals that suggest implementation of grant for professional development that aligns with all three pillars of the Harju Center Mission (rural education, elementary/middle level education, and issues of equity) would be given the highest consideration.
- Adams-Friendship
- Port Edwards
- Randolph
- Rhinelander
$500
Educators Rising New Chapter Grant
Application Ongoing
At the UW-Stevens Point Harju Center for Equity in Education, we believe in empowering and inspiring young learners to become teachers. We are offering school districts in Wisconsin a $500 grant to start a new Educators Rising chapter in their own school, and we are pleased to announce that the application for this grant is now available.
To apply for a $500 grant for your school/district, please complete the steps below.
Complete this form with the Wisconsin Education Association Council to register your school’s Educators Rising chapter. There is no cost to schools for a state membership at this time.
*Note: This step must be completed before applying for a grant.
Once you receive confirmation of your chapter’s registration, download a copy of your confirmation and
complete this application form to apply for your grant.
- Grant money must only be spent on expenses related to starting a new Educators Rising chapter.
- Schools are only eligible for one grant per school.
- The $500 will be disbursed in $250 increments, one during the first year and the other during the second year, given that appropriate reporting takes place.
- Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If your application is approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to track and report your expenses. Please email us with any questions.
$500
Educators Rising Established Chapter Grant
Application Ongoing
At the UW-Stevens Point Harju Center for Equity in Education, we believe in empowering and inspiring young learners to become teachers. We are offering school districts in Wisconsin who have established Educators Rising chapters a $500 grant to fund a project that focuses on addressing issues of equity within their rural district or community.
To apply for a $500 grant for your school/district, please complete the steps below.
Complete this form with the Wisconsin Education Association Council to register your school’s Educators Rising chapter. There is no cost to schools for a state membership at this time.
*Note: This step must be completed before applying for a grant.
Once you receive confirmation of your chapter’s registration, download a copy of your confirmation and
complete this application form to apply for your grant.
- Grant money must only be spent on expenses related to submitted proposal addressing issues of equity within the rural district or community.
- Schools are only eligible for one grant every four years.
- Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If your application is approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to track and report your expenses. Please email us with any questions.
Perry Cook
- Professor – Science Education
- Director – Harju Center for Equity in Education
- Coordinator – Elementary Methods Block Program
715-346-3263
Emily Wahlquist
- Outreach Program Coordinator – Harju Center for Equity in Education
715-346-2524
“The pride, the voice, and just the class. Dorothea was a class act. ”
Mike Martinson
— Former student of Dorothea Harju
Dorothea W. Harju (nee Berndt), age 98 of Oshkosh, formerly of rural Redgranite and Wisconsin Rapids passed away July 1, 2017 at Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh, where she had been residing.
Dorothea was born July 15, 1918, in Ripon, the daughter of Dr. William and Ida Marie (Hanke) Berndt. Both her parents preceded her in death at an early age.
Dorothea attended the public schools in Fond du Lac, and graduated from Goodrich Senior High School.
By profession she was an educator. After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master of Science Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, she was employed as a teacher in various schools in Wisconsin. She also held a Reading Specialist License from the State of Wisconsin. She retired after 31 years in education, a majority at the Port Edwards School District. A Service Award Certificate was received in recognition of her dedication.
Her hobbies included reading, golf and travel. She visited many states, and went to many countries on four continents. She visited the islands of Hawaii and New Zealand. The history and culture of each place was fascinating.
In 1943 Dorothea went to live in Washington, D.C. to work for the FBI in the Records Department. There, she also did some “sight-seeing” of many historic places in the area. New York City was visited many times. During World War II this was an exciting time and place to go. After the war, Onni R. Harju returned from Europe, where he was serving in the U.S. Army. They were united in marriage and lived in the Fox River Valley and Milwaukee before moving to Wisconsin Rapids. In the early 1960s they enrolled in the flight program at Alexander Field and learned to fly small aircraft. They both held pilot licenses.
The Harjus lived and worked in Wisconsin Rapids for 25 years. When they retired, they moved to their home in the Town of Warren, Waushara County, near Redgranite. They joined Mascoutin Golf Club of Berlin, and Dorothea joined the Ladies Auxiliary. She served as secretary, treasurer and president during her years of membership. She also joined the Friends in Council Book Club in Berlin, and gave many book reviews. In 2005 she sold the Redgranite property and moved to Oshkosh.
“I don’t think Dorothea ever said an unkind word about anybody.”
Ed Heuer
— Former elementary school principal in Port Edwards
Dorothea Harju History and Accomplishments
1918
Dorothea was born in Ripon, Wis.
Approx. 1923-40
Dorothea attended public schools in Fond du Lac and graduated from Goodrich Senior High School.
1943
Dorothea received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Wisconsin State College (UWSP).
1944
Dorothea worked for the FBI Records Department in Washington D.C.
1952
Dorothea began working as a reading specialist for the Port Edwards School District.
1960s
Onni and Dorothea Harju enrolled in the flight program at Alexander Field.
1966
Dorothea received her Master of Science degree in Education from Wisconsin State University (UWSP).
1977
Dorothea retired from teaching at the Port Edwards School District.
2017
Dorothea passed away at age 98.
2019
Dorothea Harju’s estate donated $5 million to the UWSP School of Education and the Harju Center for Equity in Education is established.