Where We WorkTeach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship

Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship

Training teachers as advocates to ensure Illinois teachers and students thrive

If you are a math educator interested in the Fellowship or have been otherwise invited to apply after the deadline, please contact us below.

You are invited to apply for the Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship, a highly selective leadership opportunity for outstanding Illinois teachers looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect students and the teaching profession.

What is the Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship?

A highly selective leadership opportunity for outstanding Illinois teachers looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect students and the teaching profession.

Fellows expand their influence without leaving the classroom, starting in June 2025 and concluding in June 2026.
Fellows receive training through expert-led modules and direct engagement with key stakeholders.
No prior policy experience required.
Monthly Fellows Sessions (most virtually, with two in-person weekends)

What does Teach Plus do?

Teach Plus trains teachers in understanding education policy advocacy as a lever for student success, including community organizing, writing op-eds, speaking to the media, providing public testimony, meeting with legislators, and more. Teach Plus works to create and connect teachers to opportunities to lead in meaningful ways at the policy level.

How does it work?

Teach Plus recruits and selects Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellows from across the state 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 teaching profession in Illinois. Teach Plus works with key stakeholders and policymakers to join the conversation.

Our Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellows have:

Wrote and passed the teacher-created Racism-Free Schools Act to address racial harassment and discrimination in schools.
Successfully advocated for Illinois’ historic education funding reform by meeting with lawmakers, organizing teachers throughout the state, and holding a rally in Springfield.
Successfully advocated for the passage of Illinois’ new Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.
Wrote op-eds that were published in media outlets including Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chalkbeat, and Education Week,
Conducted, published and presented original research elevating teacher perspectives on diversifying the teaching pipeline for students, preservice educators, and educators of color, innovative instruction, use of federal COVID funding, and restorative discipline practices, among other topics.

If you are a math educator interested in the Fellowship or have been otherwise invited to apply after the deadline, please contact us below.

We invite you to view a Virtual Information Session to hear more about all of our programs from Teach Plus Illinois staff and Policy Fellowship alumni.

View the recorded Virtual Information Session

Meet our Teacher Leaders

Get to know the Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship teachers.

Teacher Voices

Op Eds

Guest column: Promise of dual language programs in Illinois must be embraced

Illinois

•May. 9, 2025

Op Eds

Ashley A. Kannan: Are the kids all right? They experience school very differently than we did.

Illinois

•May. 6, 2025

Op Eds

Making AI our Classroom Partner

Illinois

•May. 1, 2025

Op Eds

Aspiring teachers need help, not hardship on journey toward Illinois licensure | Opinion

Illinois

•Apr. 11, 2025

Op Eds

Guardrails and Guidelines: Imagining Successful AI Integration in Illinois Schools

Illinois

•Feb. 20, 2025

Op Eds

Why Rural America Should Lead the CTE Charge to Reimagine Schools

Illinois

•Feb. 11, 2025