Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellowship

Equipping teachers to be advocates for teachers and students across Indiana.

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Application Deadline: April 21, 2024
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The Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellowship is a selective leadership opportunity available to high quality teachers across the state.

We invite you to apply if you are a great teacher looking to deepen your knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect Indiana’s students and the teaching profession.

What is the Teach Plus Policy Fellowship?

Our Policy Fellowship offers teachers the opportunity to expand their influence without leaving the classroom. The Fellowship runs June 2024-June 2025 and selected Fellows will:

  • Participate in at least two in-person training sessions, 
  • Engage in monthly virtual meetings, and smaller issues-focused advocacy group meetings.
  • Receive a stipend for their commitment. 
  • Gain an understanding of policy advocacy – no prior policy experience is required to apply.
“I have come to understand that solutions do exist and that teachers’ input is valued by policymakers.” – Susan S.

What does Teach Plus do?

Teach Plus builds teachers’ understanding of education policy and promotes teacher voice. We work to create and connect teachers to opportunities to lead in real ways at the policy level. Fellows are trained through expert-led modules and direct engagement with key stakeholders in our monthly virtual sessions that focus on:

  • Education policy as a lever for student success
  • Community organizing
  • Op-ed writing and speaking with media
  • Advocacy – providing public testimony and speaking with elected officials
  • Current and relevant issues in education policy

During the 2024-25 school year, the Fellows will collectively dive into timely policy issues like literacy and the implementation of science of reading, accountability and the role of schools/teachers, teacher preparation and professional development, school funding, and whole child learning support. Our vision is to be proactive in elevating the reality of the classroom, while remaining nimble in response to our state’s landscape.

How does it work?

Teach Plus recruits and selects Policy Fellows from across the state to participate in a selective cohort experience and works to bridge the gap between teachers and key stakeholders and policymakers in Indiana. As a Fellow, you will become part of a larger movement of teacher leadership while learning how to mobilize your peers around critical issues impacting equity for students and the teaching profession in Indiana. You will work in groups with fellow teachers to advocate on behalf of your students.

“I used to think ‘I’m ‘just’ a teacher.’ Teach Plus reminded me of the power in a teacher’s voice and even more importantly the power in collective teacher voice.” – Katie S.

Teach Plus Policy Fellows have:

  • Met with Indiana legislators and staff, spoken at hearings, and proposed policy solutions to the Indiana General Assembly
  • Helped successfully advance legislation to improve teacher preparation, inform teacher retention, and enable expanded opportunities for Indiana educators. 
  • Elevated the voices of Indiana educators in decisions around ILEARN, STEM access, and the final approved ESSA plan
  • Met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.
  • Joined Secretaries of Education as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s official delegation to the International Summit on the Teaching Profession.
  • Fellows publish policy briefs and author op-eds on key issues such as teacher retention, evaluation, compensation, teacher preparation programs, and student social justice.  The op-eds have been published in Chalkbeat, the Huffington Post, the Indianapolis Business Journal, the Indianapolis Recorder, the Indianapolis Star, and Nuvo.

Qualifications

Teach Plus seeks a cohort of teachers who reflect the cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of our state. To apply to the Fellowship, you must:

  • Be a current teacher of record (PK-12)
  • Teach at a traditional public or public charter school in Indiana
  • Have at least two full years of teaching experience by August 2024.
  • Have a track record of success teaching students
  • Be ready to dedicate your time and energy to learning about policy and advocating on behalf of changes that impact your students — while continuing to teach full time.
  • Have a passion for sharing the diverse perspectives and experiences of students and teachers with policy makers.

Interested in learning more? Email Kimberly Nguyen at knguyen@teachplus.org.

Application Process

Part 1 – Written Application

The written application asks you to complete general demographic information, short responses and a current resume. Teach Plus Indiana will host three(3) virtual information sessions prior to the application deadline:

  • Thursday, March 28th at 5:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM CT – RSVP HERE
  • Wednesday, April 17th at 5:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM CT – RSVP HERE

Part 2 – Interview

You will be notified by May 3rd if you are invited to participate in a virtual interview.

Part 3 – Selection

You will be notified by May 22nd if you have been selected to join the Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellowship. If accepted, please plan to attend the in-person kickoff  June 7-9.

Application Timeline*

  • Applications Due – April 21, 2024
  • Virtual Interviews – May 7-16, 2024
  • Final Decision Notification – May 22
  • In-Person Kickoff Event – June 7-9, 2024

*All stated days and times are subject to change

Interested in becoming a teacher leader?

Click below to start your application.

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Meet our Teacher Leaders

Get to know the Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellowship teachers.

Publications and Op Eds