Who We Are
The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at NC State recognizes educators’ vital role in shaping the future. With this understanding, we are dedicated to offering high-quality professional and leadership development for North Carolina K-12 educators.
Our programs provide unparalleled opportunities for networking with fellow educators, industry professionals, and community leaders. We aim to empower educators with the support, skills, and knowledge necessary to lead within their communities and beyond.
Our Work
Industry Immersion Fellowship
The fellowship is open to any North Carolina K-12 public and charter school educator. Key components are a three-week STEM industry immersion with a host organization during the summer and 80 hours of professional development.
Our model offers K–12 educators immersion experiences within local industries, community organizations, and higher education institutions, giving them firsthand insights into regional career pathways for students and relevant workforce skills. We then guide educators in translating these industry experiences into programs and resources that bridge the gap between schools and the workforce.
Special Programs
We leverage our alumni network to facilitate special professional learning programs like STEMwork, Mountains to Sea, and Not Your Average PD. STEMwork offers hybrid or fully online professional development in project-based learning design and community partnership development.
Mountains to Sea Scholars participate in virtual and in-person workshops on special topics in environmental education. Not Your Average PD is a free online professional development series for teachers that covers timely topics in K-12 education.
Resources for Educators
Alumni play key roles in the Kenan Fellows Program, including serving on the editorial board for our peer-reviewed Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership. They also contribute to planning and delivering our professional learning institutes as part of the faculty. Additionally, Fellows contribute lessons to our online database of inquiry-based curricula.
Mission
Advance K-12 STEM education by providing educators with relevant, real-world professional learning and leadership development, through innovative collaborations with partners committed to 21st-century education and workforce preparation.
Vision
The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership envisions a future where North Carolina educators are trusted, empowered, and celebrated as pillars of their communities and are equipped to address the state’s workforce development needs.
History
Established from a community effort to address the retention of math and science teachers in the Research Triangle, we are now recognized as a model for STEM workforce development partnerships in K-12 education.
Collaboration
We connect K-12 educators with industry, university, and community college experts, enhancing learning opportunities for all students. These collaborations prepare students for their chosen careers by improving their understanding of required skills.
Proven Leadership
Kenan Fellows excelled in leading professional development compared to a similar program. Independent research found they were almost twice as likely to lead and foster more peer collaboration through professional learning communities. Additionally, our alumni provide about $1.5M annually in free professional development for North Carolina educators.