Our inaugural Teacherpreneur Cohort convened from January through March 2022. Learn more about the cohort, their process, and the pitch event winners below.
Congratulations to our winners!
First Place
Quanita Adams
Quanita Adams designed an idea to create a network of supports
for novice teachers in schools that experience high teacher turnover.
Community Favorite
LaKesha Rayford
Congratulations to every member of the inaugural cohort for designing and pitching your excellent ideas!
THE COHORT's JOURNEY
See below for some highlights from our inaugural Teacherpeneur cohort as they prepared to pitch their prototypes on February 24.
Cohort mentor Brian Purvis advises the inaugural cohort
Teacherpreneurs David Myers and Paula Pendergrass discuss root causes of educational inequities
Teacherpreneurs Addison Barrack and LaKesha Rayford share findings from their empathy interviews
Teacherpreneurs Justin Montenegro and Nita Smith practice their pitches and provide feedback
Inspired by words from local entrepreneur and educator Emily Freitag, CEO of Instruction Partners, to “find a problem you can fall in love with,” our 12 Teacherpreneurs are designing solutions to problems they are most passionate about addressing. Some of these include:
- The effect of high teacher turnover on teachers and students
- The need for more effective instructional supports for English Learners
- The struggle of balancing work and school for some students
- The lack of access to teachers of color
- The lack of accessible opportunities for parents to engage in their child’s education
"Teachers are the backbone of education! To hear the passion and brilliance of my Teacherpreneurs cohort members was confirmation of why this think-tank is needed and even more so amid such perilous times in education."
- Inaugural cohort member
Teacherpreneurs Nikki Bolling and Chriseni Pulse discuss ways to increase equitable access to parent involvement activities
Each cohort member received a box full of books, supplies, and mementos
Teacherpreneurs Daven Oglesby and Quanita Adams practice their pitches and provide feedback
NPEF's Katie Cour interviews Instruction Partners CEO Emily Freitag
Create. Refine. Pilot. Scale.
The Teacherpreneur program is designed to harness educator innovation to remove inequities and build schools where all students thrive.
This leadership development opportunity will help teachers scale their innovative solutions while changing the way our community sees educators - as change-makers both in and beyond the walls of their classroom.
The inaugural Teacherpreneur cohort will undergo professional learning throughout early 2022 to design and refine their innovative solutions to eliminate systemic inequities in our schools. The cohort experience will culminate in a prototype pitch event awarding more than $25,000 in cash prizes to the top concepts.
