Who is eligible to apply for a TNLI Fellowship?

What is Action Research?

What are the benefits of becoming a TNLI Fellow?

What are the responsibilities of a TNLI Fellow?

How does Character Education fit into the TNLI Program?

How can I apply for a TNLI Fellowship with a Character Education Bonus?

What should I expect from the application & selection process?

Who is eligible to apply for a TNLI Fellowship?

Any Chicago Public School teacher - including ALL educators working under the CFE umbrella, i.e. City of Chicago charter, contract, & magnet teachers, as well as those working in traditional neighborhood schools - who works over 60% of the time with students in grades PreK through 8th.  There are no requirements regarding number of years spent teaching or number of years employed by CPS.

What is Action Research?

Action research is a process that teachers can use on an ongoing basis to analyze the effectiveness of their instruction through data collection, evaluation, and reflection. The results of a teacher's research can have an impact on a classroom, the school, or an entire district.

What are the benefits of being a TNLI Fellow?

• Receive a $1,250 stipend ($1,450 with a Character Education Bonus; see below for details)
• Receive up to 68 CPDUs
• Receive ongoing instruction by a university professor on conducting action research
• Develop and carry out an action research project that will inform your own practice, as well as education policies, on both a school-wide and district-wide basis
• Be recognized as a teacher-leader
• Connect with a supportive cohort of like-minded CPS teacher-colleagues (your fellow TNLI Fellows)
  
• Increase knowledge of major challenges facing the teaching profession through readings and discussions with leading education policy experts
  

What are the responsibilities of a TNLI Fellow?

• Attend 11 group meetings and two individual conferences throughout the school year (attendance is required, but every effort will be made to coordinate meeting dates with schedules of participating Fellows)
• Devote a considerable amount of time outside of meetings to the collection and analysis of your data
• Complete and be prepared to discuss approximately one assigned reading per meeting, in an effort to support research efforts
• Write a 10-15 page research paper detailing findings from your action research project
• Maintain consistent communication with other TNLI Fellows and your university adviser
  
• Present your research findings and policy recommendations at CFE's "Teachers as Leaders and Learners" Workshop
• Participate on local advisory boards, panels, and task forces related to your action research topic

How does Character Education fit into the TNLI Program?

CFE will award a limited number of Character Education Bonuses to teachers willing to incorporate SEL/Character Education elements into their research project. Teachers who are awarded Character Education Bonuses will receive an extra $200 at the end of the school year. Other benefits and responsibilities remain the same.

How can I apply for a TNLI Fellowship with a Character Education Bonus?

On the application, check the box indicating that you would like to be considered for the Character Education Bonus and answer any additional required questions. Teachers who receive Character Education TNLI Fellowships will be awarded $1,450. If you apply for but do not win a Character Education Bonus, you will still be considered for a $1,250 TNLI Fellowship.

What should I expect from the application & selection process?

The TNLI application will be available in by the second week of May; the deadline is Monday, June 20, 2011. All applicants will be notified of their award status within one month of the deadline. At that time, selected applicants will move to the next phase of the application process, which is when the personal interviews are conducted. Please mail completed applications, required attachments, and additional copies to: Chicago Foundation for Education, 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 720, Chicago, IL 60611; fax 312.670.2029. Feel free to contact Sarah Hoppe at 312.670.2033 if you have any further questions.