ResearchILD, under the direction of Dr. Lynn Meltzer, is a pioneer in the field of executive function strategy instruction. Our mission is to empower ALL students to learn how to learn and to promote persistence and resilience through executive function strategies that build academic and life success.
Executive function represents a powerful tool for developing equitable and anti-racist educational systems. Through our longstanding work in underserved communities, our fellowships to educators in impoverished schools in Africa, and our partnership with the Boston Public Schools over the past ten years, we have worked closely with teachers and administrators to integrate executive function strategy instruction into project-based learning with an emphasis on student and community empowerment.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND EQUITY: EXPANDING OUR REACH
All educators play a crucial role in counteracting systemic racism and developing new and equitable approaches that support the success of every student. Now in its fourth year, the EF and Equity Fellowship brings together educators from across the US to explore how schools are addressing students’ executive function needs through an equity lens. After three successful years of learning together, we are expanding our reach and recruiting a new cohort of teachers!
THE FELLOWSHIP
During the 2023-2024 school year, we will recruit new EF and Equity fellows in schools across the country. Fellows from our previous year have been invited to stay on, helping to deepen the impact of EF in their school communities and to share their wisdom with our new members. Our focus remains the same: we will focus on executive function as a transformative tool for building differentiated, inclusive instruction and developing community-based practices. Educators must be faculty members of a public or charter school and committed to addressing the needs of students of color. If selected, educators will receive access to materials, training, and coaching valued at $4,000.
Want to join this group of passionate and committed educators? Interested in using executive function strategies as a force for change in the classroom and beyond?
BENEFITS
- A free Full Access license to either SMARTS Elementary or SMARTS Secondary, comprising 30 comprehensive lesson plans with PowerPoint Presentations to guide instruction and fillable PDF handouts for students’ work.
- Registration for a full year of ResearchILD’s professional development conferences and workshops, including the EF Essentials and SMARTS Summer Workshop, the 38th Annual Executive Function Conference, and additional workshops and trainings throughout the year.
- Collaboration with like-minded educators in a tight-knit and supportive group.
- Hear from invited guests and other fellows who present on topics such as schoolwide executive function implementation and antiracist instruction, the intersection of self-regulation and discipline practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and more.
TIMELINE
- Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through September 2023. Once you apply, we will reach out to you to schedule an online interview (approximately 30 min).
- Teachers granted an EF fellowship will be able to receive access to ResearchILD’s SMARTS Summer Workshop.
- Fellowship meetings will take place every month beginning in late October 2023.
REQUIREMENTS
- Committed to attending at least six of our eight monthly gatherings.
- Be a full-time faculty member of a public or charter school. Applicants of Color are encouraged to apply, but all applications from passionate educators will be considered.
- Committed to developing inclusive, anti-racist, justice-oriented educational practices
- Committed to attending PD opportunities throughout the year (watching recordings is fine)
- Committed to a recommended minimum of 20 minutes of EF instruction each week (separated into short blocks is fine)
- As part of this fellowship, we ask that you document some of your work. We may ask see samples of your students’ work for discussion and possible display. We will work with you to respect your school’s privacy policy (e.g., removing names or identifying information).
TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST FELLOWS
- “Teaching these EF skills can help close the gaps for our students!”
- “My main plan for next year is to continue to advocate for [EF strategies] to be taught across the curriculum.”
- “I plan to increase equity for my students by framing EF strategies as essential for successfully navigating a day in school.”
Questions? Concerns? Please contact Taylor McKenna, M.A., M.Ed., SMARTS Associate, at [email protected].