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April 28, 2026
The Current: April 2026

This issue of The Current includes: 331 Fellows: 1 Powerful Summer Listen: Our Power, Our Planet Science Super Stars Read our April issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
April 02, 2026
The Current: March 2026

This special edition of The Current features the full list of 2026 Fellows. Join us in celebrating their achievement by exploring their inspiring projects at the link below. Read our March issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
March 31, 2026
Fund for Teachers Announces 2026 Grant Recipients

$1.56 Million Invested in 337 PreK–12 Educators Nationwide Teachers to pursue self-designed global fellowships addressing student learning gaps HOUSTON, TX – Fund for Teachers, a national leader in supporting PreK–12 educators, today announced its 2026 grant recipients—awarding $1.56 million to 337 teachers across the United States. This summer, these educators will embark on self-designed fellowships spanning…
March 12, 2026
The Current: February 2026

This issue of The Current includes: Ramadan Mubarak! History in Color Celebrating Our Fellows Read our February issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
February 02, 2026
The Current: January 2026

New Year, New FFT Fellows! (At least there will be on March 31.) The first step to naming our 26th cohort of grant recipients happened on January 22 when this year’s applicants hit “Submit” on their applications. This year, we received 931 applications from 49 states and the District of Columbia (where are you, Montana?)…
January 28, 2026
Fellows in the News, January 2026

We’re proud to celebrate the extraordinary educators in our Fund for Teachers community. Beyond designing bold, student-centered learning through their fellowships, many FFT Fellows continue to be recognized for their leadership and impact—earning honors such as Teacher of the Year, securing competitive grants, and being recognized by their districts and communities. The accomplishments below reflect not…
January 27, 2026
The Current: December 2025

Ending the Year with Appreciation Together, we turn the final page of the 2025 calendar, reflecting on a year that shaped our classrooms, organizations, and communities. We celebrate what we’ve learned and look ahead to the opportunities the new year will bring. At this time of year, we’re grateful for educators who continue to inspire…
December 01, 2025
The Current: November 2025

This Thanksgiving issue of The Current includes: Commonalities Among Indigenous Cultures Listen Now: Tilling the Soil Watch: 2026 Information Session Recording Read our November issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
November 03, 2025
The Current: October 2025

This issue of The Current includes: 2026 Application Resources Fellow in the News: Celebrating Dia de los Muertos Listen Now: Fund for Teachers the Podcast Read our October issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
October 08, 2025
The Current: September 2025

This issue of The Current includes: Fellow in the News: Natalie Yasmin Soto (’25) FFT Welcomes New Board Member 2026 Fellowship Grant Application Read our September issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
September 23, 2025
FFT Welcomes New Board Member

FUND FOR TEACHERS WELCOMES SHITAL C. SHAH TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS September 23, 2025 (Houston) – Fund for Teachers (FFT) – one of the nation’s largest investors in PreK–12 educators – is proud to announce the appointment of Shital C. Shah to its board of directors. With a distinguished career dedicated to advancing public education…
August 25, 2025
The Current: August 2025

This issue of The Current includes: Postcard from Japan Path is Made by Walking Fellows in the News Read our August issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
August 05, 2025
The Current: July 2025

This issue of The Current includes 2025 Fellow highlights to inspire your summer: Finding Your Path in History Looking Back to Move Forward A “Sign” It’s Fellow Season Read our July issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
July 25, 2025
FFT Fellows in the News: Lancaster Online

This story was originally published by Lancaster Online. Subscribe on their website, https://lancasteronline.com/site/subscribe. Lancaster elementary school teachers fish for knowledge in Japan this summer Meryl Li July 22, 2025 In a small fishing village situated along the eastern coast of Japan, a couple from Lancaster city, two elementary school teachers, wake up at 4:30 a.m….
June 30, 2025
The Current: June 2025

This issue of The Current includes 2025 Fellow highlights to inspire your summer: Embracing, Not Erasing, Vietnamese Heritage FFT Fellow in the News: Patty Taylor Get to Know Our Fellows Read our June issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
June 25, 2025
FFT Fellow in the News: Patty Taylor

This story was originally published by Post and Courier. Subscribe on their website, https://www.postandcourier.com/. Love of Nature Leads Rock Hill Teacher on Utah Trip to Research World’s Largest Living Organism Ian Davis-Leonard May 12, 2025 ROCK HILL — Stepping inside Patty Taylor’s second grade classroom feels a bit like walking outdoors. Paper pine trees line…
April 29, 2025
The Current: April 2025

This issue of The Current celebrates the announcement of our 2025 Fellows: 25th Anniversary Year The FFT Community Factor Fellow Feature: Life in Action Read our April issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
April 03, 2025
Fund for Teachers Announces 2025 Grant Recipients

$1.625 Million to Empower Educators with Global Learning Opportunities 357 prek-12 teachers will embark on unique learning expeditions in 79 countries HOUSTON, TX – Fund for Teachers, one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting preK-12 educators, is proud to announce its 2025 grant recipients. This summer, 357 teachers will leverage $1.625 million into experiential learning in 79 countries on 6 continents….
March 24, 2025
The Current: March 2025

This issue of The Current is focused on Women’s History Month: Making History More HERstory Leading While Learning Our Vote for National Teacher of the Year Read our March issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
February 19, 2025
The Current: February 2025

In celebration of Black History Month, this issue of the The Current highlights some the unique ways Fellows used Fund for Teachers grants to pursue aspects of Black history in nuanced ways. The Nexus of Cultures and Communities Music (& History) to Students’ Ears Experiencing History to Expand Knowledge Read our February issue, here. To receive…
January 30, 2025
The Current: January 2025

In this issue: What makes a good citizen? Cheetah-ing in Class Fellows Helping Fellows Read our January issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
December 18, 2024
The Current: December 2024

In this issue: Defining a “Followship” Affirming One’s Calling Online Learning Center Opinion: Closing the Ed Department is a Solution in Search of a Problem Read our December issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
November 14, 2024
The Current: November 2024

In this issue: Mark Your Calendar: Grant Applicant Events Take a Listen: Fund for Teachers The Podcast launches fifth season Blending Craft and Technology Read our November issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
October 24, 2024
FFT Fellow in the News: Yan Carlos Mejia

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters A Bronx teacher wanted better materials for English learners. He went to Latin America to find them. Amy Zimmer, Chalkbeat Oct 17, 2024 at 5:31pm EDT Yan Carlos Mejia sees himself in his students. Mejia, who teaches students learning English as…
October 17, 2024
The Current: October 2024

In this issue: Ready, set, apply! 2025 Grant Application Available Collaboration Across the Nation New Educator Advisory Council Members Named Read our October issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
October 01, 2024
Fund for Teachers Offers Teacher
Grants for Summer 2025

Prek-12 Teachers Can Apply for up to $10,000 for Self-Designed Fellowships HOUSTON – Fund for Teachers, one of the country’s largest investors in preK-12 teachers, today opens its 2025 grant cycle, inviting teachers with a minimum of three years classroom experience to design fellowships (anything/anywhere) that enrich their careers, support student success, and strengthen schools…
September 10, 2024
The Current: September 2024

In this issue: Heading Back to School Centering Student Experience New Partner Announced: Maxwell/Hanrahan Read our September issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
September 09, 2024
FFT Welcomes New Partnership with Maxwell/Hanrahan

Non-Profits Collaborate to Support Teachers’ Experiential Learning & Student Outcomes HOUSTON —Fund for Teachers, one of the country’s largest investors in preK-12 educators, announced a grant from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation to award fellowships focused on science and craft experiences for teachers working with underserved students or in rural school settings. The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation joins organizations…
July 18, 2024
The Current: July 2024

In this issue: Midsummer’s Teacher Dreams Summer Reading: The Great Gatsby Read our July issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
May 24, 2024
FFT Names New Board Chair

FUND FOR TEACHERS NAMES JONAS ZUCKERMAN CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD National Advocate for Equitable Education Moves into New Leadership Role May 24, 2024 (Houston) – Fund for Teachers, one of the country’s largest investors in preK-12 educators, has named Jonas Zuckerman as its new board chair. Having served as a Fund for Teachers board member…
May 03, 2024
The Current: May 2024

In this issue: Fellow Season Begins Innovation Circle Fellows Named FFT Names New Board Chair Read our May issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
April 10, 2024
The Current: April 2024

In this issue: Announcing our 2024 Fellows Innovation Circle Grant Deadline Donor Spotlight: Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Read our April issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
April 05, 2024
Fund for Teachers Awards $1.6 Million in Grants for Summer Fellowships

365 prek-12 teachers will pursue learning around the world to impact student engagement and success.  APRIL 5, 2024 (Houston) – Fund for Teachers, one of the country’s largest investors in preK-12 educators, has announced its 2024 grant recipients who will embark on self-designed expeditions this summer using $1.6 million in grants. These 365 teachers, FFT…
March 06, 2024
The Current: March 2024

In this issue: Women’s History Month Spies Like Us Donor Spotlight: Dalio Education Read our March issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
February 07, 2024
The Current: February 2024

In this issue:  Introducing: The Current Celebrating Black History Month Lunar New Year Read our inaugural issue, here. To receive the latest issue of The Current in your inbox, subscribe here.
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‘Follow the Learning’ Fellows Named

May 28, 2026 — Dottie Engler ‘Follow the Learning Fellowship’ 2026 Recipients NamedJennifer Li and Amanda Savage, Henderson K-12 Inclusion School, Boston Public Schools Each year, Fund for Teachers names its “Follow the Learning” Fellow(s) in honor of longtime Board member and advocate Dottie Engler. Throughout her distinguished career, Dottie served as Director of Special...

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Science Super Stars

Earlier this month, the National Science Teachers Association hosted its annual conference in Anaheim, CA. In addition to keynote speakers and breakout sessions (one of which was hosted by FFT Fellows Matt Holden and Becky Maynard about their fellowship), special recognition was given to exemplary educators in several categories. And THREE FFT Fellows were among...

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Talk About a Revolution

Here’s a word association game: when you read “revolution,” what comes to mind? For students of Crystal Lamb and Jessica Freed, “Vietnam,” “Cambodia” and “China” didn’t. In fact, scores on their Global History state exam revealed an average of just 34% of students correctly answered questions related to these countries. “In analyzing these results, we...

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History in Color

The Fellow team of Rayna Walters, Garrett Griffin and Kurt Zimmerman (New Haven, CT) used a $10,000 Fund for Teachers grant to deepen their scholarship and student conversations about the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. But as they shared in this NPR interview, the slave trade is only a facet of Black history, not its genesis. And...

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Celebrating Our Fellows

SPRING 2026 UPDATE  Spring ushers in a season of recognition for educators, which gives us the opportunity to do a little humble bragging by saying “We knew them first.” Join us in celebrating these FFT Fellows and, please, let us know about exciting updates in your careers and classrooms! 

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Ramadan Mubarak

As 1.8 billion people across the globe are celebrating Ramadan, students at Lincoln Elementary in Norman, OK recently learned about the celebration from their fellow students who also are Muslim. Their teacher, Diane Wood, informed and inspired their presentation using experiences from her Fund for Teachers fellowship last summer.   “My fellowship to Spain and Morocco helped me to develop...

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So That Others May Learn

Last summer with a Fund for Teaches grant, Dr. Shelina Warren and four peers from Dunbar High School in Washington DC embarked on a journey across five states in the Deep South to more effectively teach complex and accurate historical narratives about race, civil rights, and the African American experience. In advance of Martin Luther King Day, we reached out to Shelina to learn more...

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Reaching Out to Rural Teachers

After 25 years of investing in educators—totaling $39 million in fellowships—one thing has become clear: Our grant recipients are our strongest ambassadors. When a teacher encourages a fellow teacher to apply, it just hits differently.  This holds especially true for our Rural Teacher initiative*. Inspired by our recent work to expand awareness of Fund for...

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Commonalities Among Indigenous Cultures

Four Native American tribes once inhabited the territory that now comprises Tulsa, OK, where students of Rachel Langley and Jesse Wren attend school. Additionally, one-third of their students are descendants of Tribal Peoples. But how does one teach elementary students about complex topics such as land rights and Tribal sovereignty? Jesse and Rachel chose to...

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Postcard from Japan

Many teachers are already into their first weeks of school; however, FFT Fellow Prince Johnson (Food and Finance High School – New York, NY) is still being a student on his fellowship in Japan. We caught up with him mid-fellowship to hear about how he is observing Tokyo’s urbanization, Kyoto’s cultural landscapes, and Hiroshima’s history...

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