Educators Cohort

Advancing civic learning in schools and communities

A civic education fellowship for educators to advance civic learning in their schools and communities.

Providing professional learning, individual support, and a network of peers, the Educators Cohort brings together educators from schools and organizations rooted in a faith tradition who are committed to exploring the unique possibilities of civic learning in the context of communities of faith.

Over the course of the year, participants develop their knowledge and skills as civic educators and introduce new approaches in their educational settings.

Program Components

Institutes + Virtual Follow-Up Sessions

Participants convene at in-person Institutes and virtually throughout the school year 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.

Pedagogical Coaching

Participants engage in five coaching sessions throughout the school year with Civic Spirit's coaching team.

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.

Civic Spirit Project

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. At our closing gathering, educators present the design, outcome, and reflections of their work.

Program Details

Who is this for?

The Educators Cohort is designed for small teams of 2-3 teachers and administrators (e.g. principals, department chairs, student life directors) from 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.

We currently offer a National Cohort as well as regional cohorts in Chicago and Maryland. Learn more about each cohort at the links below:

National Educators Cohort

Chicago Educators Cohort

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:

  • Text-based Seminars: Interactive learning with scholars of American history and political science on foundational American texts and ideals
  • Pedagogical Workshops on civic education approaches including: integrating primary sources and artifacts into instruction, marking civic holidays meaningfully, facilitating dialogue on controversial topics, teaching media literacy, and supporting students to develop civic projects in their communities
  • Community of Practice: Collaborative opportunities for educators to share teaching strategies, resources, and ideas with one another

How do I apply?

Applications are currently closed for our National and Chicago Educators Cohort.

To apply for our Maryland Educators Cohort, click here.

For more information on the National and Chicago Educators Cohort, contact Audi Hecht, Sr. Director of Education and Innovation, at audi@civicspirit.org.

For more information on the Maryland Educators Cohort, contact Norma Johnson, Director of Engagement, at norma@civicspirit.org.

 

 

How much does it cost?

With generous support from funders, the Educators Cohort is fully subsidized and there is no fee to participate. Travel subsidies and a $1,000 participation stipend are provided to fellows.

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.

What else will my school gain from participating?

Participating schools have the opportunity to:

  1. Form a Civic Spirit Club
  2. Engage in joint student programming with other schools, such as Civic Spirit Day
  3. Receive a discounted rate on department or faculty-wide Professional Development Workshops

"Civic Spirit is an amazing opportunity for educators to deepen their sense of civic belonging and responsibility as well as awareness of how to teach civics soulfully and responsibly. As a participant, I am able to see myself so much more as a part of history and understand my classroom as an important link in the ever-evolving chain of civic duty."

-Dorielle Parker, Atlanta Jewish Academy, Atlanta, GA (2023-24 EC)

"The Summer Institute so thoughtfully planned, rich with resources, and full of meaningful activities that left me both inspired and energized. I learned so much and deeply appreciate the time, care, and passion that clearly went into making the experience so impactful. I’m especially excited to bring conversations around civic engagement, responsibilities, and opportunities into my curriculum this year."

-Tate Schreiber, Sinai Akiba Academy, Los Angeles, CA (2025-26 EC)