The Dr. Elaine G. Tateronis Scholarships

Criteria: ($500 Annual Award) The Elaine G. Tateronis Scholarship will be awarded to a student at the undergraduate or post-baccalaureate level who is enrolled full-time and in good academic standing in the Elementary Education program, has a minimum GPA of 3.0, has successfully completed at least 45 credits, show evidence of financial need, and demonstrates a commitment to the field of education through employment or volunteerism opportunities. Applicants must submit an essay explaining why they need or deserve this scholarship along with their application and provide a letter of recommendation from at least one faculty member in the WSU Education Department.

The tenure of Elaine G. Tateronis ’63, M.Ed. ’74, Ed.D., is marked by passion and commitment for the field of education in general and to her students, both graduate and undergraduate. The love “Dr. T,” as she was widely known, developed for the field deepened over the course of her 45-year career. Having rich experience in the field as well as higher education has given her a unique perspective to share with her students. As she begins her retirement, her hope is that this scholarship will assist education students on the greatest journey of their lives, learning to be effective educators.

Dr. Tateronis laid the foundation for her long, distinguished career with a bachelor’s degree in education from Worcester State. She’s held a wide range of positions, including public school teacher, reading specialist and supervisor, department chair, principal, university professor, university department chair, and dean. To become a reading specialist, Elaine returned to her alma mater to earn a master’s degree in reading and language arts in 1974. Later, she pursued a doctorate in curriculum, administration and leadership at Boston College, receiving her Ed.D. in 1991. She also participated in Harvard University’s Principals’ Program. While there, she became a partner with Project MUSE and eventually with Project Zero at Harvard through at partnership with Brown University, which allowed the introduction of innovative teaching practices and assessment in her school.

Elaine spent many years working for the Worcester and Auburn public school districts. In addition to her roles as teacher and reading specialist, she served as Supervisor of Reading and Language Arts. She became principal of Mary D. Stone School in 1989, where she led it to become an Inclusion School and added a Preschool Program and the Southern Worcester County Collaborative.

Dr. T began at WSU as an assistant professor, teaching education courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She coordinated the Graduate School’s reading and elementary education programs, assisted in the redevelopment of the school leadership and administration program, and founded the annual Author Institute, which she still directs. Elaine chaired the Education Department for eight years before becoming WSU’s first academic dean, as Dean of Education. She retired as Dean of the School of Education, Health and Natural Sciences in 2012. She always worked closely with WSU students, including as a Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society counselor. In recognition of her long service to WSU, she was the first recipient of the Extraordinary Dedication Award.

She has delivered presentations for international education organizations. She also presented at Oxford University on administrative support for literacy, the Hawaiian International Conference, and many conferences in the United States. She wrote and contributed to multiple articles on education leadership and literacy. Elaine serves as vice chair of the governing board of the Central Mass. Readiness Center and the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Teacher Education’s board of directors. She was the first recipient of the Massachusetts Reading Association’s “Celebrate Literacy” Award. She continues her affiliation with WSU as the elementary education master’s degree coordinator and a consultant.

Elaine is an active alumna of WSU. She serves as a Class Agent, on the Scholarship Tea Committee and on the Alumni Association’s Advisory Board. She has been involved in other alumni philanthropic and engagement activities over the years. As a distinguished donor, she is a steadfast supporter of the Worcester State Foundation’s scholarship program.

She is married to Attorney Arthur A. Tateronis, and they have two children and five grandchildren.