Professional Development Scholarships Available to Local Teachers, Health and Nonprofit Professionals

Are you a teacher or non-profit professional looking for a chance to increase your skills? Do you want to bring an exciting new program to your students or clients that will require specialized training? The Florence Rotary Club’s Continuing Professional Education Fellowship program is offering up to two fellowships for $1,000 to $2,000 to support local people who serve our community. The simple and free application process must be submitted by midnight on Friday, February 13, 2026. The form and additional information are available online at theflorencerotary.org.

Since the Rotary Professional Education grant first began, more than a dozen local teachers and nonprofit professionals have received training and education. Here are some of the results:
 A middle school science teacher attended a graduate-level course at Portland State University focused on engineering and design education.
 A local nurse attended specialized training to increase her skill in providing direct service to patients.
 An elementary-school teacher who was struggling to engage the highest and lowest achievers in her classroom used our funding to attend a national conference about using tablets to manage differentiated learning. This approach advocates the use of small workstations throughout a classroom where students can learn in different ways — using a computer or tablet, touching or interacting with objects, engaging in discussion, or pursuing individual study.
 A counselor received training to teach women and children how to deal with and prevent domestic abuse.

Anyone engaged in serving the community is eligible, and complete details about the program are available online at theflorencerotary.org.