NIET Fellows Program

The NIET Fellows Program is a one-year training program for teacher leaders in districts currently partnering with NIET. It 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. Through the Fellows Program, candidates will BUILD their skills to advance educator effectiveness by: 

• Building a strong foundational understanding of leadership best practices
• Understanding how leadership structures provide opportunities to grow and support their own learning and the learning of their colleagues
• Increasing foundational perspective and understanding of the role successful distributed leadership plays
• Learning how instructional practices lead to positive change in districts and schools
• Deepening their instructional skills and their abilities to coach others

Fellowship Structure and Responsibilities

Over the course of the year-long fellowship, fellows will take on a variety of responsibilities through which they will engage in multiple types of professional development.

Fellows will attend the following:

• Fellows Boot Camp (5 days/4 nights)
• National Conference (3 days/3 nights)
• NSI Conference (5 days/4 nights)

Fellows will:

• Assist in developing sessions and delivering sessions at NSI
• Be released for five days during the school year to travel to other districts regionally and shadow NIET’s Senior Specialist providing support
• Deepen their knowledge of NIET’s systems of improvement
• Write one blog post and create one video that will be used on NIET’s social media
• Provide feedback to NIET on the NIET Fellows Program

Fellows will maintain their employment as a full-time district employee (including salary and benefits aligned with their district’s salary schedule and structure), while being released from their district to participate in the program activities throughout the year.

Eligibility

The applicant must:

• Be a teacher leader working in a district that currently partners with NIET
• Have at least five years of experience in the classroom and/or supporting other educators in an active NIET partnership district

Program Duration

Fellows are expected to participate in the Fellowship’s professional learning experiences from July 2024 through June 2025.

Stipend

Each fellow will receive a $10,000 stipend from NIET for their participation.

Application Process

How to Apply

To apply, you must fill out an online application, which includes the submission of:

• Your resume or curriculum vitae
• A cover letter describing your current role as a teacher leader and why you want to be a Fellows candidate. (500-word limit)
• A description (750-word limit) of how you are advancing educator effectiveness, student learning through data-driven leadership and evidence based instructional practices 
• Up to three letters of reference (i.e., principal, classroom teacher, teacher leader, or district leader)

Click here to start your application. 

If an applicant is chosen to move to the interview stage of the process, superintendents will be sent a recommendation form to be submitted in support of the NIET Fellows applicant.

Fellows Selection Process

All applicants will be screened by the Fellows Program Committee as appropriate using an established review process.

NIET Fellows Application and Program Timeline

*Candidates selected for the program must be available in July 2024 for the NIET Fellows Boot Camp.

If you have any questions or would like further information, send an email to fellows@niet.org