About the fellowship
The Carnegie Foundation has been pioneering an approach to school improvement using the tools of Improvement Science within Networked Improvement Communities. This new approach to research and development within education has the promise to reach unprecedented outcomes and address our most intractable problems. The Networked Improvement Fellowship is a unique opportunity to develop the skills that support networked improvement science with guidance from Carnegie staff engaged in addressing complex educational problems. The Fellowship is open to applicants who are interested in enhancing their education careers by learning and applying Improvement Science approaches and methodologies within Networked Improvement Communities.
The Fellowship is two years in length, salaried, and multiple fellowships will be offered.
Fellows will engage in an intense program that combines training and practical experience. This will include a mix of improvement science, network initiation and development, and facilitation skill development. The fellowship consists of an intensive clinical apprenticeship and participation in a supportive learning-to-improve community. Fellows will receive training in the use of the tools and methodologies of Improvement Science and have extended opportunities over time to develop expertise in working with groups to define, manage, and execute improvement projects.
IDEAL APPLICANTS
Ideal applicants are experienced educators, emerging school and district leaders, community leaders, and youth-serving education professionals interested in learning and applying the concepts of Networked Improvement Communities and Improvement Science to solve some of the most pressing problems in education. Applicants should have demonstrated excellence in teaching, coaching, and/or engaging professional colleagues as learners in collective enterprise. They should be analytical, pragmatic, and experienced in the use of data and actionable knowledge for continuous improvement.
We are looking for candidates who are curious and avid learners, and have interest in utilizing systems thinking, disciplined inquiry, measurement, and data in service of leading and facilitating collaborative efforts to make change in the interest of improvement. This combination of professional experiences, interpersonal skills and inquiry dispositions are critical to development as Networked Improvement coaches and leaders. Since the Fellows will support both current and future improvement efforts, candidates whose professional work has focused on high leverage educational problems such as early literacy, enhancing the development and support of new teachers, or mathematics in the intermediate grades are particularly encouraged to apply.
EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
- An advanced degree in education or a related field is required.
- At least five years of professional experience engaged in any combination of teaching, coaching, or school or other educational leadership.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- A commitment to the Carnegie Foundation’s mission, ongoing work in improvement science carried out in networks, and willingness to take on the challenge of improving educational outcomes for underserved students.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage workflow, handle multiple tasks and projects, and meet competing deadlines.
- Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with diverse audiences.
- Exceptional ability to work in highly collaborative contexts and promote and support collaboration among colleagues and partners.
- Ability to take initiative, approach challenges with an improvement mindset, and work collaboratively.
- Ability to skillfully build the capacity in professionals to lead, innovate, and collaborate in the conduct of improvement work.
LOCATION
We anticipate that Fellows will be based at the Carnegie Foundation in Stanford, California. However, there is particular interest to embed Fellows in programs and projects where the Foundation has ongoing work (currently Tennessee and California). Frequent travel to regions where the Foundation has ongoing work is expected.
How to Apply
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Start dates are flexible. However, we expect the Fellowship to start no later than March 2017.
Please submit the following to resumes@carnegiefoundation.org and indicate Networked Improvement Fellowship in the subject line of your email:
- Your resume
- A letter of interest
- A work sample (e.g., publications, reports, teacher professional development presentations or trainings, curricula)
For more information click "Further official information" below.