Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellowship​

Training teachers as policy advocates to ensure that Arkansas teachers and students thrive.
2023 AR Kick-Off-19

Teach Plus Arkansas invites teachers to apply for the Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellowship, a prestigious paid leadership opportunity designed for exceptional Arkansas educators. This fellowship aims to enhance participants' understanding of education policy and amplify their influence in shaping decisions that impact students and the teaching profession.

Through this program, we nurture, support, and empower some of Arkansas's finest teachers to advocate for their students. Fellows will develop targeted policy recommendations aimed at enhancing educational systems for all children statewide.

What is the Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellowship?

  • Fellows will broaden their impact while remaining in the classroom, beginning in August 2024 and concluding in June 2025. 
  • Fellows will engage in monthly sessions, both virtual and in-person, receiving training through expert-led modules and direct interaction with key stakeholders. 
  • No prior policy experience is necessary. 
  • We will actively recruit teachers statewide, with a special emphasis on attracting educators from the Arkansas Delta, Central Arkansas, and Northwest Arkansas regions. 
  • Fellows will receive a $1,500 stipend for their dedicated participation.

What Do We Do?

Teach Plus provides comprehensive training that equips teachers with the necessary skills to understand education policy as a means to drive student success. Our training includes community organizing, op-ed writing, media communication, public testimony delivery, and other essential skills. We strive to create pathways and genuine opportunities for teachers to lead effectively in shaping policy decisions.

How Does It Work?

Teach Plus recruits and carefully selects Arkansas Policy Fellows from diverse regions across the state to engage in our cohort experience. As a Fellow, you’ll join a dynamic community of teacher leaders and play a vital role in mobilizing your peers around critical issues affecting the teaching profession in Arkansas. Teach Plus collaborates with key stakeholders and policymakers to ensure teachers have a seat at the table in shaping meaningful conversations and decisions.

Teach Plus Policy Fellows have:

  • Engaged with Arkansas state house representatives to understand the legislative process and advocate for bilingual and dual immersion legislation.
  • Conducted focus groups with Arkansas teachers to formulate recommendations on educator diversity, early literacy, and preservice educators.
  • Developed and presented policy recommendations to enhance the recruitment and retention of diverse educators, elevate teacher compensation, establish positions to bridge the mental health support gap for students, and improve high-quality early childhood education.
  • Presented teacher diversity recommendations to the Secretary of Education and Arkansas State Board of Education.
  • Collaborated with a large district to advocate for professional development on early reading strategies for pre-K teachers.
  • Met with the Joint Senate and House Committee on Education.
  • Engaged with DESE/ADE leaders, influential policymakers, community advocates, administrators, and other educational leaders.
  • Participated in Advocacy Days at the Capitol.
  • Conducted roundtable discussions with early childhood educators regarding pay equity.
  • Administered teacher surveys on teacher preparation experiences and social-emotional/mental health needs.
  • Testified at legislative committee meetings.
  • Hosted monthly Educator Conversations on current educational issues.
  • Published op-eds on various topics, including the importance of teaching diverse texts, gun safety, funding equity, universal preschool, investing in teachers, digital equity, early childhood education, supporting students’ emotional needs, affirming students’ identities, increasing teacher diversity, providing enrichment experiences for all students, empowering students with home libraries, universal free meals for students, supporting gifted and talented students, and promoting a love of literacy.
  • Presented at school board meetings and various conferences.
  • Authored the following briefs, memos, and recommendations on early childhood education, teacher retention, mental health support, increasing teacher diversity, and rules for governing professional development:

Qualifications

  • Be a current teacher of record with at least two (2) full years of teaching experience by August 2024
  • Have a proven track record of successfully teaching students in district or charter public schools within Arkansas.
  • Be prepared to devote your time and passion to learning about education policy and advocating for changes that positively impact students.
  • Be solution-oriented and willing to write an op-ed containing specific recommendations on a personal topic of interest, while also actively contributing to the research and composition of a working group product
  • Be available to attend the kickoff event in August (exact dates to be determined).
  • Be willing to commit to attending monthly cohort meetings, and special meetings (when possible), and actively participating within your assigned working group.

Application Process

Part 1 – Written Application

The written application asks you to complete general demographic information, short responses, and upload a resume. Applications are due May 31, 2024.

Part 2 – Interview

You will be notified if you have been invited to participate in an interview. Interviews will take place virtually on June 18, 2024.

Part 3 – Selection

You will be notified if you have been selected to join the Arkansas Teaching Policy Fellowship. If accepted, you will commit to attending the kick-off convening in Little Rock in August (exact dates and location TBD) and monthly sessions throughout the fellowship.

Questions? Email Stacey McAdoo at smcadoo@teachplus.org

Interested in becoming a teacher leader?

Application coming soon.

Know a teacher leader?

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

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Meet our Teacher Leaders

Get to know the Teach Plus Policy Fellowship teachers.

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