When teachers grow, schools and communities advance with them. The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership invests in teachers in ways that keep them in our classrooms longer, deepen professional confidence and bring classroom learning closer to the realities of our workplaces and communities.
The return extends across North Carolina: stronger faculties, steadier leadership and learning environments where students see links between what they study and the futures taking shape around them.
205,000
Number of students served by educators in our programs
Breaking Barriers Between Companies and Classrooms
From classrooms to communities, advancing education statewide
Across the state, educators who participate in our programs remain in the classroom longer than statewide averages, providing stability during periods of high turnover. Many step into broader leadership roles, designing and delivering professional development, securing grants and building partnerships that expand what schools can offer. Those efforts bring tangible resources back to classrooms, including thousands of dollars each year for new programs, tools and experiences.
Instruction evolves as well. When educators integrate immersion-based learning into coursework, students demonstrate stronger engagement, sharper critical thinking and a deeper sense of belonging. Lessons connect to local industries and career pathways, turning classrooms into places where opportunity feels close to home.
Achievements From Our Latest Cohort of 29 Kenan Fellows
15,690
students served
$2.3 Million
Grant funding awarded to Fellows
3,400
Number of audience members reached through Fellows’ presentations
