JerseyCAN, the only statewide advocacy organization in New Jersey committed to ensuring access to high-quality public schools for every child, regardless of zip code, cultural background, and socioeconomic status, announced today that it has formally opened enrollment for the 7th year of its statewide Fellowship programs – JerseyCAN’s Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship.

JerseyCAN developed each competitive fellowship to foster statewide dialogue and change in education policy, strengthen the voices of the three key constituencies within the state’s education decision-making landscape, and cultivate a strong, connected network of education advocates across New Jersey.  Since its inception, the JerseyCAN fellowship program has helped develop over 100 leaders across the state actively involved in education policy decisions and activism.  After multiple successful years with its Teacher and Parent Fellowships, JerseyCAN expanded last year to reach students with its newly created JerseyCAN Student Civic Leaders Fellowship.  The addition was led in partnership with Samantha Shane, a 2022–23 JerseyCAN Teacher Fellow, who advocated for the third student-focused program to empower public school students by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become effective advocates for issues that directly impact them and their peers. 

“JerseyCAN’s fellowship programs are one of our most impactful initiatives and have been instrumental in building an army of advocates to serve education policy debates throughout the Garden State,” stated Paula White, Executive Director, JerseyCAN. “What has been on display year after year is the significant contribution our fellows have had toward advancing New Jersey’s progress and development in educating children and improving our public schools. We passionately believe that parents, teachers, and students must have a strong voice and a seat at the table when it comes to our state’s educational choices and defining the priorities that directly impact their lives. JerseyCAN has made great efforts to handcraft a program that recruits exceptional cohorts of community members and trains fellows to become leaders in education policy, helping each create policy plans that can positively shape New Jersey’s future.”

“Regardless of ideology or Party affiliation, we all can agree that New Jersey needs more teachers, parents, and students involved in the work we do at the local and state level, and the JerseyCAN’s fellowship program has become the model on how to get more people engaged.  Over the years, this program has become well known throughout the Garden State, helped create true education influencers, and started district-level initiatives that have fostered necessary positive change.  The Fellowship program is not geared to the policy expert – this is for those who want to develop their skills, strengthen their voice, and care deeply about New Jersey’s future.  This is a great program, and I have been proud to have supported and worked with past Fellows in my Legislative District and urge every parent or teacher available to consider applying,” stated Assemblywoman, Vice-Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, and Superintendent of the East Newark School District Dr. Rosaura “Rosy” Bagolie 

“I’ve seen firsthand how JerseyCAN’s fellowship programs equip teachers and parents with the knowledge, relationships, and advocacy skills to turn their experiences into meaningful action. By helping those closest to students better understand our education system, build strong networks, and bring their perspectives to key policy conversations, these fellowships are developing leaders who can help drive positive change for students and schools across New Jersey,” Giana Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Camden Education Fund

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES:

• Applications for each JerseyCAN Fellowship are available HERE.

• Participants in each fellowship meet each month virtually during designated non-work times throughout the school year to discuss the latest policy trends and issues in New Jersey education; deepen their understanding of the state’s education policy by expanding their knowledge of local, state, and national governance; and develop strong engagement and advocacy skills.  Both fellowships also leverage JerseyCAN’s strong relationships with elected officials in Trenton and across the state, offering multiple opportunities to network and connect with influential educational stakeholders.

• In addition to a support network and enriching professional learning opportunities, each fellow will receive a $3,000 stipend for participating in the program. To receive this stipend, fellows are expected to attend and engage thoughtfully in all in-person and virtual convenings, and to put their learning into practice by completing at least one advocacy goal or milestone.

• Over the years, JerseyCAN fellows have actively shaped education policy at both the state and local levels, including drafting legislation in Trenton, serving on NJDOE advisory committees, publishing op-eds in prominent outlets, and leading targeted initiatives to advance meaningful change in their school communities.   As part of the fellowship, each participant conceptualizes and leads a personal project addressing a policy issue aligned with their passions and interests.  Fellowship participants have led efforts to address teacher certification barriers, empower STEM teachers to foster greater collaboration statewide, develop multigenerational literacy mentorship programs, create actions and initiatives to support parents navigating the state’s complex education systems for their children, and launch programs to support first-generation college students.

• Dr. Chelsea Collins and Dr. Scott Oswald lead the JerseyCAN fellowship programs.  Dr. Collins was named the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) New Jersey State Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016. In addition to once serving as a Language Arts teacher at Woodstown Middle School, she currently serves as an education consultant to the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association’s NJ Leadership Academy, NJ Tutoring Corps, Penn Graduate School of Education, Learning Forward, and JerseyCAN. Dr. Oswald is the Executive Director of Programs for NJ Tutoring Corps and an Adjunct Faculty member at Rowan University and Stockton University. Dr. Oswald also works with a2z Equity, coaching school staff and leaders in multiple New Jersey school districts around equity issues, and works with the Rowan School Regionalization Institute to study the potential regionalization of school districts throughout New Jersey.

• To apply, candidates must be open to JerseyCAN’s Mission and Vision, have a minimum of two years of experience teaching in New Jersey’s schools OR be the parent of a New Jersey student, commit to attending all convenings listed in the application, and be passionate about leading state or local advocacy work in one or more of this year’s focus areas.  Preference will be given to early applicants. Candidates under consideration will be contacted for an interview via Zoom. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.