Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership

North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives is proud to partner with the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State University to connect local teachers with electric cooperatives, and tie lessons taught in the classroom with real-world skills needed in the workforce.

North Carolina electric cooperatives have sponsored and hosted 13 Kenan Fellows since 2014. These year-long fellowships are aimed at equipping teachers to help students see real-world relevance in their lessons and be prepared for the future through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Educators spend three weeks during the summer at a host electric cooperative, where they learn about the cooperative business model, and spend time in the field and in the office experiencing job functions that are necessary for providing safe, reliable electricity to co-op members. They are able to connect these skills with the lessons they teach students, and develop a classroom project that will be implemented during the school year. Fellows are also given multiple opportunities for professional development throughout their fellowship year.

“The program’s focus on real-world professional learning shows educators what the science and math they teach in the classroom looks like in practice,” said Dr. Elaine Franklin, director of the Kenan Fellows Program. “It also provides educators with knowledge of local career opportunities available to students and strengthens collaboration with industry. This is especially important in rural communities.”

For more information about the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, visit kenanfellows.org.