Instructional Leadership; Professional Development; Data-driven School Improvement; Equitable Project-based Learning; Character Education, Career and College Readiness Reform

2021-2022 Part-Time Fellows

Adanays Aranda

ESOL Teacher | Fort Mill, SC

Areas of Focus:

Multilingual Learner; Education; Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching; Equity and Inclusion; Family Outreach; Teacher Preparation; Instructional Technology; Distance Education

Laina Cox

MS Principal | Washington, DC

Areas of Focus:

Middle Grades; Restorative Practices & School Culture; Professional Development; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Teacher Leadership & Development; Project-Based Learning; Social-Emotional and Character Deveolpment

Richard Knoeppel

CTE Teacher | Las Vegas, NV

Areas of Focus:

Career and Technical Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Technology Integration; STEM Education; Project Based Learning; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Mentoring and Induction

Hennessey Lustica

Community Schools Mental Health Project Director | Rochester, NY

Areas of Focus:

Comprehensive School Counseling; Program Development; Interdisciplinary Clinical Supervision; School Counselor Evaluation; Restorative Practices; Counseling Children and Adolescents; Collaboration Across Systems

Eligibility

To be eligible for the School Ambassador Fellowship program, participants must:

Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Currently be a teacher, principal or other school staff member (and anticipate being employed in this role during the next school year).
Employed by a traditional public, charter, private, virtual, military (DoDEA), or tribal (BIE) school that serves any grade, preschool through twelfth.
Have at least five years of experience in his/her current role as a teacher, principal or other school staff member, up to and including the current school year.
Have daily meaningful interaction with students and educators in a school setting in his/her school role.

Desirable applicants have:

A history of demonstrable and meaningful impact on student outcomes and school success.
A record of leadership in the school and community settings.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Experience with outreach activities and project management skills.
Relevant insights from school and classroom experiences to federal education policy, programs and initiatives.
Support from school, community and other educational leaders.

Application Components

A complete application includes:

Verification of program eligibility requirements
A written personal statement
A one-page, written abstract for your Capstone project if selected to be a 2021-2022 Fellow
Two recommender forms
A current resume and cover letter

How Applications Are Evaluated

All applications are screened and reviewed by teams of current and alumni Fellows and Department staff members. The most highly-rated applicants may be asked to participate in virtual and potentially in-person interview processes. All applicants will be notified about their progress in the Fellowship application and selection process. All materials within the application are peer-reviewed and will be assessed against the key qualities we seek in School Ambassador Fellows. These key qualities include:

Demonstrable Contributions to Student Learning

the extent to which the candidate has had demonstrable and meaningful impact on student achievement and school success;

Effective Leadership Skills

the extent to which the candidate brings a record of effective leadership and teamwork amongst peers and other key stakeholders;

Strong Communication Skills

the extent to which the candidate demonstrates the written and oral communication skills required to serve as a Fellow;

Other Applicable Skills and Experience

the extent to which the candidate demonstrates experience with the type of roles Fellows are asked to play, including project management skills;

Relevant Interests and Expertise

the extent to which the candidate can provide applicable insights from school and district experiences to the Department’s education policy, programs, and initiatives; and

School System Support

the extent to which the candidate has demonstrable support from their school and district leaders for program participation.

Application Resources

Online Ambassador Fellowship Program Application System

Online Ambassador Fellowship Program Participation Verification Form

Privacy Policy How we protect & why we ask for personal data

Notice of Appropriate Use

Applications for the 2021-2022 cohort of the School Ambassador Fellowship are being accepted beginning 12:00am EST on October 12, 2020 until 11:59pm EST January 11, 2020.

In order to be considered for the 2021-2022 School Ambassador Fellowship cohort, you must use the online system to submit a complete application. Any materials submitted by U.S. mail or email will not be reviewed.

Notice of Appropriate Use

You are accessing a U.S. Government computer system, which may be accessed and used only for authorized Government business by authorized personnel. Unauthorized access or use of this computer system may subject violators to criminal, civil, and/or administrative action.

All information on this computer system may be intercepted, recorded, read, copied, and disclosed by and to authorized personnel for official purposes, including criminal investigations. Such information includes sensitive data encrypted to comply with confidentiality and privacy requirements. Access or use of this computer system by any person, whether authorized or unauthorized, constitutes consent to these terms.

Applicant Information

Eligibility

To be eligible for the School Ambassador Fellowship program, participants must:

Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Currently be a teacher, administrator, student support provider, or other certified school staff member (and anticipate being employed in this role during the next school year).
Employed by a traditional accredited public, charter, private, virtual, military (DoDEA), or tribal (BIE) school that serves any grade, preschool through twelfth.
Have at least five years of experience as an educator up to and including the current school year.
Have daily meaningful interaction with students and educators in a school setting in his/her school role.

Desirable applicants have:

A history of demonstrable and meaningful impact on student outcomes and school success.
A record of leadership in the school and community settings.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Experience with outreach activities and project management skills.
Relevant insights from classroom, school and/or district experiences that are transferable to federal education programs and initiatives.
Support from school and district leaders.

Application Components

A complete application includes:

Verification of program eligibility requirements
Personal statement video
A one-page, written abstract of intended Capstone project
Three recommender forms
A current resume and cover letter

How Applications Are Evaluated

Demonstrable Contributions to Student Learning
Effective Leadership Skills
Strong Communication Skills
Relevant Interests and Expertise
School System Support

Narrative responses should address:

The candidate’s personal and professional experiences that have defined them as an educator;
The extent to which candidates have used their career to be an agent of change within their local school district, state, or at the national level;
The extent to which you will leverage your professional networks, resources, and abilities to promote the Secretary of Education’s priorities and the Department’s strategic goals and initiatives;
The extent to which your membership in the School Ambassador Fellowship will benefit your school community and/or district.

Application Resources

APPLY HERE: Online Ambassador Fellowship Program Application System
School Ambassador Fellowship Program Overview
School Ambassador Fellowship Flyer
Privacy Policy How we protect and why we ask for personal data

Please be advised that the application period for the 2023-2024 cohort of the School Ambassador Fellowship has been extended to January 3, 2023 at 11:59pm EST.

In order to be considered for the 2023-2024 School Ambassador Fellowship cohort, you must submit an application using the online application system. Please note that any materials submitted by U.S. mail or email will not be reviewed.

Notice of Appropriate Use

Eligibility

Who May Apply: Eligible applicants are local educational agencies (LEA) or consortia of LEA’s, from a community that has experienced Significant civil unrest.

Eligibility

Local educational agencies (LEAs) are the eligible applicants for this program. If a State educational agency (SEA) has received State-Flex authority from the Secretary, its LEAs may not apply to the Department for Local-Flex.

By statute, the Secretary may enter into Local-Flex agreements with no more than three LEAs in a State. Therefore, any consortium that seeks a Local-Flex agreement may include no more than three LEAs. Furthermore, only LEAs that receive formula grant funds from their SEA under the Federal programs subject to consolidation may seek Local-Flex authority.

If an LEA has entered into a Local-Flex agreement with the Secretary, its SEA may may subsequently seek State-Flex authority only if that LEA agrees to have its Local-Flex agreement submitted as one of the proposed performance agreements in the SEA’s State-Flex application.

The Department may enter into Local Flexibility Demonstration Agreements with up to 80 local educational agencies across the country.

Note: By statute, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas are not eligible to apply as LEAs for Local-Flex.

Eligibility

In general, eligible applicants for the Native Hawaiian Education Program include nonprofit organizations and other educational organizations and/or agencies.

Specifically, the following entities are eligible:

Native Hawaiian educational organizations;
Native Hawaiian community-based organizations;
Public and private nonprofit organizations, agencies, and institutions with experience in developing or operating Native Hawaiian programs or programs of instruction in the Native Hawaiian language;
Charter schools;
Consortia of the eligible applicants listed in (a) through (c).

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are:

(a) An LEA with at least one SIG School or SIG-Eligible School; and
(b) a consortium of LEAs, each with at least one SIG School or SIG-Eligible School in each member LEA.

Note: Eligible applicants seeking to apply as a consortium must comply with the regulations in 34 CFR 75.127–75.129 (see Appendix for MOU or Other Binding Agreement Requirements for Consortia Applicants).

Eligibility

The Ed-Flex statute defines an eligible State, or “Ed-Flex Partnership State” as a State that—

(A)Has—
1. (1)Developed and implemented the challenging State academic standards, and aligned assessments, described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1111(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the ESSA,² and is producing the report cards required by ESEA section 1111(h); or
2. (2)Adopted new challenging State academic standards under ESEA section 1111(b)(1), made substantial progress (as determined by the Secretary) toward developing and implementing such standards and toward producing the report cards required under ESEA section 1111(h);
(B) Will hold LEAs, ESAs, and schools accountable for meeting the educational goals described in the local Ed-Flex applications and for engaging in technical assistance and, as applicable and appropriate, implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities and targeted support and improvement activities under ESEA section 1111(d); and
(C) has waived or will waive State statutory or regulatory requirements relating to education while holding LEAs, ESAs, or schools within the State that are affected by such waivers accountable for the performance of the students who are affected by such waivers.
(20 U.S.C. § 5891b(a)(2))

States include each of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying areas (Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). (20 U.S.C. § 5891a(4)).

Unless otherwise indicated, citations to the ESEA are to the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.