Indiana Educator Jamie Claywell Named Member of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Prestigious 2026 Fellows Program

HAGERSTOWN, IN (August 12, 2025) — NIET is proud to unveil the finalists for the 2026 NIET 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 Jamie Claywell of Hagerstown Junior-Senior High School from Nettle Creek School Corporation in Hagerstown, Indiana. 

“I’m excited to invite Jamie Claywell into our second cohort of the NIET Fellows Program,” said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. “For 25 years, we have seen the work of effective educators, like those joining us in this fellows program, be the driver of success within schools, districts, and communities. We look forward to learning alongside Jamie and this cohort by providing opportunities to elevate instructional practices and apply them within and beyond their classrooms.”

Claywell was one of just 11 selected out of a competitive pool of applicants from across the country. She is an accomplished educator with over 25 years of experience across grades K-12.

“I’m so excited to further my work and develop my skills through the NIET Fellows Program,” Claywell said. “I have witnessed how close-knit collaboration among educators creates big opportunities for both teachers and students. By working together across grade levels and subjects, we have built a unified learning environment where innovative ideas thrive and student success has soared. Our school proves that when teacher leadership is nurtured, even a small campus can deliver world-changing education."

Claywell was most recently appointed to be the assistant principal at Hagerstown Junior-Senior High School, where she has served as a Master Teacher for the past four years. Claywell began her career teaching first grade in St. Petersburg, Florida, and continued to teach for 15 years in the state before moving to Indiana, where she now calls home. Known for her commitment to professional growth, Claywell brings passion, leadership, and a results-driven mindset to every role. Her work reflects a belief that strong teacher leadership and teamwork can create transformative outcomes - even in the smallest school settings.

“Jamie’s selection to the NIET Fellows Program reflects her unwavering dedication to instructional leadership and professional growth. From her impactful work as a Master Teacher to her new role as Assistant Principal, she exemplifies how teacher leadership can foster meaningful change,” said Nettle Creek School Corporation Superintendent Emily Schaeffer. “We’re proud of her achievement and excited for the insights she’ll bring back to our school community.”

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. 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 two signature NIET events throughout the year - the 2026 NIET National Conference and the 2026 NIET Summer Institute. Each fellow will regionally travel 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 nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona, that serves states and districts nationwide. For 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. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are proud to honor our partners’ success and share the results of intentional, sustained investments in educator effectiveness. Learn more in our anniversary report, Building Educator Excellence: 25 Years of Impact. 

Read more about the NIET Fellows Program and meet the other 2026 fellows on the NIET website.