Investing In Educators
Come grow with us
Join a program that elevates and supports North Carolina K–12 public and charter school educators who are ready to grow, lead, and inspire change in their communities.
Along the way, you’ll build leadership capacity, feel inspired, and belong to a community of peers who share your passion for driving positive change in education.
Transform Your Teaching, Connect Your Community
Who can apply?
K–12 public and charter school educators across North Carolina. We seek educators with a growth mindset who want to connect their schools with local communities.
Duration
The fellowship runs from May to April, with PD institutes in the summer, fall, and spring. Fellows develop their projects throughout the year while continuing their school or district work. Scroll down to see the timeline.
Requirements
Complete 80 hours of professional development and a three-week externship with a local organization. Fellows create a final project based on their industry experience, with coaching and peer support along the way.
Experience & Benefits
One Transformative Year
Our model pairs you with experts from local industries or higher education institutions who offer firsthand insights into the workforce. You will immerse yourself in your host organization’s culture, shadowing employees, touring their facilities, and exploring career pathways available for students.
Professional Development Like No Other
- Join a supportive network of growth-minded educators and local community partners and receive personalized coaching from Kenan Fellows Program staff members
- Earn a $5,000 stipend as part of the award
- Upon completion, NCPI recommends 9.2 CEUs subject area and/or general.
Our Impact
90% of Fellows improved their skills to network with other educators
644 Fellows in 81 NC counties from the mountains to the coast
100% of Fellows said the fellowship made them a better teacher
Fellowship Timeline
| Application Period | Applications open on Friday, Sept. 19 |
| Awards Announced | May 5, 2026 National Teacher Day |
| Online Orientation | May 2026 |
| Summer Institute | June 2025, Cullowhee |
| Industry Immersion | July-August 2026 (Exact dates determined by Fellows and industry hosts) |
| Fall Institute | October 2026, Raleigh |
| Spring Institute & Celebration | April 2026, Raleigh |
Alumni Success
Christine Sudzina’s fruit fly unit sparks students’ curiosity in science.
Over six weeks, students in Christine Sudzina Schut’s classroom at Culbreth Middle School with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools observed the life cycle of fruit flies through stereoscopes. The seventh-graders learned the research lab technique of inducing a chill coma in fruit flies for observation. Read more.
Charise Thomas Connects Students to Careers
Charise Thomas is an award-winning educator with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with over a decade of experience bridging the gap between education and the workforce. She led a large-scale career fair and panel in partnership with the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce. The event gave students the chance to connect with potential employers, ask questions during a career panel, and learn about career paths. Read more.