South Carolina Educator Joshua Knight Named Member of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Prestigious 2027 Teacher Leader Fellows Program

Columbia, SC (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 Joshua Knight from Columbia High School of Richland County School District One in Columbia, South Carolina, led by Superintendent Dr. Todd Walker.

“I am proud to welcome Joshua Knight 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.”

Knight was one of just 12 selected out of a competitive pool of applicants from across the country. He is an educational leader with a proven track record of helping both students and teachers in pursuit of real learning. Knight has taught all levels of high school mathematics in Washington, DC, and Columbia, South Carolina. As department chair and instructional leader, he has been coaching teachers, leading PLCs, and helping to set schoolwide long-range plans. This year, he has moved into an instructional coaching role, diving deep into all content areas to support teaching and learning across the building.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of this program and look forward to taking my learning back to my district,” Knight said. “I believe we owe students the opportunity to create meaningful learning that prepares them for life after school. I hope to empower teachers to take responsibility for creating these experiences and take charge of their classrooms with a research-based focus on positive student outcomes.”

The NIET Teacher Leader 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. 

“Joshua’s selection as a NIET Teacher Leader Fellow reflects his commitment to meaningful learning, instructional leadership, and student success in many roles,” said Richland County School District One Chief School Performance Officer Dr. MiUndrae Prince. “We are proud of his accomplishments and excited to see him continue growing through this opportunity to ultimately elevate the work we do at Richland County School District One.”

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.