The 2027 NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program

The NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program is a one-year opportunity for teacher leaders in K-12 school systems. The 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. The next cohort of fellows will begin the program in Summer 2026. Through the NIET Teacher Leader 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 Responsibilities

Over the course of the year-long fellowship, July 2026 - June 2027, fellows will take on a variety of responsibilities through which they will engage in multiple types of professional development. Teacher leader fellows will:

•  Deepen their knowledge of NIET’s systems of improvement
•  Attend a five-day in-person Boot Camp July 13-17, 2026 in Scottsdale, AZ
•  Shadow NIET team members providing support to other districts regionally for up to five days during the school year
•  Attend virtual learning experiences throughout the program year
•  Participate in a NIET communications deliverable
•  Create one video that contributes to the field of teacher leadership
•  Assist with and attend the NIET National Conference
•  Assist with and attend NIET Summer Institute (NSI)
•  Provide feedback to NIET on the NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program

Fellows are expected to attend all in-person events including:

•  Fellows Boot Camp, July 13-17, 2026 in Scottsdale, AZ
•  NIET National Conference, Spring 2027
•  NSI, Summer 2027

Fellowship Structure

•  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.
•  Travel costs associated with required program travel will be covered by NIET.
•  Each fellow will receive a $7,500 stipend from NIET for their participation.

Application Process and Timeline

Preferred qualifications include:

•  Be a school-based teacher leader (ie. instructional coach, Master Teacher) working in a district
•  Expect to remain in a teacher leader position for the upcoming school year
•  Have at least three years of experience as a full-time teacher leader

To be considered for this opportunity, the applicant must complete this online application which includes the submission of:

•  A cover letter describing your current role as a teacher leader and why you would make an excellent fellows candidate (500-word limit)
•  Your résumé or curriculum vitae
•  An unedited video segment showing you leading professional learning or coaching a colleague
•  A document that illustrates how your leadership has improved instructional effectiveness and student outcomes
•  One letter of reference from a teacher you coach/support who can speak to your role as a teacher leader
• One letter of reference from a supervisor (i.e., principal, classroom teacher, teacher leader, or district leader) who can speak to your role as a teacher leader

Direct all questions to fellows@niet.org.