THE FELLOWSHIP
A CRITICAL NEED
To transform K-12 public education systems across the country, systems leaders need to be prepared, developed, and supported to lead, innovate, and create lasting impact.
Yet many systems leaders find that little development, training, and support is available once they reach the highest levels of leadership.
The Catalyst Fellowship is a year-long learning experience for systems leaders and school leaders who wish to one day move into systems leadership roles. We provide rigorous professional development through seminars, online learning modules, community building, and coaching. Our differentiated approach for every fellow allows for timely and relevant learning for immediate application and practice.
A PLACE FOR LEADERS
A PROVEN
PROCESS
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A core part of the Fellowship experience is applied learning. Fellows identify a project or challenge in their district, and are equipped with the skills and resources to tackle it using Cambiar’s CREATE framework - an inclusive, equitable process that crafts customized, sustainable community-driven solutions to systemic challenges.
In addition to applying their learning during the Fellowship, fellows leave with this skill set that can then be applied to other challenges and problems to magnify the impact on their system.
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Fellows participate in multiple virtual and in-person seminars focused on leading systems across the country. During the Learning Experiences, fellows are exposed to key content on strategy, innovation, instructional excellence, and equity.
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Given the high stakes and political complexity of public education, school systems leadership can be a grueling, lonely place, leading to high burnout and turnover rates. The Fellowship’s cohort-based learning model focuses deeply on building the community and support network of like-minded individuals necessary for a healthy, sustainable career in systems leadership. We have found that fellows gain significant strength and momentum by coming together as a community to learn together, support one another, network, and share resources.
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Fellows are paired with a Cambiar Catalyst team member who serves as their primary coach, providing them monthly coaching sessions to overcome evolving leadership and systems challenges. The coaching and feedback in these sessions, combined with the ongoing check-ins and feedback given to fellows in assignments, progress monitoring calls, and manager check-ins result in a robust feedback cycle for the fellow.
Catalyst accepts experienced educators with a strong commitment to equity, academic achievement, and innovation, and a deep belief that systems must be reimagined to create the transformational change needed for students nationally.
Ideally, the applicant will be in a systems-level role of significant responsibility.
There is no minimum years of experience required. The average years of work experience for fellows is 14 years.
ABOUT CATALYST FELLOWS
WHAT ARE YOU A CATALYST FOR?
MEET OUR CURRENT AND FORMER FELLOWS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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We are looking for experienced educators with a strong commitment to equity, academic achievement, and innovation, and a deep belief that systems must be reimagined to create the transformational change needed for students nationally.
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Successful candidates must demonstrate the following:
Track record of demonstrated, measurable positive impact on students
Clearly articulated vision and motivation for school systems leadership
Proven ability to lead and manage adults
Ideally, the applicant will be in a systems-level role of significant responsibility.
There is no minimum years of experience required. The average years of work experience for fellows is 14 years.
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There is a multi-stage selection process. Individuals who wish to be considered for admission should begin by submitting an application online. The initial application should take an estimated 15 minutes to complete.
The full application process includes the following steps:
Round 1: Application (15 min)
Round 2: One Way Interview (up to 60 min)
Round 3: Virtual Interview (45 min) and Performance Assessment (60 min)
Round 4: Reference Check (30 min)
Round 5: Final Selection at ASU+GSV Summit Selection Event or Virtual Interview
Round 6: Final Notification
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To participate in this year-long program, the cost is $15,000. Fellows are encouraged to secure manager approval for the program and seek sponsorship from their school systems. Systems can typically provide financial support through professional development funding. If managers and systems are notified early enough, most are open to making this investment in their talent. Other supports and additional coaching by external coaches can also be arranged for an additional cost.
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The Fellowship is a year-long commitment. The 2025 Cohort will begin in the summer of 2025 and concludes in summer 2026.
The learning experiences offered as part of the Fellowship are critical to the depth and breadth of Fellow development. As such, it is crucial and mandatory for all participants accepting a spot in the 2025-2026 cohort are available for and hold the following dates:
Learning Experience #1: July 14-18, 2025
Learning Experience #2: September 15-19, 2025 (in-person, location TBD)
Learning Experience #3: November 10-14, 2025
Learning Experience #4: January 19-23, 2026
Learning Experience #5: March 23-27, 2026
Learning Experience #6: June 15-19, 2026 (in-person, location TBD)
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Fellows work in districts, state education agencies, charter school networks, and education organizations nationally - ranging in size from a few hundred enrolled students to 1.1 million. An overview of our state, district, and charter partners can be found here.
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We prioritize fit and potential for impact in our application process. Our final applicant pool will determine the final size of the cohort.
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There are three primary areas of learning: innovative strategy, instructional excellence, and equity. As part of innovative strategy, fellows will use Cambiar’s CREATE framework to design an executable strategy to improve student achievement and instruction. Fellows will spend time understanding the key levers within instructional excellence necessary to make instructional impact within a system (e.g., what makes a high-quality curriculum, instructional standards). To build the skills necessary to transform school systems, fellows explore equity deeply, understanding how many different types of inequities are perpetuated through the public education system. All learning is always done through the lens of racial equity, in order to prioritize the need for systems to address the institutional racism that plagues the communities they serve.
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Yes, if you have applied before, you are eligible to apply again. Should you have any questions about your candidacy, you are encouraged to email us.
Still have questions? Email us.