J.H.Fellowship
Purpose
Dr. June Henton was a Founding Board Member of Friends of Teach For Italy, Dean and Professor Emerita of the College of Human Sciences and former Executive Director of the Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn University.
Dr. Henton believed profoundly in international cooperation and cultural exchanges, and worked tirelessly to promote the internationalization of educational programmes, in particular between Europe and the US, and create international opportunities for American students abroad and European students in the US.
To honor her memory and legacy in promoting international exchanges, following her passing in 2023, Friends of Teach For Italy has decided to establish a funded fellowship in Dr. Henton’s name. This initiative aims to celebrate her remarkable legacy of leadership, education, and her unwavering commitment to empowering future generations to create a more equitable and sustainable world across borders.
Details
The June M. Henton funded Fellowship will fully support selected Fellows each year starting from June, for the new selected cohort of fellows, covering the costs incurred by the organization for the two-year training and pedagogical-coaching program.
In addition, FTFI will organize for the selected fellow a summer exchange or a post-fellowship cultural exchange experience in the U.S. offering the opportunity to broaden their perspective by including an international dimension. This study period in the United States will be designed to expose the fellow to the cultural, social and historical diversity within the United States as well as deepen their understanding of the American educational system and some of its challenges and best practices.
The trip will design ad hoc and will consider the visit of a university campus, engagement with US university students and educators, as well as an exchange with Teach For America. The fellows will meet selected board members and supporters of FTFI across the US.
The objective of the trip will be to expose the fellow to the energy, innovation and “to-do”mindset in the US, experience some of its very different educational contexts, and exchange experiences with fellow educators and teachers across cultural differences.
Throughout both years of the funded Fellowship, the selected Fellow will be expected to share regular updates on their experience, contributing to TFI’s external communication efforts and helping amplify the visibility and impact of the funded fellowship. The aim is to establish it as a best practice that can be scaled in the future to support TFI’s growth and long-term sustainability.
These updates will offer insights into the Italian educational landscape and the challenges the Fellow encounters in the classroom, as well as the progress made toward their impact goals with students.
Commitment
By funding a fellowship, you can directly support the development of a new generation of educational leaders committed to equity, international exchange, and systemic impact in Italian schools.
A contribution of $25,000 USD fully funds one two-year Teach For Italy Fellowship, including leadership training, pedagogical coaching, and the international cultural exchange experience in the United States envisioned in honor of Dr. June M. Henton’s legacy.
To learn more about sponsoring a Fellowship or becoming a funding partner, please contact:
Support the June M. Henton Fellowship
Eleonora Dutto, Head of Development
Email: edutto@teachforitaly.org
Together, we can continue building bridges between Italy and the United States through education, leadership, and opportunity.