The Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development enhances teacher professionalism and leadership by engaging outstanding teachers in demonstrated leadership through which they develop novel curricular resources in collaboration with the private sector, public schools, and institutions of higher learning. Specifically, Kenan Fellows develop curricular resources that emphasize inquiry-based learning and help students apply academic knowledge to authentic, real-world problems. The following overview represents major Kenan Fellows Program activities in progress:
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Strategic Expansion Plan: Currently, the Kenan Fellows cohort is expanding to up to fifty Fellows participating in a biennial program. The class of 2010 will be the first class to undergo a nomination process prior to being considered a candidate for the Program. A two-week, summer residential component has been added that will enhance the ability of the staff to deliver in-depth professional development in training teachers as leaders. In addition, Fellows will be required to work with their Mentors at Universities and Colleges in the expansion regions for an additional four weeks. The footprint of the Program has expanded across North Carolina. In addition, there is now funding to secure a Fellow to work in Washington State in collaboration with mentors from UC Davis, University of Washington, Texas A&M, Clemson, University of Florida and NCSU. Kenan Fellow Alumni will continue to be engaged in an ad-hoc basis.
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Communications: The Kenan Fellows Program has created and distributed a new line of collateral materials and documents including a detailed prospectus ntitled “Directions: Leading the Way in Public Education”. A strategic dissemination plan has been developed and is being implemented to assure that outstanding teachers and mentors are made aware of the Kenan Fellows Program as an opportunity. In addition, the program has gained the attention of Congressman Price and other key elected officials at the state and national level. A revised application process will be implemented on line. This added feature will streamline the efficiency of the entire process.
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Organizational Structure: Existing staff positions have been refocused for efficiency and efficacy and new job descriptions have been written, reviewed with staff, and implemented. A new position, Technology and Communications Specialist, was created and a person was hired to fulfill the duties. Also, the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Resource Development position was created and a person hired to fulfill the duties. The responsibilities of this position includes development of partnerships among a variety of stakeholders as well as fund development via grant writing and proposal coordination.
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Impact: An independent evaluator has provided the Kenan Fellows Program with data since 2003. The evidence of these data report compelling results. For example:
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Approximately 30,000 students have been directly impacted by Kenan Fellows in their classrooms;
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93% of Kenan Fellows remain in their classrooms;
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Nearly half (49%) of all Kenan Fellows have achieved National Board certification;
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A substantial majority (71%) of Kenan Fellows have made presentations at state, national and international conferences; and,
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More that half (57%) of Fellows have applied for and received grants that support their project.
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Governance: An Advisory Board has been formed and engaged. By-Laws and a position description were written and adopted. The inaugural Board had its first meeting on September 13, 2007, under the leadership of Chair, Dr. Charles Coble. This inaugural Board is comprised of leaders in both the public and private sector from across North Carolina in academia, industry, government and education. Charged with informing the work of the Kenan Fellows Program, the Advisory Board is comprised of leaders such as Mr. Clark Plexico, a former North Carolina state senator; Dr. William Atkinson, President of Wake Med; Dr. Zoe Locklear, Dean of the School of Education at UNC- Pembroke and Ms. Patricia Willoughby, Executive Director of North Carolina Business Committee for Education. Their task will be to inform the work of the program as it grows from a regional, to a statewide and national endeavor.
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Funding: A $1.84M program expansion budget has been developed which is inclusive of the administrative and programmatic costs of the Kenan Fellows Program. In addition, internal policies are being refined and standardized in anticipation of the growth of the program. $100,000 annual recurring North Carolina Legislative funding was secured through the University’s General Administration/NC State STEM request to the General Assembly. Current fundraising activity for the Kenan Fellows Program reflects over $1.97M of proposals either awarded, pending or under development.
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New Partnerships: Collaborations are an imperative component in the growth of the program. Current partnerships include, but are not limited to, the New Voices School, the Gates Foundation’s New Schools Project and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.
