Bill of Rights Institute Teacher Fellowship
Applications for the Inaugural Class of the BRI Teacher Fellowship are due June 1, 2024. The Fellowship is a 9-month initiative aimed at empowering educators to deepen their understanding of civics and civic education through philosophical inquiry and innovative teaching methods.
Program Overview
Fellow Compensation
Teachers will be compensated a total of $2000 in quarterly $500 increments. Payment is contingent upon the successful completion of responsibilities agreed to in the Letter of Agreement that will be provided to accepted fellows.
Program Eligibility
Educators with at least one year of classroom experience and educators who are currently in a social studies teaching role are eligible to participate. Experience using BRI curriculum and resources and attending BRI programming is preferred.
Application Requirements
The application consists of profile information, short answer responses, and requires the submission of a writing sample and a letter of recommendation from an administrator or department head. Applications are due June 1, 2024.
Term of Fellowship
15 Fellows will be selected on or before July 15, 2024. Accepted Fellows will have until August 15th to accept the Fellowship. The term of the commitment will be September 1, 2024-May 31, 2025.
Through this Fellowship, teachers will:
- Deepen their understanding of civics through philosophical inquiry.
- Gain a community of like-minded educators dedicated to promoting civic education and self-governance.
- Develop and implement effective civic education strategies in classrooms.
- Cultivate leadership skills among educators to support an education for self-governance.
- Represent the Bill of Rights Institute in local, regional, and national contexts.
Bill of Rights Institute Teacher Fellow Responsibilities Include:
Attendance: Participants will need to commit to attend the monthly online meeting, which will be the first Tuesday of every month at 8:30 ET.
Engagement: Fellows are expected to actively engage in all program activities, including workshops, philosophical discussions, curriculum development sessions, and community events.
Professional Development: Fellows are expected to seek external opportunities to enhance their understanding of civics education and philosophical inquiry they will share with their cohort. BRI will offer and surface additional opportunities for learning.
Curriculum Development: Fellows are expected to dedicate time to developing innovative lesson plans that integrate philosophical inquiry into civics education, aligning with program objectives and sharing progress with mentors.
Implementation: Fellows must implement the developed curriculum in their classrooms, facilitating philosophical discussions and promoting critical thinking among students.
Reflection: Fellows are required to reflect on their teaching practices, student responses, and overall experiences with philosophical inquiry, sharing insights and challenges during program reflection sessions.