New Mexico Innovation Change Agent Application 2024-25

Teachers are more likely to remain in schools where they have opportunities to grow. Teachers are too often isolated, working in silos without the tools or opportunities to collaborate to address problems of practice. Because of the demanding nature of their roles, principals often do not have the time or bandwidth to solve every issue in their buildings. Empowering teachers as leaders can transform schools, allowing them to tackle challenges and address students' needs more effectively.

Teach Plus has over a decade of experience in activating teachers to serve as leaders with confidence and a hefty toolbox equipped with skill and knowledge needed to effectively lead others in enhancing learning outcomes for all students. Launched in 2022, Teach Plus’s Innovation in Education work focuses on holistically understanding our students and communities and listening to the teachers who serve them on a daily basis, driving student outcomes forward. Through our Innovation work and Teacher Network Change Agent programming, we identify best practices as well as high quality, effective teacher leaders to replicate proven teaching and learning practices/strategies widely. You may read last year's report here.

Teach Plus believes that you can play a critical role in this work. As a teacher leader in our 12-month New Mexico Innovation Change Agent Program, you will have the opportunity to lead a collaborative team of your peers, in partnership with your principal, in developing customized and school-based solutions to the needs of your learners. Teach Plus has over a decade of experience in activating teachers to serve as leaders and will build your skills to grow and exercise your leadership to facilitate school-based change. Through the New Mexico Change Agent Network, you will examine data to identify the needs of your school and students, develop a project to address those and chart a path forward to bring about change through continuous improvement.

Successful applicants will receive a $2,000 leadership stipend, a $500 implementation grant toward their project, and leadership coaching as they implement their change efforts. Applicants must have at least two years of teaching experience.

*If you click Save my progress and resume later, you will be asked to enter your email and to choose a password. You will receive an email with a link to continue your application.

My Principal's Contact Information:

Principal's First Name

Last Name

Principal's Email Address

Teacher Leader Personal Information

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

City

State

Zip

Preferred Email Address Type

To ensure you receive Teach Plus communications promptly, we strongly recommend using a personal email address.

Work/School Email

Personal Email

Alternate Email

Primary Phone

Mobile Phone

Gender Identity

If "Identity not listed" is selected, please specify

What pronouns do you use? For example: They/Them, She/Her, He/Him

Ethnicity

Select all that apply. To select multiple responses on a PC hold "Ctrl", on a Mac hold the Command key (next to the space bar).

Tribal Affiliation (Optional):

If "Ethnicity not listed" is selected, please specify

Do you identify as a person of color?

(i.e., Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or of other global majority race or ethnicity)

Would you like to receive the Teach Plus Newsletter?

Teach Plus Blog (highlighting teacher voice)

News Blast (weekly)

Teach Plus New Mexico Newsletter

Teaching Information

Teaching Status

If "Other" is selected as Teaching Status, please explain

Name of the school where you currently teach

Please write out the complete name.

School Address

City where you currently teach

State

Zip

District

School Type

If "Other" is selected as School Type, please explain

What grade(s) are you currently teaching?

Select all that apply. To select multiple responses on a PC hold "Ctrl", on a Mac hold the Command key (next to space bar)

What is/are the primary subject(s) you are currently teaching?

Select all that apply. To select multiple responses on a PC hold "Ctrl", on a Mac hold the Command key (next to space bar)

If "Other" is selected, please explain

Years of teaching experience you have completed (including this school-year)

Years of teaching experience you have completed in your current district (including this school-year)

How did you hear about this opportunity?

Please specify how you heard.

Where did you receive the majority of your teacher training prior to entering the classroom?

Please Specify (Teacher Training "Other")

Have you been awarded State Teacher of the Year?

For which State?

Please provide the year(s) you were State Teacher of the Year.

*If you click Save my progress and resume later, you will be asked to enter your email and to choose a password. You will receive an email with a link to continue your application.

Essay Questions

For the questions below, we are offering two options for completing them:

Complete them in written format in space provided below.
Submit a video response to each of the questions. If you choose this option, share a link to your video in the open response box.

Note: Both options will be evaluated by the same standards and there are no advantages to any format. We are trying to make this application as accessible as possible to all applicants.

1. Tell us about a time that students in your class were struggling. What was the challenge and how did you know it was an issue? How did you address these challenges? Please discuss how you used student data to set learning goals and inform your instruction, created a plan for your students to attain their goals, and how you assessed their progress. (250-500 words / 3-6 minutes)

2. Write about a time when you took on a leadership role in a group or on a project (formal or informal) in your school building and had to lead or influence other adults. Describe the purpose of your leadership role, your experience working with adults (especially if you faced resistance, how did you work to overcome it and build buy-in), and the influence or impact of your leadership on others. (250-500 words / 3-6 minutes)

3. Describe the problem of practice in your school/district that you and your principal want to address and how it aligns to one of the NM Innovation in Education focus categories. (500-800 words / 5-6 minutes) They are:

• Innovations in teaching early literacy and math: Instructional practices focused on student-centered, individualized instruction designed to increase student engagement and outcomes in early literacy and math.

• Innovative support for underserved student groups: Systems focused on providing high-quality support and connected to improved outcomes for underserved student groups including: students experiencing homelessness, in foster care, and students with disabilities. (Note: these three groups have the lowest graduation rate.)

• Innovations to increase high school graduation rate: Practices that move beyond expected high school experiences, integrate unique programs or inputs, and meet the individual needs of students to increase the graduation rates and post secondary success.

4. Explain how this work fits into your school’s/district’s priorities and strategic plan. What other teachers will benefit from addressing this issue? What groups of students will it impact? What teachers will be a part of your team? How will addressing this issue improve student learning or outcomes? What content knowledge will you need to address this problem? If there are gaps in your knowledge, please identify them and propose solutions. (250-500 words / 3-6 minutes)

5. Would you be able to implement change to address the challenge or barrier described above within a school year's time (Sept. 2024 - Sept. 2025)? (250 words / 1-3 minutes)

6. Which of the following topics does your project most closely align?

Please share any supporting documents related to your experiences, informal and formal leadership experience, and your accomplishments make you a great candidate for the fellowship. Documents could be, but not limited to: resume, certificates, or list of recognitions. Please combine all documents into a single file as a pdf or docx for submission.

If you choose to submit a resume among your documents, here are some resources to help you build this useful professional tool:

Article on what to include in your resume (new teachers vs. those with many years experience)

ResumeGenius - a free on-line resume builder

Google Docs Resume Templates

Microsoft Word Resume Templates

Please upload your supporting documents here:

If advanced to the next round, you will be invited to a virtual interview between August 12-21st. We will be sending you an email to schedule that appointment.

Thank you for your interest in the Teach Plus New Mexico Change Agent Network.

*If you click Save my progress and resume later, you will be asked to enter your email and to choose a password. You will receive an email with a link to continue your application.