Education Advocacy Fellowships

JerseyCAN’s NJ Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship are paid opportunities for New Jersey teachers and parents (Fellows) to learn about and engage in education policy and advocacy in New Jersey. Over the course of one year, Fellows study the NJ education policy landscape, hone their advocacy skills, and achieve a short-term advocacy goal. In addition to engaging in high-quality professional learning and networking opportunities, Fellows will receive a $3,000 stipend for their commitment to this work.

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Learn About the Fellows

JerseyCAN’s Education Advocacy Fellowships are paid opportunities for New Jersey teachers and parents to learn about and engage in education policy and advocacy work in New Jersey.

NJ Teachers & Parents: If you want to play a more active role in influencing the education policies that impact NJ students, then these are the fellowships for you!

About the Fellowship

JerseyCAN is building a vibrant advocacy community for NJ teachers and parents through its Education Advocacy Fellowships.

JerseyCAN’s NJ Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship provide teachers and parents (Fellows) with opportunities to participate in year-long fellowships to study the NJ education policy landscape, hone their advocacy skills, and achieve collective and individual advocacy goals.

Participants will work with their fellow teachers and parents, as well as across fellowships, as they are supported in taking action at the state or local level in one or more of these key priority areas:

  • Excellent Teaching for Every Student: Advancing evidence-based literacy and mathematics instruction for all students, elevating classroom practice through high-quality educator preparation, professional learning, instructional leadership, and coaching, and developing policy solutions that ensure every student experiences excellent teaching every day.
  • Pathways to Postsecondary Success: Expanding college and career pathways through early college credit, career and technical education, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and other innovative experiences that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed for success beyond high school.
  • Expanding Student Opportunity: Ensuring every student has the support and connections needed to thrive by advancing academic support opportunities, student engagement, and family partnership, and access to high-quality educational opportunities, while championing policies that remove obstacles to success and improve outcomes for all learners.

The Root of this Work

  • Teachers and parents seek more knowledge of and influence over education policy.
    As a non-profit that has successfully written and influenced education policy in New Jersey since 2013, JerseyCAN is positioned to help teachers and parents learn the ins and outs of education systems and governance so that parents and teachers have more opportunities to actively and effectively engage in advocacy to benefit student outcomes.
  • Teacher leadership keeps our strongest teachers in classrooms where they are best positioned to positively impact student outcomes.
    We believe that teachers who influence education policy and practice while simultaneously teaching students are one of the greatest assets to our education system. They are both directly influencing student outcomes and keenly abreast of policy needs and the realities of implementation.
  • Robust parent advocacy, or families’ efforts to promote ambitious, healthy education policies and practices, benefit children throughout the state.
    Parents and families are the #1 advocates for our young people; by giving them influence and input around educational decisions, educators and communities can join together in advocating for the best possible outcomes for our students.

Fellow Compensation and Expectations

In addition to a network of support and enriching professional learning opportunities, each fellow will receive a $3,000 stipend for participating in the program.

To receive this stipend, Fellows are expected to thoughtfully engage in and attend all in-person and virtual convenings and put their learning into practice by completing a minimum of one advocacy goal or milestone.

Anticipated Timeline

Virtual Convening 1

Thursday, October 22, 2026
4:30pm – 6:30pm

In-Person Convening 1*

Saturday, November 14, 2026
10:00am – 2:00pm

Virtual Convening 2

Thursday, December 10, 2026
4:30pm – 6:30pm

Coaching

December + January
Varies

Virtual Convening 3

Thursday, January 14, 2027
4:30pm – 6:30pm

In-Person Convening 2*

Saturday, February 6, 2027
10:00am – 2:00pm

Virtual Convening 4

Thursday, March 4, 2027
4:30pm – 6:30pm

Coaching

March + April
Varies

Virtual Convening 5

Thursday, April 29, 2027
4:30pm – 6:30pm

Coaching

May (as needed)

In-Person Convening 3*

Saturday, June 5, 2027
10:00am – 2:00pm

Note: Attendance at all convenings, both in-person and virtual, is mandatory. All convenings and meetings will take place outside of school hours.

* All in-person convenings will take place on Saturdays and will be located in the central region of the state.

To Apply

To apply, candidates must be open to JerseyCAN’s mission and vision, have a minimum of two years of experience teaching in New Jersey’s schools OR be the parent of a New Jersey student, commit to attending all convenings listed in the application, and be passionate about leading state or local advocacy work in one or more of this year’s focus areas: (a) Excellent Teaching for Every Student, (b) Pathways to College and Career Success, and (c) Expanding Student Opportunity.

Next Steps

If you meet all of these qualifications and are a New Jersey teacher or parent who is interested in learning about and engaging in policy and advocacy, apply below by completing Part 1 of 2: Online Application. Preference will be given to early applicants. Candidates who are being considered for selection will be contacted for an interview via Zoom. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
Download/Print Fellowship Info

Application

Teacher/Parent Fellowship Application

Contact Information

Social Media Handles

Provide your social media handles for any public platforms that you use (e.g. LinkedIN, Twitter, etc.)

 

About You

Tell Us More

Responses must be 250 words or less

This year, JerseyCAN's advocacy work is centered on three priority areas: (a) Excellent Teaching for Every Student, (b) Pathways to Postsecondary Success, and (c) Expanding Student Opportunity. Please review the descriptions below and rank the priorities in order of your interest.

  • Excellent Teaching for Every Student - Advance evidence-based literacy and mathematics instruction for all students by strengthening educator preparation, professional learning, instructional leadership, and coaching, while supporting policies that ensure every student experiences excellent teaching every day.
  • Pathways to Postsecondary Success - Expand college and career pathways through early college credit, career and technical education, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and other innovative experiences that prepare students for success beyond high school.
  • Expanding Student Opportunity - Ensure every student has the support and opportunities needed to thrive by advancing academic support, student engagement, family partnerships, and access to high-quality educational opportunities, while championing policies that remove barriers and improve outcomes for all learners.
1Excellent Teaching for Every Student
2Pathways to Postsecondary Success
3Expanding Student Opportunity

Point of Contact for Recommendation

Include a contact name and email address of someone who can attest to your: Excellent communication skills, including the ability to build relationships across lines of difference and strong writing ability; Track record of achievement in setting goals and driving results for personal projects; and Reliability in seeing commitments through.

Consent

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