Boston, MA, October 15, 2018—Teach Plus Massachusetts has selected 24 outstanding teachers as Fellows of its 2018-19 Commonwealth Teaching Policy Fellowship cohort. As Commonwealth Fellows, the teachers take part in a specially-designed course of study in policy and advocacy and develop the skills necessary to advocate for policies that will better serve Massachusetts students and teachers. They further their impact through collaborative work on key education issues and interactions with district and state decision makers.
“This past year, Teach Plus teachers brought to the table smart policy recommendations on social emotional learning, school and district accountability regulatory changes, and advocated for increased school funding through the foundation budget. They participated in the teacher-led professional conferences, engaged with education leaders, published op-eds and policy recommendations, ” said Paul Toner, Executive Director of Teach Plus Massachusetts. “We’re looking forward to working with our new cohort of Fellows as they bring their expertise to bear on key issues that impact student achievement and the profession.”
The Fellowship builds its work around issues that are timely and relevant to local community, city, and state. In focusing on such priorities as increasing funding for high needs schools and students, developing supports for teachers to implement social and emotional learning practices, and attracting and retaining teachers of color, the new Fellows will continue to build on the policy and advocacy successes of the previous cohorts of Teach Plus Commonwealth Policy Fellows. The new cohort will continue through June 2019.
“I’m so grateful and excited to be a part of the Teach Plus cohort,” said Stephen Guerriero, 2018-19 Commonwealth Policy Fellow and teacher at High Rock School in Needham, Massachusetts. “Teach Plus is offering me an opportunity to translate my years of teaching experience into actionable participation in education policy. Teachers are the ones who implement policy at its most basic level and are therefore the ones whose voices should speak forcefully and purposefully in any discussion that involves what we do in our classrooms.”
The new Fellows come from a variety of districts in Massachusetts. Many of the incoming teachers have been recognized for outstanding instruction by their respective schools and districts.
The 2018-19 Commonwealth Teaching Policy Fellows are:
Chantei Alves, Young Achievers K-8, Boston Public Schools
April Brunelle, TechBoston Academy, Boston Public Schools
Nick Fernald, McDevitt Middle School, Waltham Public Schools
Chris Fitzpatrick, Beebe School, Malden Public Schools
Stephen Guerriero, High Rock Middle School, Needham Public Schools
Mary Jane Guthrie, Phineas Bates Elementary School, Boston Public Schools
Kourtney Hallice, Young Achievers K-8, Boston Public Schools
Lisa Hanifan, Linden STEAM Academy, Malden Public Schools
Reuben Henriques, KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate, KIPP Academy Lynn
Tasha Jones, Veritas Preparatory Charter School
Becky Jontos, Alfred S. Letourneau Elementary School, Fall River Public Schools
Jessica Lander, Lowell High School, Lowell Public Schools
Gavin Laughlin, KIPP Academy Boston Charter School
Shanlee Liu, Boston Latin School, Boston Public Schools
Jasvir MacIntosh, Carver Middle High School, Carver Public Schools
Mikaela Newell, John Pierce School, Public Schools of Brookline
Tina Petty, Revere Public Schools
Francis Pina, Charlestown High School, Boston Public Schools
Gina Sheehan, Fenway High School, Boston Public Schools
Brian Stanley, Revere Public Schools
Cristina Stanjovich, TechBoston Academy, Boston Public Schools
Rikelma Vargas, Haverhill High School, Haverhill Public Schools
James Voci, East Boston High School, Boston Public Schools
Katherine Weigle, Prospect Hill Academy Middle School, Prospect Hill Academy Charter School
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has trained thousands of teacher leaders across the country who are driving policy changes and improving the instructional practices of teachers to create an education system driven by equity, access, and excellence for all students. teachplus.org
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