Inspired by Her Teachers, Ohio Educator Follows Passion for Leadership

Growing up in Canton, Ohio, Stacy Radu always knew she wanted to be a teacher. 

“My elementary school teachers inspired me to become an educator,” she said. “I loved my kindergarten teacher, and really, all of my teachers. I wanted to be just like them.”

As a child, her favorite places were the library and the teacher supply store. At home, she ran a school out of her basement and taught lessons to anyone willing to be her student. That early love for education never faded.

Radu is currently a first-grade teacher at Madeira Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ohio. And now with the help of the Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence, she is pursuing a second master’s degree in P-12 education administration at Idaho State University starting in fall of 2025. 

“I love school and learning,” she said. “I already have a master’s degree, but I know I can always learn more to be the best educator I can be.”

Radu has high hopes of building on her years of experience working with students, families, and fellow educators. Her passion for educational leadership comes from her time in the classroom and beyond. She wants to create a supportive, inclusive, and high-achieving learning environment for all students, and she hopes this program will give her the tools to do just that. 

For her, pursuing this degree is a natural next step. “This is an opportunity to combine my passion for teaching, my understanding of school systems, and my desire to lead in a way that positively shapes the educational experience for every student.”

She credits the Albion Center Scholarship for making it possible. 

“With my own children preparing for college, I was not planning to take on school debt for myself. This opportunity has been a blessing both personally and professionally. I would not have pursued this degree without it, and I am so grateful,” she said.

The Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence will provide Radu with up to $4,000 per semester, with a lifetime maximum of $16,000—helping her save nearly 70% on graduate tuition.