Indiana Educator Andrew Jaynes Named Member of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Prestigious 2027 Teacher Leader Fellows Program

INDIANAPOLIS (July 21, 2026) — NIET is proud to announce the members of the 2027 NIET Teacher Leader Fellows cohort, launching a dynamic one-year program to help selected educators deepen their knowledge of NIET’s systems of improvement to more effectively support the work taking place in their school and district. 

Among the distinguished fellows is Andrew Jaynes from George Washington High School of Indianapolis Public Schools in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“I am proud to welcome Andrew Jaynes into the 2027 NIET Teacher Leader Fellows cohort,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “This fellowship reflects NIET’s commitment to build educator excellence and empower outstanding teacher leaders who are strengthening instruction and accelerating student success. We look forward to working alongside the 2027 fellows this year as they continue to grow their leadership and share their expertise with educators across the country.”

Jaynes was one of just 12 selected out of a competitive pool of applicants from across the country. He is currently an instructional coach at George Washington High School in Indianapolis Public Schools. Jaynes’ career as an educator has spanned over 31 years, including 27 years as a math teacher. He’s taught in the public sector as well as in private and collegiate areas. He has coached dozens of sports and chaired many clubs and extracurricular activities during that time.

“Joining this program is an incredible opportunity,” Jaynes said. “The impact that I would like to make as an instructional leader is to continue developing the culture of respect with the entire staff based on how my interactions with them can best affect the students in their classes. My most important role as an instructional leader is to provide the support that highlights their best practices and builds trust through reflection and communication, so that we can increase any necessary areas of improvement.”

The NIET Fellows Program was created with educator effectiveness in mind, bringing together teacher leaders from partner schools nationwide who demonstrate exceptional implementation of NIET's principles, emphasizing educator excellence and advancing student success. 

“Andrew’s selection to the NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program highlights his decades of dedication to instructional excellence and teacher development,” said Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson. “His leadership continues to strengthen our schools, and we look forward to the lasting impact of this opportunity.”

Throughout the year-long fellowship, fellows will participate in professional development activities designed to enhance their leadership capabilities, including an introductory boot camp and involvement with NIET events throughout the year, including the 2027 NIET National Conference and the 2027 NIET Summer Institute. Each fellow will travel regionally to shadow NIET’s Senior Specialists while maintaining their full-time employment status, including salary and benefits, with their respective districts, while being released to participate in program activities throughout the year.

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is a national nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona, that serves states and districts nationwide. For more than 25 years, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students across the U.S. 

Read more about the NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program and meet the other 2027 fellows on the NIET website.