Fund for Teachers Fellows

Funder: Public Education Foundation (PEF) in partnership with Fund for Teachers (FFT)

Program Description: Grants for self-designed summer fellowships that allow preK-12 teachers to pursue learning experiences they design in response to the needs of their students. The program empowers educators as professionals, role models, explorers, and scholars.

Geographic Scope: Hamilton County Schools, Tennessee

Eligibility:

• PreK-12 teachers employed by Hamilton County Schools
• Teachers compete within their local community rather than national pool, increasing award chances

Focus Areas:

• Self-designed professional learning experiences
• International and domestic travel for educational enrichment
• Language learning and cultural immersion
• Subject matter deepening (STEM, arts, humanities, etc.)
• Innovations to enhance student learning and engagement
• Building global perspectives for students

Award Details:

• 14 consecutive years of partnership between PEF and FFT
• Nationally, FFT has invested over $39 million in 10,225 teachers since 2001
• In Hamilton County alone, 231 teachers have been awarded fellowships as of 2025
• Typical fellowship size varies by project; some are co-funded by additional foundations (e.g., Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation)

Program Background:

• Fund for Teachers supports teachers' pursuit of learning experiences that impact their practice, students, and school communities
• PEF partnership makes opportunities more accessible to local educators
• Examples of 2025 Fellows' projects include: study in Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Italy, London, and across the United States
• Projects have included language instruction enrichment, environmental science field research, art therapy training, historical research, and sustainable development studies

Contact:

• Public Education Foundation (PEF)
• Phone: 423.265.9403
• Email: smoore@pefchattanooga.org
• Address: 1651 S. Holtzclaw Ave Suite 201, Chattanooga, TN 37404
• Website: fundforteachers.org

Application Process

The content provided does not include detailed step-by-step application instructions, required materials, submission formats, or narrative questions for the Fund for Teachers Fellows program.

Note: For 2025, a celebration dinner and orientation for Fellows was scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th, 2025. Applicants should contact PEF directly or visit fundforteachers.org for current application procedures, deadlines, and requirements.