Thirty-three Hamilton County educators will be completing their twelve-month tenure as Leadership Fellows on Tuesday, May 12 at the offices of the Public Education Foundation, and will pass the baton to a class of 32 newly selected Fellows. Leadership Fellows participate in a rigorous year of training in addition to their usual teaching duties to prepare for leading positive change in their schools.
The Leadership Fellows program, which is sponsored by the Public Education Foundation working in partnership with the Hamilton County Department of Education, has already produced over 250 graduates, many of whom are now in leadership positions in Hamilton County schools. This program has helped 41 principals, 45 assistant principals and 59 teacher leaders, including school-based instructional coaches and lead teachers.
The Leadership Fellows program, which is free to all participants, was established in 1999 with funding from the Annenberg Foundation. Its purpose is to give emerging school leaders the skills and knowledge they need to participate in decision-making and school improvement. The program involves monthly workshops, job shadowing, school visits, mentoring and study groups. The Fellows also participate in leadership projects and presentations, and create a leadership portfolio demonstrating their learning.
The Public Education Foundation has sponsored the program from the beginning. “Every year, 60 to 70 teachers apply to become Leadership Fellows because they want to develop skills and build relationships to help them take an active role in moving their schools forward. This year’s class is very strong,” said Ann Kilcher, PEF’s Senior Consultant with the Leadership Initiative.
Click Leadership Fellows 10 for information on the 2008-2009 class.
Click Leadership Fellows 11 for information on the 2009-2010 class.