Teach. Lead. Elevate.
A nomination-based fellowship celebrating exceptional teachers who lead in and beyond the classroom.
About the Fellowship
Exceptional teachers.
Expanded influence.
The Elevate Teacher Fellowship recognizes and develops outstanding teachers nominated by their principals. This isn't a course or a workshop — it's a cohort of Cincinnati's finest educators, learning together, doing real work, and expanding their impact beyond the classroom.
You'll work alongside your principal's cohort in shared sessions — building alignment between classroom practice and school leadership — while also having dedicated time with just other teachers, no principals in the room.
Every session connects to an improvement project you're already running in your school. By the end of the year, you'll present what moved for students — in your school, because of your leadership.
Who's in the Room
Hand-selected teachers from across the city — public, charter, and catholic schools. Plus shared working time with principals from the Accelerate Principal Fellowship.
5 Sessions, October–May
Bi-monthly, 8:00 AM–3:30 PM, in-person. April session is virtual. Lunch provided every session.
Fully Funded
No cost to participants or schools. Your principal has already confirmed their support for your attendance.
A Typical Session
Real work.
Real school. Real impact.
Every session connects to what you're already doing in your school. Between sessions: implementation work, data collection, practicing skills, and coaching.
Session Dates
Virtual
Celebration
Sample Agenda — December Session: Teacher Leadership & Family Engagement
Full Day: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Morning Opening + Connection to School Community
Reflect on current family engagement approaches and identify key strengths and gaps in your context.
Family & Community Engagement Practices
Examine high-impact strategies for authentic family partnerships, then synthesize insights and prepare for the co-session.
Lunch + Co-Session with Principal Fellows
Discuss and align on shared approaches to strengthening family and community engagement.
Afternoon Opening + Teacher Leadership in Practice
Reconnect as a cohort, then explore how to lead family engagement beyond your classroom and contribute to school-wide priorities.
Application Lab: Engagement in Action
Design or refine strategies for engaging families in and beyond your classroom.
Planning, Peer Consultation + Commitments
Bring a current challenge, receive structured peer feedback, and name one thing you'll try before the February session.
What Fellows Build
Six domains. Real skills. School-level impact.
Tap any domain to see what you'll actually develop over the course of the year.
Who This Is For
This fellowship is selective. And it's demanding.
All grades and subjects. No specific years of experience required — what matters is readiness to think beyond your own classroom and grow your influence.
✓Fellows who thrive
- →Learner mindset — risk-takers and collaborative thinkers
- →Ready to think about school-level leadership, not just classroom excellence
- →Committed to growing your influence beyond your classroom
- →Ready to engage deeply in a community of practice
- →Committed to showing up and following through
–Not the right moment if you're…
- →Not yet ready to think beyond your own classroom
- →In a season where consistent participation isn't realistic
- →Looking for a passive or low-commitment learning experience
How to Accept
Your principal nominated you.
Enter the invitation code from your principal to accept your nomination and complete a short form. Nominations must be accepted by October 12.
Questions? acceleratecincinnati@leadershipacademy.org
The Form Covers
Basic info + resume
Your goals and ambitions — where you're headed personally and professionally over the next 3–5 years
Your instructional practice — what you do well, where you want to grow, and how you're working on it
Where you feel stretched, and what could realistically get in the way of following through
Enter Your Invitation Code
Check your inbox for an email from acceleratecincinnati@leadershipacademy.org with your invitation code.
Don't have an invitation code?
The Elevate Teacher Fellowship is nomination-based. If you're interested, talk to your principal about whether this might be the right time for you — and ask if they'd consider nominating you for the upcoming cohort.