NCTE LeaderShift Initiative
NCTE Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Awards

Purpose: To support early career (first five years in a paid teaching position) teachers of color who are willing to take part in a three-day summer leadership development conference that helps prepare them to carry out a group or individual leadership project in literacy education.

Support level: 
• Programmatic—a three-day retreat meeting with other early-career literacy educators of color, NCTE leaders, and state level leaders. During this time together, you will learn more about trends in our professional community, leadership strategies, and NCTE. You will have time and assistance in designing a leadership project that can benefit your school and/or our wider network of literacy educators. You will receive advice and support throughout the term of your project and will be recognized for your accomplishments as the project comes to fruition.

• Financial-- Round-trip airfare, three nights lodging, and complimentary registration for the NCTE Leadership Development Institute (June 21 – 24, 2008, Milwaukee, WI). Ongoing support through the interpersonal network developed at the meeting.

Eligibility: Any Pre K – university level literacy educator of color who is in the first five years of a paid teaching career and who aspires to build a career as a literacy educator.

Application: To apply provide the information requested below and submit it to NCTE electronically no later than April 1. You should be notified of your award status no later than May 1. Note: you must be an NCTE member at the time you accept the award (annual membership fee: $40)

• A cover page that includes your name, work and home telephone numbers and addresses, email address, a brief profile of your current school and students, and a brief teaching history (when and where you have taught)

• A short statement (500 - 700 words) describing your ambitions as a literacy educator, the kinds of projects or professional leadership work in which you are interested in participating, and how your experiences at the leadership development institute could strengthen your career as an educator.
 
• A letter from a colleague who is familiar with your professional work that attests to your accomplishments and potential as a literacy educator.

Timeline: Complete applications with supporting materials must be emailed to the NCTE office () no later than April 1. Up to ten candidates will be selected and all applicants will be notified no later than May 1, 2008 so that they can make plans to attend the institute in late June.