26 Teachers Join Chicago Fellowship; 20 Teachers are Named Fellows in Memphis
Boston, MA—Teach Plus, a national non-profit that empowers teachers to lead improvements in policy and practice, has kicked off new cohorts of its Teaching Policy Fellows in Chicago and Memphis. A highly-selective program that spans two school years, the Teaching Policy Fellowship empowers teachers to have a voice in the local and national policy decisions that impact their classrooms. The Fellowship builds its work around issues that are timely and relevant to local community, city, and state. The two cohorts will continue through December 2016.
Among the key benefits of the program are the personal interactions Fellows have with education policy leaders and research experts. Fellows participate in a specially-designed course of study in policy, research, and best practices that enables them to become effective advocates. In selecting the Fellows, Teach Plus assesses applicants’ commitment to work with urban students and schools, and their desire to impact education policy issues. Many of the incoming Fellows in the two cohorts have been recognized for their outstanding work and commitment to urban education.
Teach Plus Chicago
Of the 26 highly-effective teachers who make up the fourth cohort of Chicago Teaching Policy Fellows, 18 teach in Chicago public schools and eight teach in charter schools.
“We are excited for the impactful year ahead,” said Teach Plus Chicago Executive Director Joshua Kaufmann, “Our Fellows are dedicated educators committed to ensuring that both teachers and students thrive.”
“I’m excited to learn more about the education policy landscape,” said incoming Fellow Brighid Bennett. “I want to use my experiences and knowledge as an educator to bring about positive change for all.”
The 2015-16 Chicago Teaching Policy Fellows are:
Tim Adams of DRW College Prep in the Noble Network Charter Schools
Nicole Amato of Pritzker College Prep in Noble Network Charter Schools
Sabrina Anfossi of Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, a charter school
Ray Baker of Lindblom Math and Science Academy in Chicago Public Schools
Caprice Banks of Wendell Phillips Academy High School in Chicago Public Schools
Paula S. Barajas of Rodolfo Lozano Bilingual & International Center in Chicago Public Schools
Brighid Bennett of Amandla Charter School
August Brill of Orozco Community Academy in Chicago Public Schools
Katie Curtin of Pritzker College Prep in Noble Network Charter Schools
Heather Debby-Legan of Casals School of Excellence in Chicago Public Schools
Trish Davlantes of Hawthorne Scholastic Academy in Chicago Public Schools
Sarena Griffin of Edward Everett Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools
Debra Lomax of Harold Washington Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools
Alexander Kmicikewycz of Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep in Chicago Public Schools
Chris Moy of Stephen K. Hayt Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools
Jillian Onqué of Robert L. Grimes Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools
Andrea Parker of Fulton Elementary in Chicago Public Schools
Bailey Reimer of Basil Elementary in Chicago International Charter Schools
Nisaini Rivera of DRW College Prep in Noble Street Network Charter Schools
Nick Schmidt of Pritzker College Prep in Noble Street Network Charter Schools
Shannon Slade of Monroe Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools
James Staros of King College Prep in Chicago Public Schools
Kathleen Steffa Kuempel of O’Keeffe School of Excellence in Chicago Public Schools
Leah Stephens of John H. Hamline Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools
Annemarie Thilmont of Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy in Chicago Public Schools
Alicia E. Torres of Mariano Azuela Elementary in Chicago Public Schools
Teach Plus Memphis
Of the 20 new Fellows in the fourth cohort of Teach Plus Memphis, 18 teach in Shelby County Schools, one in Memphis City Schools, and one in the Achievement School District.
“We’re looking forward to helping excellent teachers become a force for change in Memphis,” said Teach Plus Memphis Executive Director Miska Clay Bibbs. “Our Fellows are leaders in Memphis education and we are excited to further amplify their voices.”
“The Fellowship is giving me an opportunity to work with educators from around Memphis on key education issues,” said Teaching Policy Fellow Logan Caldwell. “I look forward to collaborating with them to help shape the future of education in our city.”
The 2015-16 Memphis Teaching Policy Fellowship includes:
Patrick Albano of The Soulsville Charter School in Shelby County Schools
Meg Bounds of Richland Elementary School in Shelby County Schools
Alicia Bradfield of Willow Oaks Elementary School in Shelby County Schools
Celeste Brown of Peabody Elementary School in Shelby County Schools
Logan Caldwell of Campus Elementary School in Memphis City Schools
Kyle Cheung of GRAD Academy Memphis in the Achievement School District
Ellen Clayton of Freedom Preparatory Academy in Shelby County Schools
Yolanda Crawford of John P. Freeman Optional School in Shelby County Schools
Austin Crowder of The Soulsville Charter School in Shelby County Schools
Vonshae Evans of KIPP Memphis Preparatory Middle Charter School in Shelby County Schools
Carly R. Fricano of Douglass High School in Shelby County Schools
Jodie Higgs of Central High School in Shelby County Schools
Jessica Hurtley of John P Freeman Optional School in Shelby County Schools
Katie Kaplan of the Bodine School in Shelby County Schools
Joanna Lawrence of Manassas High School in Shelby County Schools
Soya Moore of Raleigh Egypt Middle School in Shelby County Schools
Alyssa Nucaro of the Lowrance School in Shelby County Schools
Megan O’Connor of Robert R. Church Elementary School in Shelby County Schools
Lydia Stoney of Memphis College Preparatory Elementary Charter School in Shelby County Schools
Erin White of KIPP Memphis Academy Middle in Shelby County Schools
About Teach Plus
Teach Plus empowers excellent, experienced teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Teach Plus runs three programs designed to place teacher leaders at the center of improvements in policy and practice: Teaching Policy Fellowship, C2 Initiative, and T3 Initiative. The programs focus on demonstrably effective teachers who want to continue classroom teaching while also expanding their impact as leaders in their schools and in district, state, and national policy. Since its inception in August 2009, Teach Plus has grown to a network of more than 22,000 solutions-oriented teachers across the country. www.teachplus.org
