The Bessie Stillman Scholarship Fund
in partnership with the Stillman Academy
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Who was Bessie Stillman?
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Her instructional philosophy emphasized logic and clarity over rote memorization and techniques she helped develop remain foundational in structured literacy interventions used worldwide today.
Although her role has often been overshadowed, Stillman's classroom expertise was central to the development of instructional approaches that continue to transform outcomes for struggling readers.
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Why your donation matters
Students from underserved communities continue to face significant literacy gaps, often without access to high-quality, individualized intervention. Without structured support, reading challenges can limit academic achievement, self-esteem, and future opportunity.
The Bessie Stillman Scholarship Fund honors her legacy by ensuring that students who need high quality, evidence-based literacy intervention receive it. Your donation directly funds specialized tutoring that builds skills, confidence, and long-term academic success.
Bessie Stillman was an influential educator and pioneer in structured, multisensory literacy instruction. In the early twentieth century, she collaborated with fellow educators to develop a remedial reading program for bright students with reading disabilities, grounded in phonics, language structure, and sequential instruction. As a classroom teacher, Stillman refined practical methods that linked auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning, ensuring students could see, hear, say, and write language simultaneously.
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CEJA is proud to partner with the Stillman Academy to establish the Bessie Stillman Scholarship Fund, awarding scholarships to socioeconomically disadvantaged students in California public schools who struggle with literacy skills. All funds are used to secure Stillman tutors who will provide evidence-based structured literacy interventions for scholarship award recipients. These individualized supports are designed to strengthen foundational reading, spelling, and writing skills through systematic, multisensory instruction.
