The Fellowship

Question 1

Who are we looking for?

Answer

We look for experienced educators with a strong belief that every student can succeed and that systems must be reimagined to create the transformational change needed for students nationally.

Question 2

What are the eligibility requirements?

Answer

Successful candidates must demonstrate the following:

Track record of demonstrated, measurable positive impact on students
Clearly articulated vision and motivation for school systems leadership
Proven ability to lead and manage adults
Excitement to learn about and try innovative ideas in K-12 education

Ideally, the applicant serves in a systems-level role of significant responsibility.

There are no minimum years of experience required. The average years of work experience for Fellows is 14 years.

Question 3

How does the application process work?

Answer

There is a multi-stage selection process. Individuals who wish to be considered for admission begin by submitting an application online. The application generally opens each fall around September.

Question 4

How much does the Fellowship cost?

Answer

The Fellowship is a year-long learning experience for school system leaders and principals endeavoring to solve the most entrenched challenges facing the K-12 public education system with a new approach. The experience includes:

150 hours of direct instruction
6 Learning Experiences (2 in-person & 4 virtual)
Immunity to Change (ITC) coaching from a highly-qualified and experienced coach
Action Impact Project that helps Fellows design a community based approach to solving challenges
Robust community of 320+ systems leaders

We ask districts to contribute $15,000 towards the full cost of the Fellowship.

Question 5

When does the Fellowship start and end?

Answer

The Fellowship is a year-long commitment which typically begins in June/July and concludes the following year in June/July.

Question 6

Where do Fellows work?

Answer

Fellows work in systems of various sizes, geographies, and sectors, including traditional K-12 school systems, state education agencies, charter school networks, and education organizations nationally. Our National Fellow Directory can be found here. An overview of our state, district, and charter partners can be found here.

Question 7

How competitive is the Fellowship application process?

Answer

We prioritize fit and potential for impact in our application process. Our final applicant pool determines the size of the cohort.

Question 8

What do Fellows learn?

Answer

System leaders often transition directly from school-based leadership roles to system leadership. The leap is significant, and they are often left to fill the void in that transition on their own and in real time. Catalyst supports system leaders in understanding the power and politics, change management, and instructional leadership necessary to implement solutions at scale.

All Fellows are trained on Cambiar’s CREATE framework to engage their communities - students, educators, families, and partners - to co-create innovative solutions to entrenched challenges. Over the course of the Fellowship, each Fellow completes an Action Impact Project designed to improve student outcomes in their communities.

Question 9

If I've applied before, can I apply again?

Answer

Absolutely! We find that many of our Fellows apply more than once before being accepted. Should you have any questions about your candidacy, you are encouraged to email us.

Cambiar Catalyst

National Fellow Directory

National Fellowship

Regional Fellowships

The Fellowship

The Catalyst Fellowship creates a community of the nation’s most promising leaders, accelerating their impact through community, coaching, and the innovation required to transform outcomes for all students.

Systemwide Impact

We empower system leaders to transform their districts by co-designing solutions alongside their community, using practical tools and identifying key proof points through small scale testing before large scale implementation.

A core part of the Fellowship experience is applied learning. The Action Impact Project (AIP) is a vehicle for innovation. Fellows identify a project or challenge in their district, and utilize the skills and resources to tackle it using Cambiar’s CREATE process.

Learning Experiences

With 150+ hours of direct instruction covering key content strands, we go beyond sharing information, we help fellows drive outcomes for students.

Fellows participate in multiple in-person and virtual learning experiences to maximize the rigorous content of the Fellowship through robust discussion where they interrogate concepts alongside brilliant peers from across the nation, pushing each others’ thinking to surface new ideas.

Community

Systems leadership is inherently isolating and when there are low levels of trust and safety, it can make it a difficult place to thrive. Our network of over 322 alumni and Fellows means that when one person faces a challenge, they don’t face it alone.

Coaching

In the current education landscape, technical skills aren’t enough. We use the Immunity to Change (ITC) framework to coach our leaders beyond the internal barriers holding them back from making the impact they hope to see.

Fellows leverage the C360, Catalyst's unique leadership assessment, to gather feedback about and radically shift their practice.

Fellow Profile

The Catalyst Fellowship accepts experienced educators with a strong belief that all students can succeed, and a deep belief that systems must be reimagined to create the transformational change needed for students nationally.

Ideally, the applicant will be in a system-level role of significant responsibility.

There are no minimum years of experience required. The average years of work experience for Fellows is 14 years.

Ami Magunia

Beau Gallegos

Chris Maher

Porsche Chisley

Dr. Paula Gama-Garcia

Kathleen Black

Ian Buchanan

Frequently Asked Questions

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