We have a record number of applicants for the Kenan Fellows Class of 2011, representing 112 schools from 30 North Carolina counties. I would like to personally thank all of the people who have taken time to be part of the process for assuring that the best and brightest teachers are nominated for this prestigious fellowship.
The next step will engage Kenan Fellows Program staff, mentors, NCDPI personnel, corporate executives and community leaders. This discerning group will gather over the next couple of weeks to conduct intensive interviews. The results of the interviews will be the selection of an elite group of teachers for the new cohort. Look for the announcement of the members of the Kenan Fellows incoming class of 2011 in our April e-newsletter.
Recently I came across a quote from Bill Gates that captures the essence of the mission of the Kenan Fellows Program in supporting North Carolina’s most outstanding teachers. He stated, "It is amazing how big a difference a great teacher makes versus an ineffective one. Research shows that there is only half as much variation in student achievement between schools as there is among classrooms in the same school." The data is clear. Teachers do make a difference. And, GREAT teachers, such as Kenan Fellows, make an ever greater difference in the lives of their students.
Dr. Valerie Brown-Schild, Director