The Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of Innovation is excited to release the 2026-2027 application for the fifth cohort of Innovative Teacher Fellows!

The Innovative Teacher Fellowship will engage fifteen trailblazing teacher leaders from across the Commonwealth in professional networking and collaboration, professional learning, project development, along with leadership and advocacy opportunities.

Each Innovative Teacher Fellow will design, implement, reflect on, and share a classroom project centered on the three big ideas of the United We Learn vision: vibrant learning experiences, accelerating innovation – especially in assessment – and collaborating with communities. We hope to empower these teachers with the community and tools to create meaningful and transformative learning experiences in the classroom.

We are excited to announce Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has partnered with the Innovative Teacher Fellowship and will recognize Innovative Teacher Fellowship teachers to receive credit for up to three courses through the university’s master’s principal certification program. This represents a savings of more than $3,000 in tuition, along with a meaningful reduction in the time required to complete the degree. This is an amazing opportunity for our Innovative Teacher Fellowship teachers who are looking at a rank change or a new certification! We are excited about the partnership and the opportunity it will bring our teachers.

The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12. Applicants will be notified of selection on Friday, June 26.

Interested teachers can apply at the following link 2026-2027 Innovative Teacher Fellowship Application. For more information, contact Robin Hyden.