Teach Plus Illinois Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowship

Training Illinois Early Childhood Educators to improve the ECE professions and the outcomes for our students.

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Application Deadline: April 7, 2025
Photos from the Teach Plus conference held in Normal, Ill., Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017.

Teach Plus Illinois offers Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowships to outstanding Early Childhood Educators in the state looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that directly affect students and the teaching profession.

What is the Teach Plus Illinois Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowship?

  • A highly selective leadership opportunity for outstanding Illinois Early Childhood Educators looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect students and the Early Childhood Education world.
  • Fellows expand their influence without leaving the classroom.
  • Monthly Fellows Sessions (virtual and in-person)
  • Fellows receive training through expert-led modules and direct engagement with key stakeholders. No prior policy experience required.
  • Fellows receive a stipend for their commitment.
Five teachers of color pose for photo

What Does Teach Plus Do?

Teach Plus trains teachers in understanding education policy as a lever for student success. We teach fellows community organizing, writing op-eds and speaking to the media, providing public testimony, and more. Teach Plus works to create and connect teachers to opportunities to lead in real ways at the policy level.

How Does It Work?

Teach Plus recruits and selects Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellows from across the state and throughout the various early childhood education settings to participate in the cohort experience. You will become part of a larger movement of teacher leadership and help mobilize your peers around top issues impacting the early childhood education profession in Illinois. Teach Plus works with key stakeholders and policymakers to join the conversation.

Nationally and locally, Teach Plus Policy Fellows have:

  • Met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.
  • Advocated for Illinois’ historic education funding reform law by meeting with lawmakers, organizing teachers throughout the state, and by holding a rally in Springfield.
  • Advocated for pay parity for early childhood educators and teacher voice to be included in decisions around the IL ECEC Funding Commission.
  • Spoke at conferences in Illinois and nationwide including EduColor, ECET2, an SB100 conference, the IEA Representative Assembly, ILAEYC, and NAEYC’s Annual Conference..
  • Illinois teachers have been published or featured in US News & World Report, Education Week, the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times, the Springfield Journal-Register, and on Chicago Tonight on WTTW.
  • Introduced legislation and advocated for a state-level paid student teaching stipend

Qualifications

Teach Plus seeks a cohort of teachers who reflect the cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of our state. Apply if you:

  • Are a current early childhood educator with at least two (2) full years of experience by June 20254.
    • We include teachers, paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, early interventionists, special education service providers, licensed family child care providers and other roles working directly with children birth through 2nd grade in our definition of educator.
  • Have a track record of success with students in Illinois.
  • Are ready to dedicate your time and passion to learning about policy and advocating on behalf of changes that impact children across various early childhood settings.
  • Have a passion for sharing the diverse perspectives and experiences of students and teachers with policy makers.

Information Sessions:

  • Register for the ECE Policy Fellowship Info Session on February 28, 5:30-6:30 pm here.
  • Register for the ECE Policy Fellowship Info Session on March 11, 6-7 pm here.
  • Register for the ECE Policy Fellowship Info Session on March 27, 6:30-7:30 pm here.

Application Process

Phase 1 – Written Application

The written application asks you to complete general demographic information and answer several essay questions. Applications are due April 7, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Phase 2 – Interview

You will be notified by April 15, 2025 if you have been invited to participate in an interview. The interview will consist of an individual interview and a group activity.

Selection

You will be notified by May 8, 2025 if you have been invited to join the Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowship. If accepted, you will commit to attending all virtual and in-person Fellowship meetings.

Application Deadline: April 7, 2025

Become a teacher leader?

Start your application below to join the Teach Plus Illinois Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowship

Apply Here

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Nominate a teacher who wants to achieve change in their schools and in the broader education system.

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Informational Video

IL meet teachers-80

Meet our Teacher Leaders

Get to know the Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship teachers.

Get to Know Us

Teacher Voices

Op Eds

Why We Need Personalized Professional Development in Our Schools

Illinois
•May. 2, 2019
Op Eds

I’m Teaching My Students How to Read and Think Beyond the Headline

Illinois
•Apr. 25, 2019
Op Eds

To Help Kids, Teachers Need Training in Trauma-Informed Strategies

Illinois
•Apr. 3, 2019
Op Eds

Rahm Emanuel’s glowing narrative on Chicago schools is only half the story

Illinois
•Mar. 13, 2019
Op Eds

Student Voice is Powerful, Let’s Make Sure We Listen

Illinois
•Mar. 13, 2019
Op Eds

When I Failed My Student, Restorative Justice Picked Us Up

Illinois
•Mar. 6, 2019