Foresight of Nancy Pollock Fellrath Fuels a Passion for Learning
RRCNA received its first bequest—a gift of $20,000—from the estate
of Nancy Pollock Fellrath in 2000. Nancy was a dedicated and
enthusiastic Reading Recovery teacher from California who attended
as many Reading Recovery conferences and training opportunities as
possible. She always came back inspired and renewed and made
it a point to share what she learned with her colleagues.
Before she
died in 1999, Nancy had the time to make some important decisions
about what she thought was important. As her widower said during a
speech at the 2000 National Reading Recovery Conference," Reading
Recovery…truly lit the fire within her. Nancy worked feverishly to
bring the message to her colleagues, family, and friends, and they
were all aware of her total dedication."
During her life, Nancy
demonstrated this commitment as a teacher. As her life ended, she
made sure others would continue her passion for learning by making a
planned gift. In accordance with Nancy’s wishes and those of her
husband, Ted, and the RRCNA Board of Directors established a scholarship
fund to provide teachers with stipends to offset the cost of
attending professional development opportunities.
The Nancy Pollock
Fellrath Reading Recovery Memorial Scholarship was first awarded in
2000. Since then, 21 Reading Recovery teachers from 11 states and from
Canada have been able to attend state institutes, National Reading
Recovery Conferences, Teacher Leader Institutes, and National
Leadership Academies.
Kathleen Westafer, the 2006 Fellrath
Scholarship recipient, says “It was a genuine honor to listen to the
wise words from the most talented and knowledgeable educators in the
world. …I know the best thanks that I can extend will be to take my
new understandings and excitement and channel that into my daily
adventure called Reading Recovery."
Paula Kondratko, a 2001
recipient, quotes one of the administrators whose school benefited
from her participation as a scholar. "Reading Recovery was the
single most effective program we implemented at Mesa Grande,” the
administrator said." I remember a child who became a grade-level
reader despite demonstrating early the same disabilities that her
older brother and sister had shown. Those siblings were in our
special day class. She, obviously, did not need those services.
Reading Recovery had made the difference."
To request a booklet
explaining the benefits of making a planned gift, contact the
Development Office at 614-310-7323 or e-mail
development@readingrecovery.org.
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