Design transformative civic learning for the next generation
A civic education fellowship for educators from faith-based schools in Chicagoland
Providing professional learning, individual support, and a network of peers, the Chicago Educators Cohort brings together teachers and school leaders who are interested in strengthening civic education in their school communities.
Over the course of the program, fellows develop their knowledge and skills as civic educators and introduce new approaches in their educational settings.
Participants convene in-person and virtually to study foundational texts and gain new tools to bring back to the classroom.
Sessions include text-based seminars with leading scholars, interactive workshops on teaching civic skills, goal setting and curriculum planning, and discussion exploring the intersection of religion and civic life.
Participants engage in five coaching sessions throughout the school year with Civic Spirit's education staff.
Coaching sessions focus on supporting participants in articulating their civic education goals, applying new content and pedagogies, identifying resources and partnerships, and cultivating meaningful civic learning experiences.
Participants develop and implement a Civic Spirit Project, aligned to their school’s mission and civic education goals.
The Project might be a new framework for learning, a new or updated curricular unit, a school wide program, or student club. Fellows will have an opportunity to present the design, outcome, and reflections of their work at the end of the program.
Who is this for?
The Chicago Educators Cohort is designed for small teams of 2-3 teachers and administrators (e.g. principals, department chairs, student life directors) from Chicagoland schools that are rooted in a faith tradition and work with middle or high school students. We encourage educators from across disciplines (e.g. history, social studies, literature, religious studies) to apply.
When are the gatherings?
2026-27 Fellowship Dates:
What are the participation expectations?
All fellows are expected to attend the Summer and Fall Institutes, five coaching sessions, four virtual Learning Gatherings, and present their Civic Spirit Project at the Closing Gathering. You can see examples of Civic Spirit Projects in last year’s Yearbook.
Fellows will be expected to complete readings in advance of the Institutes.
One member of the school leadership team is expected to attend a 45 minute School Leadership Orientation (virtual), and attend two 45 minute Leadership Roundtables (virtual) during the school year.
What is Civic Spirit's approach to civic education?
Civic Spirit’s multi-disciplinary approach seeks to foster civic belonging, democratic fluency, and urgent civic skills in students who are coming of age while navigating our complex civic and political life. You can read more about our approach here.
What will I learn in the Educators Cohort?
Sessions at the Institutes and throughout the school year focus on:
How do I apply?
Applications are currently closed for the 2026-27 Cohort.
For more information, contact Audi Hecht, Sr. Director of Education and Innovation, at audi@civicspirit.org.
How much does it cost?
With generous support from funders, the Chicago Educators Cohort is fully subsidized and there is no fee to participate. Each fellow will receive a stipend of $1000 upon completion of the yearlong program. A travel subsidy of up to $200 is provided for attendance at the Institutes.
Who teaches in the Educators Cohort?
The Educators Cohort is facilitated by cross-disciplinary scholars, facilitators, and Civic Spirit staff. Faculty bios from previous Institutes can be found here.
The Summer and Fall Institutes are run in partnership with the Jack Miller Center.
What else will my school gain from participating?
Participating schools have the opportunity to: