South Fayette educators selected for state policy fellowship
Three South Fayette School District educators were among a group of 44 teachers from across the state selected by Teach Plus for its 2023-24 Pennsylvania Policy Fellowship.
The national nonprofit organization empowers teachers to lead student-centered improvements in educational policy and instructional practice.
Building on the work of the first three cohorts of Policy Fellows, the teacher leaders are trained in policy and advocacy specifically designed to help them further develop the skills to champion innovative policy solutions for Pennsylvania’s students. The fellowship kicked off in late August in Harrisburg with in-person training and orientation.
“Our incoming Fellows are diverse, innovative, and inspired,” said Pennsylvania Policy Manager Zakiya Stewart. “I have no doubt in their ability to continue the legacy of our previous cohorts to advance the changes that matter most to our students and their families across Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania Executive Director Laura Boyce said: “This is a moment of great challenge for our schools, with an acute teacher shortage, an unconstitutional school funding system, an early childhood education system in crisis, and unprecedented post-pandemic learning loss. It is also a moment of great opportunity, with a new governor, two commissions tasked with reforming our school funding system and reimagining education, and an appetite on both sides of the aisle for innovative and bipartisan solutions that meet the needs of kids. Teach Plus Fellows are ready to meet this moment with the urgency and vision that are needed.”
This new cohort of Fellows was selected through a rigorous application process that evaluated their commitment to equity and unwavering dedication to excellence in teaching to prepare all students to achieve their potential.
Michelle Lockette, who is a ninth grade English and Honors English teacher, was selected from South Fayette along with Stephanie Everhart, a high school chemistry teacher, and Payal Mital, who teaches biology.
“I’m honored to be part of PA Teach Plus because they are authentically and unapologetically committed to diversity and equity, and we advocate for all students in the state so that their access to a quality education is not dependent on the tax base of the community in which they live,” said Lockette.
“Through PA Teach Plus, I have helped lead professional development for educators across the region on the ‘Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education Competencies,’ which are now mandated by state code for this school year. I’m eager to see how they will be implemented in my own community.”
Throughout the fellowship, teachers will receive key resources and engage in targeted leadership opportunities essential for developing them as effective education advocates.
Fellows will participate in monthly training sessions for the following 11 months to develop their abilities in policy, advocacy, research, and communications. With the assistance of Senior Fellows, who are all former participants in Teach Plus policy programs, the Fellows will simultaneously work in smaller working groups to explore policy solutions and advocacy activities around important policy priority areas.
The 2023-24 policy focus areas include adequate and equitable school funding, advancing the science of reading, early childhood education, expanding and diversifying the teacher pipeline, and reimagining teacher preparation
Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students.