Each spring, CA Beta Pi awards a scholarship to one or two graduating seniors in the Teaching Academy at Independence High School, depending on the applicant pool. We've been proud to offer this honor to young aspiring educators since the 2002-2004 biennium!

Beta Pi’s commitment to IHSTA dates back nearly twenty years. The academy is a unique effort to nourish youth interest in the teaching profession. Students are immersed in actual classroom experience starting in their freshman year. By the time they are seniors, these young teachers-in-training are preparing lessons and presenting them in various schools. Exciting proof that this program works is evident in that, currently, two of the academy teachers are graduates of the very same program! Each year, Beta Pi carefully chooses two honorees from a selection of deserving applicants to award with an academic scholarship for college expenses. These scholarships are two of the major altruistic projects funded through the chapter’s annual fundraising efforts, and as a main priority, they were sustained even through the challenges of the pandemic years.

Coming full circle, a surprising revelation came when a current Beta Pi sister, Carol Shimizu, joined the chapter. She related that, as an administrator, she had played a role in the establishment of this special program at Independence High School! Beta Pi Chapter and Independence High School Teaching Academy indeed share a special bond, and the sisters of Beta Pi look forward to continuing their relationship in support of future educators.

CA Beta Pi also sponsors an annual scholarship for students in the Lurie College of Education at San Jose State University, through donations to the Tower Fund.