Question 1

Eligibility & Requirements

Accepted Answer

Candidates for the Fellowship should be eligible for hire by Metro Nashville Public Schools. Additionally, to be considered for the 2021 cohort of the Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship, you must: Have at least 4 full years of certificated teaching experience in Pre-k – 12 by Fall 2022. Provide demonstrated evidence of educator effectiveness (i.e. TEAM, LOE, TVAAS or other state or nationally normed evidence). Meet requirements for admission to Lipscomb University M.Ed. or E.Ds. programs. Commit to working at the Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga summer institute in 2022. Commit to pursue a full time mid-level leadership or an administrative position with Metro Nashville Public Schools for the 2022 - 2023 school year.

Question 2

Is this Fellowship Right for me?

Accepted Answer

Strong applicants should meet the following requirements: You believe that potential is equally distributed along lines of race and class, but opportunity is not, and you are committed now and in the future to working toward educational equity. You have demonstrated an ability to build successful, authentic relationships with adults and children from all walks of life regardless of age, income, class, race or gender. You have already shown leadership capacity, have demonstrated ability to set and achieve ambitious goals, and having a passion for learning and developing others. You desire to lead in a traditional public school operated by Metro Nashville Public Schools. By the time the cohort begins in fall 2022, you must have a valid Tennessee teaching license and have 4 or more years teaching experience. Master’s in Education preferred, but not required. Prior experience in teacher coaching or adult leadership preferred, but not required.

Question 3

What if I already have a master’s or Ed.S. degree or an administrative license?

Accepted Answer

The standard timeline for the Fellowship is based on the experience of a Fellow with a Master’s in Education. Fellows with a master’s degree will pursue an Ed.S. It is possible to complete the program on an adjusted timeline if you do not already have a master’s degree or if you already hold an administrative license. Contact Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga for more information.

Question 4

Do I need to be a Teach For America alumnus/a/x to be eligible?

Accepted Answer

This program is open to applicants of all preparation backgrounds. All applicants must exhibit Teach For America’s core values, and strive to be ambassadors of the Teach For America program at all times.

Question 5

What if I have already completed some instructional leadership courses?

Accepted Answer

If you have already begun pursuing an administrator license in Tennessee or in another state, we can support you in determining the exact course progression that will support your degree candidacy.

Question 6

Is placement as an assistant principal, dean or other leadership role in MNPS guaranteed?"

Accepted Answer

Much like the corps experience, we cannot guarantee any participant’s placement. Teach For America and Lipscomb University work together to provide the education, mentorship, networking, hands-on experience, career and job placement support necessary to be a competitive applicant for mid-level school leadership, but MNPS principals make the final hiring decision for their school.

Question 7

What is the time commitment of the program?

Accepted Answer

From August 2022 to December 2023, Fellows can expect 6 credit hours of graduate-level course work per semester. Classes begin in August 2022 and will meet approximately one weekend per month during the school year – usually Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. Additional online work, field experiences, and collaboration with a mentor may be expected throughout the program. Fellows are expected to pursue a role with the TFA Nashville-Chattanooga summer institute, which will require full time work from late-May to mid-July 2022 and 4 weekend training days between February and May 2022. Additionally, Teach For America requires 4 to 5 evenings throughout the school year for professional development, networking, and mentorship.

Question 8

What is the cost of the program?

Accepted Answer

Lipscomb University and Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga have made discounts and scholarships available for these aspiring school leaders. Fellows receive 40% discount off the tuition of the entire leadership program and are eligible for an additional scholarship of $4,000 after successful completion of year 1 of the Fellowship. Additionally, Fellows are compensated for institute work during spring and summer of 2022. Compensation for institute positions varies by role, but can range from $5,000 to $9,000 for spring and summer work.

Question 9

How should I prepare to apply for the Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship?

Accepted Answer

The selection criteria for the Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship includes Teach For America’s core competencies, core values and excellent schools framework; and Lipscomb University’s College of Education leadership dimensions.   Your application will include open-ended response questions, your resume, a statement of educator effectiveness, and references. We recommend candidates be able to clearly articulate their philosophy on education and why they aim to pursue school leadership within a district-run public school. Your statement of educator effectiveness should include TEAM evaluations, LOE, TVAAS, or other state or nationally normed evaluations.

Question 10

Application Timeline

Accepted Answer

The application for the 2022 cohort of the Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship will open in January 2022. More details and dates will be available as the application window approaches. In the meantime, sign up for more information or schedule an informational meeting.    Application Deadline: March 2022 Interview Dates: April 2022 Notification of Acceptance: April 2022 2022 Fellowship Timefram: May 2022 - May 2024

Build Your Leadership

Expand Your Impact

The Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship develops and supports a diverse cohort of future school leaders to expand educational equity for children in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Your experience leading classrooms has transformed you. You are passionate about expanding opportunities for children, and now you want to continue your impact as a school leader pursuing equity and accelerating change.

TFA Alumni have demonstrated what is possible for Nashville.

10

10

31

31

8

8

100%

100%

Build your leadership to expand your impact.

Earn your administrator credentials and M.Ed. or E.Ds. through Lipscomb University, one of the Tennessee’s top-rated educator preparation programs.

Gain hands-on leadership experience developing teachers and driving student outcomes at Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga’s pre-service teacher training.

Program Timeline

January

March

April

2022

Year 1

May

August

March

Application Opens

Application Closes

Final Interviews

Cohort 2022 Announced

Lipscomb Courses Begin

Summer Training Planning Begins

July

August

2023

Year 2

Lead at Summer Teacher Training

Begin Lipscomb Year 2

December

May

Earn ILL-B & EdS

Fellowship Complete

Eligibility & Requirements

David Lewis

Assistant Principal, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet

Leadership changes everything.

Begin your journey

Meet the 2021 Cohort

Alex Ball

Mississippi Delta 2007

Patrice Briscoe

Nashville-Chattanooga 2018

Brittany Crawford

Indianapolis 2014

Meet the 2020 Cohort

Bryan Kariuki

Nashville-Chattanooga 2014

Rachel Burley

Nashville-Chattanooga 2015

Gerron Hurt

Nashville Teacher Residency

Ryan Olivia MacDonald

Mississippi 2013

James Cross

Oklahoma 2013

Frequently Asked Questions

More Questions?

You are the leader you've been waiting for.

Your experience leading classrooms has transformed you.

You are passionate about expanding opportunities for children, and now you want to continue your impact as a school leader pursuing equity and accelerating change.