We recently announced changes to our leader fellowship program. These changes are designed to better support districts across the state on college, career, and military readiness. They also mean we will not be accepting fellowship applications in 2020. Below, we address some questions you may have about these changes.

 

Why are you not allowing educators to apply to the leader fellowship this year or next year?

In January 2020, cohort 3 fellows – those who began their fellowship in June 2019 – will transition to the new model. Their districts will be invited to apply with a team of three, joining the currently serving fellow. Those districts will stay on board through the 2021–22 school year to ensure enough time for implementation of Texas OnCourse resources. In January 2022, we will open the fellowship application to cohort 4 district teams. Selected district teams will serve for two years, through the 2023–24 school year. The cohort 5 application will open in January 2024.

 

Will both educators get paid?

Yes, both the middle school and high school educator will each receive a $10,000 stipend for their participation in the fellowship. The $10,000 stipend is for the entire two-year term, paid on a quarterly basis. Receipt of the full stipend amount is dependent on the educator’s continued participation in and eligibility for the fellowship. 

 

Will administrators get paid for participating?

Administrators will not be eligible to receive the $10,000 stipend. Districts will still receive $5,000 during the two-year fellowship, which they can use to invest in activities or resources that support college, career, and military readiness.

 

What if my administrator isn’t supportive of the fellowship or Texas OnCourse?

We believe that transformational change is impossible without the support of leadership. If your leadership does not currently support the fellowship, we hope they come to recognize the value of Texas OnCourse and the leader fellowship in the coming years, as we continue to assess and communicate our impact throughout the state. 

 

Are ESC staff invited to apply? 

ESC staff are not considered formal members of district teams. However, if an ESC staff member would like to work with the district team in their region as a collaborative partner, they are invited to do so. In such cases, Texas OnCourse will fund travel and lodging for the two annual fellowship events. ESC staff should understand that this funding assumes a commitment on their part to active teamwork and collaboration with district teams. 

 

When the application opens, how do I apply?

The fellowship application will open again in January 2022. In order to become a leader fellow, your district will need to submit an application identifying two candidates for the fellowship and an administrator contact. The administrator can serve at the campus or district level, and must currently have responsibilities including CCMR accountability, college and career readiness, educator professional development, and/or overseeing counseling initiatives. If a campus administrator applies, you must also include sign-off from a district administrator. All applicants selected for the final round will be required to participate in a virtual interview with Texas OnCourse staff and alumni leader fellows. Additional qualifications and requirements will be released in late 2021.

 

What is the district’s commitment to the fellowship?

In order to participate in the fellowship, districts must demonstrate commitment by: 

  1. Agreeing to support the time and travel required by the fellows and administrator to fully participate in the program
  2. Acknowledging the district’s engagement with the program
  3. Signing a memorandum of agreement for data sharing, agreeing to participate in Texas OnCourse-led research and evaluation, and permitting fellows to present at staff professional development events

 

What if I leave my job during the fellowship?

Participation in the fellowship is at the district team level, rather than the individual level. If your new position is in a new district, if you move from high school to middle school or vice versa, or if you move into a role in which you are no longer directly advising or supporting students, you cede your position in the fellowship. You can nominate a colleague to take your place, or we will work with your district team to identify an eligible replacement.

 

What if an educator becomes ineligible during the course of the fellowship?

If an educator becomes ineligible for the fellowship – by moving into a position where they are not directly supporting middle or high school students on college and career advising, by moving from a middle school to a high school or vice versa, or by taking a job in a different district – they will no longer receive the stipend and a new fellow will be chosen to replace them. 

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