(Washington, DC) – Hope Street Group, a national nonprofit organization known for its teacher engagement work, announced today its inaugural cohort of Kentucky Teacher Fellows. These 21 educators were chosen from a large pool of highly competitive candidates and will help voice teacher opinions from across the state on reform efforts.

Hailing from 20 districts across the state, the fellows represent some of Kentucky’s most outstanding teachers. Selected for their strong individual commitments to improving learning outcomes for children, the Hope Street Group Kentucky Teacher Fellows will serve as leaders over the next 12 months.

“Today’s announcement of the Kentucky Hope Street Group Teacher Fellows is a tremendous step toward our common commitment to engaging teachers at every level,” said Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. “This collaborative program will support and reinforce our strategic work around educator effectiveness with the ultimate goal of ensuring all Kentucky students graduate from high school college/career-ready.”

By engaging school communities, informing state policy discussions, and participating in professional development and training opportunities, the fellows will work toward elevating the teaching profession and enhancing the quality of primary and secondary classroom education.

Kentucky Education Association’s Executive Director, Mary Ann Blankenship supports this work stating that “Engaging teachers in the elevation of their profession is core to our work at the Kentucky Education Association. We look forward to continuing our collaborative partnership with Hope Street Group and the Kentucky Teacher Fellows as this program provides additional teacher voice at the decision making table.”

“The citizens of Kentucky, as well as the country, watch as the implementation and intersection of teacher effectiveness systems and common core standards begin,” said Hope Street Vice President of Education Dan Cruce. “Hope Street Group and Kentucky stakeholders believe that this intersection must be met with informed educator feedback. The Hope Street Group Kentucky Teacher Fellows have a critical charge ahead to expand engagement of their peers, by their peers. They stand ready to lead in this role as they lead every day in their respective classrooms.”

Hope Street Group is a 501(c) 3 organization working to strengthen the foundational underpinnings of the economy—education, healthcare and jobs—by identifying and promoting rational methods of incentivizing better outcomes. They are bipartisan, results-oriented and bring together a variety of experienced practitioners to collaborate in the pursuit of policy innovation. Hope Street group uses its findings to influence and inform policy, and to implement and spread ideas that are working. www.hopestreetgroup.org