Perspective | Investing in teachers strengthens communities
It is not hyperbole to say North Carolina’s future depends on great teachers for our public schools. Every day, they prepare young people for the workforce that will drive our state’s economy, strengthen our communities, and shape North Carolina’s next generation of leaders. When teachers understand the industries transforming their regions, they bring that knowledge back to the classroom, helping students connect what they are learning to the opportunities waiting for them close to home.
That connection matters because many teachers — particularly in rural and less populated communities — work in professional isolation. They often have limited opportunities to engage with local employers, researchers, and innovators or to see firsthand the careers their students may one day pursue.
One of the ironies of public school teaching is that it is largely a private act. So, even teachers in advantaged communities often work in relative isolation. Without meaningful professional growth and a strong network of peers, even exceptional educators can lose the support that sustains long, fulfilling careers in teaching.
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The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at NC State University was designed to change that. Since its beginnings in 2000 as a community response to the challenge of retaining math and science teachers, the Kenan Fellows Program has become a nationally recognized model that connects educators with industry, higher education, and community partners.
A typical cohort of fellows reaches approximately 15,000 students each year. Even more encouraging, 90% of Kenan Fellows remain in the classroom five years after completing the program, and every fellow reports becoming a better teacher. Those outcomes demonstrate what sustained investment in teacher leadership can accomplish and why continued partnerships across North Carolina’s communities, industries, and institutions are so important.
Through industry immersion fellowships, the program supports teachers to spend time alongside employers and community organizations, gaining firsthand knowledge of the skills, technologies, and challenges shaping today’s workforce. That experience is reinforced through ongoing professional development and a vibrant learning community that supports educators long after their fellowship year ends.
Over the past 26 years, the fellowship has served 680 teachers representing 86 North Carolina counties and two counties in Virginia. Since 2021 alone, more than 150 industry, higher education, and nonprofit partners have opened their doors to Kenan Fellows, creating relationships that strengthen both classrooms and communities.
What makes this model especially powerful is its multiplier effect. The fellowship does not simply benefit one teacher; it extends throughout schools, districts, and communities. Since 2022, alumni have delivered more than 656 hours of professional development, directly supporting more than 4,300 fellow educators. During that same period, fellows secured more than $2.5 million in grant funding to expand opportunities for students and schools.
Perhaps most importantly, fellows transform what they learn into meaningful experiences for students. They develop lessons rooted in workplace applications, organize STEM nights and career fairs, introduce students to local employers, and help young people understand the skills needed for careers across our state’s evolving economy. They become ambassadors for lifelong learning, modeling curiosity, collaboration, and innovation while inspiring both colleagues and students to see new possibilities.
As a trustee of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science and a founding member of the Kenan Fellows Program Board of Advisors, I have watched this program evolve over a quarter century. I have seen teachers return from their fellowships energized, more confident in their leadership, and better equipped to inspire their students.
I have also seen the remarkable partnerships that make this work possible. When educators, universities, employers, and community organizations work together, everyone benefits. That spirit of shared purpose has always been one of North Carolina’s greatest strengths.
More on the Kenan Fellows
In early August, I had the pleasure of attending the Kenan Fellows Program’s first-ever statewide conference, Reigniting Teacher Passion, at The Friday Center in Chapel Hill. Over 100 educators from more than 30 North Carolina counties and four states attended sessions led by fellow teachers; many of them were Kenan Fellows alumni themselves.
In true Kenan Fellows Program fashion, attendees toured the facilities of local industry partners like Novonesis and the N.C. Plant Sciences Institute. For me, it was a full-circle moment to see how this program has expanded its reach beyond the Triangle region and North Carolina’s borders.
As the Kenan Fellows Program celebrates its 26th anniversary, we have every reason to celebrate what has been accomplished — and every reason to continue building on that foundation. Investing in teachers is one of the wisest investments we can make because its benefits ripple outward for years to come.
Teachers are far more than classroom instructors. They are community leaders, connectors, mentors, and champions of opportunity. By investing in their professional growth, we invest in North Carolina’s workforce, its communities, and its future.
Applications are open for the 2027-28 cohort of Kenan Fellows. To learn more or apply, visit this website.
Behind the Story
Amneris Solano, assistant director for communications for the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, contributed to this perspective.