Charting a Course Forward – Part II

Last week, we shared about The Ramsden Project, our network of Fund for Teachers Fellows across the world who are bringing their bold discoveries into their classroom and communities. This community will provide continual resources beyond a teacher’s summer learning experience and lift up their voice as a collective of trusted professionals who can lead their own professional growth and make the best decisions for students’ learning.​ Today, we’re going a little deeper into what this network represents. In short, it’s teacher leadership at the highest level.

We are continuing to construct aspects of The Ramsden Project that will add the most value for our Fellows. The pandemic and the fact that we didn’t have Fellows learning around the world this summer provided an opportunity to explore the possibilities more diligently. A Fellow Educator Advisory Council agreed to serve as ambassadors for our entire cohort and they, along with thought leaders in education and philanthropy, inform each new aspect of The Ramsden Project, including:

• A Mentor Program that matched each 2020 Fellow with one who has gone before them to maximize fellowship learning and support instructional innovation upon the return to the classroom.
• A Circles Program that organizes Fellows around topics they deem most relevant. Led by Fellows for Fellows, current Circles are collaborating about Virtual Teaching and Learning, Equity & Justice and National Board Certification.
• Convenings of Fellows in geographically-concentrated areas (when appropriate per the pandemic)

Ultimately, The Ramsden Project falls in line with the same mission Fund for Teachers has followed for 20 years:

[minti_blockquote]Strengthening instruction by investing in outstanding teachers’ self-determined professional growth and development in order to support student success, enrich their own practice, and strengthen their schools and communities.[/minti_blockquote]

How we talk about these teachers’ will pivot slightly to demonstrate ways in which they, and our organization ignite teacher leadership both through their fellowship and membership in The Ramsden Project, by:

• Leading the Way
• Seeking Opportunities
• Embracing Risk
• Turning Ideas into Action
• Discovering Resources, and
• Collaborating to Build Solutions

“Fund for Teachers is nationally unique in its motivation to trust teachers to know what they and their students need to achieve,” said Liza Eaton, director of The Ramsden Project. “As a Fellow myself, I experienced the validation this organization provided me in the form of a grant. Now, we’re making sure that Fellows don’t lose that initial sense of empowerment and possibilities the fellowship provides.”

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Read the Charter that guides describes the caliber of teachers The Ramsden Project strives to serve.