Aspiring Leaders Fellowship

Aspiring Leaders Fellowship '26

The Aspiring Leaders Fellowship is a two-year cohort for educators who are seeking the opportunity to broaden their impact within their school or district. Through convenings, workshops, group coaching, and additional experiential learning opportunities, fellows will develop skills needed to become more effective people leaders. Applicants to this fellowship must have a formal opportunity to practice leadership within their school or district.

The Teach Michigan definition of a high impact leader linked below is a critical tool utilized in the selection process and programming, and will be referenced in the application. Please click to view and refer back to the definition as needed.

• At least 5 years lead teacher or teacher of record in a classroom
• Holds a current Standard or Professional Certificate OR an Interim Teaching Certificate with documentation of enrollment in a certification program
• Have a formal opportunity to practice leadership within their role in their school
• Receives recommendation from current supervisor (for all classroom-based roles, this should be your principal)
• Teaching in a partner district/school OR Teach For America Corps Member alums (do not need to be currently teaching in a partner district/school)

All educators should be prepared to enter certification information when completing their application. For Michigan educators, please use the MOECS educator look-up necessary information ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).). For educators applying who are certified outside of Michigan, please provide a PDF copy of your current licensure. This can be a screenshot from the state licensing website.

• At least $35,000 in financial awards provided over 3 years
  • Year 1: $5,000 Signing Bonus, $5,000 Completion Bonus
  • Year 2: $10,000 Completion Bonus
  • Year 3: $15,000 Completion Bonus
• Group and/or individual coaching
• Cohort workshops at least 4x per year
• Opportunity to attend Experiential Learning Visits inside and outside of Michigan

While AI-generated content can be a valuable tool for inspiration and assistance, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations in the context of Teach Michigan applications. Your application is an opportunity to showcase your unique voice, experiences, and perspectives. Our application review process includes screening for AI-generated content, which may compromise the authenticity of your application. Thank you for understanding the importance of maintaining the integrity of the application process.

If you have questions while completing the application, please reach out to the Teach Michigan team at fellowships.

Teach Michigan is a state-funded, five-year initiative to invest into the retention and development of high-impact educators working in under-resourced schools across Michigan.