Stanford Selects NIET Teacher Leaders for National Working Group on the Future of Teaching

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Stanford University has selected five teacher leaders trained by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) to participate in a national working group examining the future of the teaching profession. The educators are among 12 selected nationwide.

Those selected include NIET Fellows Latonzia Beavers (Natchitoches Magnet School, Louisiana), Emily McLellan (White Castle High School, Louisiana), William Mock (Somerset High School, Texas), and Paloma Peralta Carrillo (Ed Pastor Elementary School, Arizona), as well as Amanda Culver (Clinton Young Elementary School, Indiana), a Master Teacher from NIET partner district Perry Township Schools.

The educators will serve on the Future of Educators Working Group at the Hoover Institution, contributing experience and insight to discussions about how the profession can be strengthened and their experiences as teacher leaders. The Future of Educators Working Group will convene four times during 2026.

NIET is the leading national organization building teacher leadership structures and roles in schools. Through these formal leadership opportunities, teacher leaders play a critical role in improving instruction across classrooms by supporting colleagues, leading professional learning, and helping ensure consistency and quality of teaching across schools and districts.

“Bringing the voices of impactful teacher leaders to the working group will elevate how teachers are solving educational challenges in their communities and modeling best practices nationally,” said Dr. Joshua Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of NIET. "When teacher leaders are given the training, accountability, and authority to drive instructional improvement, schools increase teacher retention and accelerate learning."

"Like much of society, the role of teacher is directly encountering the headwinds of change—from scientific advances in brain science to demographic trends to technological innovations to changes in governing and oversight,” said Macke Raymond, Director of Hoover Education. “The Working Group on the Future of Teachers will provide critical insight from the front line about the ways they are responding.”

About NIET

For 25 years, the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) has partnered with schools, districts, and universities to ensure every student has access to excellent teachers. NIET has worked with more than 350,000 educators and 35,000 teacher leaders in 11,000 schools, impacting 3.5 million students by transforming instruction, closing learning gaps, and achieving award-winning growth. NIET’s Teacher Leader Fellows program is designed to provide teacher leaders with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of NIET’s systems of improvement in order to more effectively support the work taking place within and beyond their school and district. Learn more at www.niet.org 

About Hoover Institution

Stanford University's Hoover Institution produces rigorous, nonpartisan research to inform policy and improve student outcomes across America. Its scholars examine critical issues in K-12 and higher education—including school choice, accountability, teacher effectiveness, and student achievement—and translate their findings into actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and the public. Through initiatives like the Education Futures Council, Hoover Education convenes state chiefs, researchers, and practitioners to advance evidence-based solutions to the nation's most pressing education challenges.

For more information, visit hoover.org. 

Media Contact:
Kristan Van Hook
kvanhook@niet.org