Fellows typically plan their learning experiences for the summer or fall of the year in which they are selected, or the following spring. The process is managed by Taj Johnson at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), whom you can reach at edelman@jaxpef.org.
A teaching team at Chets Creek Elementary was among the inaugural Edelman Fellowship winners in 2020. The team attended the Innovative Schools Summit in San Antonio.
Step 1: Intent to Apply Form
First, teachers may submit an Intent to Apply form. This short form is generally available from August until October each year. It asks a few questions about you, as well as some basic information about your project idea and a ballpark cost for your project, to help ensure your project is a good fit for the Fellowship. The goal of this form is to notify the JPEF staff about your interest, so that they can work with you on the full application. Completing this form is not required to submit a full application, but we recommend it, because it allows you to receive help.
Step 2: Application
The application for the Edelman Fellowship is generally available from November to January. Teachers who did not complete the Intent to Apply Form are still able to submit an application, but we suggest you reach out to the JPEF staff first to ensure you are prepared to submit a successful application.
To complete the application, you will need:
- To confirm that you meet all the eligibility criteria for the Fellowship
- Acknowledgment from your principal
- A description of your proposed project
- A short video of you explaining your project idea
- A brief description of the problem you are seeking to address through the Fellowship
- A brief description of how you will bring your professional learning back to your classroom
- A proposed budget for how your Fellowship dollars will spent on your professional learning
- Supporting documents for your budget, such as screenshots of a website showing the cost of flights, hotels, or conference fees
- Affirmation that you will: accept the fellowship; submit necessary paperwork to JPEF in order to receive your payment; provide stories and photos about your experience; and present about your learning and attend events with other teachers.
Need Help?
We know it can be challenging to get ready to apply! The JPEF team is standing by to help you. Please fill out the form at the bottom of our website, or email the team at edelman@jaxpef.org. We also encourage you to review these examples of successful applications, budgets, and supporting documentation.
