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A: A high-quality professional development opportunity for school-based teams of teacher leaders to work together to rethink and innovate a new approach to the teacher role and design new approaches to positively impact students and educators.

A: Cohort Goals include…

1. Foster collaboration and innovation of the future of the teaching profession to positively impact teacher satisfaction, connection, and retention.
2. Leverage design-thinking to identify and scale new ways to deliver instruction in schools and identify opportunities for scale.
3. Elevate cohort participants, school innovations, and relevant learnings to the broader education community in Marion County and beyond.

A: Schools are selected to participate, and any public school in Marion County (including all Township, District, Innovation Charters and Independent Charters) qualify to apply. We are looking for schools who embrace innovation and prioritize teacher-leadership in their buildings.

A: For our first cohort in 2024, we selected 4 schools. Our second cohort in 2025 will include 5-6 schools.

In subsequent years, we will increase cohort size with an anticipated maximum number of schools being 10-12.

A: School teams will be comprised of 4-5 staff members including:

• At least 3-4 educators, instructional assistants or interventionists
• At least 1 school leader (can be a dean, assistant principal, department head, etc.)

Depending on the school, teams may elect to also have an HR or Talent Representative, community partner or parent join their school-based team.

A: Schools will be actively recruited between March and-October. To participate, schools will submit a School Interest Form and Application, with questions to assess: 

1. Alignment to Teach Indy’s Mission, Beliefs and Core Values; 
2. School schedule and ability to implement a school-based pilot; 
3. School leadership mindset and commitment to collaboration. 

The Teach Indy team and Cohort Coach will review the applications and make final selections by the end of November (2024 for the 2025-26 cohort).

A: The cohort experience will be customized to meet the unique needs of each of the schools participating; however, we know that all schools will focus on a way to reimagine an aspect of the teacher role to increase lead to increasing staff satisfaction and retention – with a grounding in supporting student learning.

An example of a pilot from cohort 1 is found below:

• The Problem: Teachers in our schools often find themselves overwhelmed and stressed out and therefore unable to support students and student learning to the best of their abilities. This leads to teacher absenteeism, lower school morale and culture, and, ultimately, teachers leaving their schools and the profession. The Solution: Schools will create a space and schedule for teachers to reset and center themselves before returning to the classroom to support their students. The space will include resources aimed at building teachers’ capacity to calm themselves and potential support staff to help with this process. The schools will measure success based on decreases in room usage overtime, teacher- reported satisfaction, and decreases in teacher absenteeism. Long-term, we will analyze the impact on fewer student discipline referrals for those using the space. This pilot is aimed at teacher satisfaction and teacher retention.

A: For our cohort experience, work will begin in January 2025 and will continue over the calendar year, with new solutions piloted in early fall of the 2025-26 school year.

For schools opting for school or district-based cohort experience, schools can begin contract work at the time that works best for the school, network or district.

A: The cohort is made up of whole-group sessions consisting of participants from all schools coming together to learn a new skill/strategy, share their current thinking, seek feedback on their ideas, and build community; independent, guided activities to help advance the planning process; and school-based coaching sessions to provide each team with 1:1 coaching to ensure their planning, ideating, piloting, tracking, and reflecting is progressing throughout the experience. 

A: Since each school’s pilot might be a little different, estimated hours may vary widely during the flexible school work time outside of the cohort hours. The below estimates provide general guidance per participant: 

• • Jan 2024 – May 2024: 19-22 hours
  • June 2024 – July 2024: 9-12 hours
  • August 2024 – December 2024: 13-17 hours
• Total Hours in Sessions/Coaching: 43-53 hours over 12 months (3.25 – 4.25 hrs/month)

A: Yes, The cost for a school to participate is $33,600 which includes:

• All in-person cohort sessions (8-10)
• School coaching sessions (8) 
• Session materials
• Potential expenses associated with third-party partner connections. 

Teach Indy is currently working with local community partners to support schools if cost is a barrier. If financial support is required, schools should indicate this in their application. The Teach Indy team can also support schools in identifying a sponsor for cohort participation costs. Schools can leverage Title I CSI Grant funding and Title II Funding to participate. 

Though not required, in addition to the cost above, Teach Indy highly encourages schools to identify a school-based stipend for educators participating in the cohort for their time planning and piloting new initiatives to impact student achievement and school culture. Stipends may be able to leverage Title II, as well as ESSER funding, to provide a meaningful stipend; (at least $1,000), for their teachers.

A: For the second cohort for January 2025-December 2025, 5-6 school-based teams will be selected based on recruitment criteria and application submissions. To be considered, please complete the following:

• School Interest Form by Nov. 1st
• Complete the “‘Reimagining the Cohort”’ School Application, Available and Live Oct. 16th
• Submit relevant data requests for application

A: Please contact Teach Indy Executive Director, Sara Marshall: sara@teachindynow.org or 317-331-9263