About the Fellowship

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How do we engage students in meaningful learning?
What tools empower them to succeed through voice, choice, and mastery?
How can we elevate learning experiences through intentional design and real-world connections?

 

These are the guiding questions of our Engage, Empower, Elevate fellowship. This program brings together a cohort of teachers working in juvenile justice facilities to reimagine education for students who have been pushed out of traditional schools. With the support of the BreakFree Education team and a community of passionate educators, Fellows will explore practical strategies for inspiring student growth through creative, relevant, and engaging lessons.

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From November 2026 to April 2027, Fellows will participate in six virtual evening workshops focused on lesson design, student engagement, and purposeful planning. During these sessions, participants will create a short educational initiative (3-10 lessons) that:

• Sparks student curiosity

• Develops core academic skills

• Includes a culminating project demonstrating mastery

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Each initiative will align with BreakFree’s framework and support core content learning through engaging, student-centered projects.

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In April, Fellows will gather for an in-person retreat (held April 25-27) to refine and finalize their initiatives. Select initiatives will be published on BreakFree’s teacher resource platform, with the chance for one or more to become a BreakFree-sponsored initiative for the next school year.

 

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If you have questions after reading the eligibility requirements and Fellowship details below, please reach out to Kaylah Holland at kholland@breakfree-ed.org.

 

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Key Benefits

Upon successful completion of the program, Fellows will receive:

• $750 stipend (paid in two $375 installments)

• Paid travel expenses for the retreat

• BreakFree Education Teacher Fellow digital badge

• Publication opportunity on BreakFree’s website

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Eligibility Requirements
 

This fellowship is open to classroom teachers working in juvenile justice facilities (pre- and post-adjudication). We welcome teachers of all subjects, especially those with 3+ years of experience in these settings.

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Applicants must:

• Have stable internet access and a computer with a webcam and microphone

• Be available for evening workshops (EST) on the second Wednesday of each month 

• Commit to teaching in their current facility through the end of the school year

 

Program Schedule & Time Commitment

 

Fellows will participate in six virtual workshops (1.5 hours each) between November 2026 and April 2027, featuring interactive activities, group discussions, and unit brainstorming. With the BreakFree team’s support, Fellows will draft and revise a 3-10 lesson initiative during the program.

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In April, Fellows will meet in person for a 1-2 day retreat to finalize their work and prepare it for publication. The total time commitment for the fellowship is approximately 45 hours, including workshops, initiative development, and the in-person retreat.

 

Key Dates

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• Wednesday September 30, 2026: Applications Due

• September 15 – October 23, 2026: Interviews Held

• Week of October 26, 2026: Acceptance Notifications Sent

 

Workshop Sessions (7:00 – 8:30 PM EST):

• Wednesday, November 11, 2026

• Wednesday, December 9, 2026

• Wednesday, January 13, 2027

• Wednesday, February 10, 2027

• Wednesday, March 10, 2027

• Wednesday, April 14, 2027

• April 25-27, 2027: In-Person Retreat

 

Applying for the Fellowship

If you are interested in applying to participate in the Fellowship, click on the link below.  Applications for the 2026-27 school year will open August 26, 2026 and close September 30, 2026.