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To turn around Fort Worth ISD, here’s how to empower more teachers as leaders | Opinion
Texas
•Nov. 23, 2024Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship
Training teachers as advocates to ensure that teachers and students thrive in Texas.
Teachers from across Texas:
You are invited to apply for the Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship, a highly selective leadership opportunity for outstanding Texas teachers looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect their students and the teaching profession.
What is the Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship?
- Fellows expand their influence without leaving the classroom, starting in July 2024 and concluding in June 2025, with an option to stay on for a second program year.
- Two in-person training sessions (dependent on COVID-19 restrictions), monthly virtual meetings, and smaller issues-focused working groups.
- Fellows receive training through expert-led modules and direct engagement with key stakeholders.
- No prior policy experience required.
- Fellows receive a $1,500 stipend for their commitment.
What Does Teach Plus Do?
You receive training from Teach Plus in: understanding education policy as a lever for student success, community organizing, writing op-eds, speaking to the media, conducting focus groups with fellow teachers, providing public testimony, and more. Teach Plus connects you with policy makers and opportunities to propose policy solutions, testify, write op-eds, and meet with decision-makers at the local and state levels.
How Does It Work?
Teach Plus recruits and selects Policy Fellows from across the Lone Star State to participate in this cohort experience. You will become part of a larger movement of teacher leadership and help mobilize your peers around top issues impacting equity for students and the teaching profession in Texas. Fellows work in groups to advocate on behalf of students on issues such as equitable funding, social-emotional learning, pandemic response, recruiting and retaining teachers of color, and more.
Our Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellows have:
- Testified at the Texas Legislature and met with state policymakers.
- Conducted research, including the use of surveys and focus groups.
- Successfully advocated for policy changes related to the instructional materials review and approval process, and more robust tutoring and academic support.
- Wrote op-eds that were published in such media outlets as Austin American-Statesman, Fort Worth Star-Tribune, San Antonio Express-News, and The Dallas Morning News.
- Published policy briefs about teacher vacancies, supporting and retaining teachers of color, and mental health.
Qualifications
Teach Plus seeks a cohort of teachers who reflect the cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of our state. Apply to the policy fellowship if you:
- Are a current teacher of record (PK-12) with at least two full years of teaching experience by July 2024.
- Have a track record of success teaching students in traditional public or charter schools in Texas.
- Are 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.
Application Process
Phase 1 – Written Application
The written application asks you to complete general demographic information and short essay responses. Applications are due March 31, 2024.
Phase 2 – Interview
You will be notified by Friday March 29, 2024 if you have been invited to participate in an interview. Interviews will take place virtually between April 15th and April 19th, 2024.
Final Status Notifications
You will be notified if you have been selected to join the Texas Policy Fellowship by April 26, 2024. If accepted, you will commit to attending the in-person kickoff scheduled for July 15th to 17th, 2024 and monthly sessions on Wednesday evenings throughout the fellowship.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Questions? Contact Natalie Brown at nbrown@teachplus.org.
Become a teacher leader?
Start your application below to join the Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship
Know a teacher leader?
Nominate a teacher who wants to achieve change in their schools and in the broader education system.
Meet our Teacher Leaders
Get to know the Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship teachers.
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