The Knowles Teaching Fellows Program is an intensive and cohesive, five-year program that supports early-career, high school mathematics and science teachers in their efforts to develop teaching expertise and lead from the classroom.
We understand that teaching is a critically important, complex and intellectually challenging endeavor. We also recognize that learning to teach well requires time, sustained effort, and ongoing support and development throughout a teacher’s career. To assist with that development, the Knowles Teaching Fellows Program is divided into two phases, with each phase building on the next. Two key leadership development threads run through all five years of the program: practitioner inquiry and community-building.
—Knowles Teaching Fellowship website
Knowles fellows may be awarded grants to cover expenses associated with purchasing classroom materials and engaging in professional development. Additionally, fellows may receive grants to develop and execute leadership activities that have an impact beyond their own classrooms.
Fellows may choose to use approximately half of their allocated funds for annual stipends. These stipends are intended to help fellows reduce debts they may have incurred and the financial burden teachers often bear—both of which are factors that contribute to sustainability in the profession. Stipends can also be used to support fellows financially during summer months, allowing them to concentrate on reflecting on the past year, preparing for the coming year and professional development, instead of taking on a part-time job.
The amount allocated to each fellow for grants and stipends may change on an annual basis.