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We Need Educators Skilled to Understand Our Students
Illinois
•Jul. 7, 2022Illinois Policy Fellowship
Training Illinois teachers to improve the teaching profession and the outcomes for our neediest students.
What is the Teach Plus Illinois 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 2022 and concluding in June 2023.
- Monthly Fellows Sessions (virtually and tentatively in-person)
- Fellows receive training through expert-led modules and direct engagement with key stakeholders. No prior policy experience required.
- Fellows receive a $1,600 stipend for their commitment
What does Teach Plus do?
Teach Plus trains teachers in understanding education policy as a lever for student success, 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 Illinois Teaching 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.
Nationally and locally, Teach Plus Policy Fellows have:
- Met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office
- Successfully advocated for the passage of Illinois’ new Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.
- Ensured that the voices of early childhood educators are included in upcoming state initiatives.
- Advocated for Illinois’ historic education funding reform law by meeting with House Speaker Michael Madigan and 15 other lawmakers, organizing teachers throughout the state, and by holding a rally in Springfield.
- Conducted, published and presented original research elevating teacher perspectives on the retention of educators of color, use of federal COVID funding, Illinois’ KIDS tool, restorative practices, and teacher preparation.
- Been published in US News & World Report, Education Week, the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times, the Springfield Journal-Register, and appeared on Chicago Tonight on WTTW and NPR Illinois.
Know a teacher leader?
Nominate a teacher who wants to achieve change in their schools and in the broader education system.
Teacher Voices
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Guest column: Why our schools need clear racial harassment policies
Illinois
•Jul. 1, 2022Op Eds
Tai Basurto On Her Journey From Teach Plus Teacher Leader to Chicago Public Schools’ Director for School Leader Development
Illinois
•Jun. 13, 2022Op Eds
Censoring books is bad for students, teachers and democracy
Illinois
•Apr. 26, 2022Op Eds
Creating a Play-Based Learning Environment to Make Learning Accessible for All
Illinois
•Apr. 20, 2022Op Eds
It’s testing time in our schools. Standardized exams are a terrible way to measure student learning.
Illinois
•Apr. 18, 2022