We craft meaningful experiences for educators of color in Tennessee to amplify their voices, advocate for equitable policies and practices, and expose them to leadership opportunities.
What is the Advocacy Academy?
TECA Advocacy Academy offers participants an introduction to and overview of education policy and advocacy best practices. This non-partisan opportunity is designed by policy writers, thought partners, and advocates to connect education-focused community members with the experiences needed to influence policy both locally and across the state of Tennessee.
The TECA Advocacy Academy is a cohort-style fellowship that will offer education focused community members the opportunity to learn about policy, politics and the advocacy best practices that influence both. Over the course of 5 weeks participants will learn about, as well as how to influence, education policy in their local community and across the state.
TECA Advocacy Academy overview:
The TECA Advocacy Academy is a cohort-style fellowship that will offer education focused community members the opportunity to learn about policy, politics and the advocacy best practices that influence both. Over the course of 5 weeks participants will learn about, as well as how to influence, education policy in their local community and across the state.
TECA Advocacy Academy overview:
- 5 week course with 3 in-person sessions
- Focus on local, city and state policy
- Focus on local, city and state advocacy best practices
- Stipend based on completion of the course and at home work
- Education Equity Day on the Hill
Why create an Advocacy Academy?
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a number of inequities being experienced by different vulnerable populations across the country. This was especially true in education. Yet as much as inequities different student populations experience were elevated, how educator groups experience disenfranchisement was ignored all together. This intentional course offers participants of color, and their allies, the opportunity to learn how policy influences how they interact with education as well as best practices in how to advocate more appropriately around those policies.
What is included in the Curriculum?
The Advocacy Academy curriculum prepares participants to advocate at the local, city and state levels. This being the case, the audience toward which each participant advocates will be different; they could include superintendents and local school district leaders, State Legislators, the Governor, local elected officials, the State Board of Education, or the Tennessee Department of Education. During the three in-person sessions of this program participants will learn the basics of policy and advocacy. Sessions are staggered with one week between each. During the weeks in which there is no in-person session, participants will be expected to complete at-home work that allows them to dig deeper into policy and prepare for the next in-person meeting.
The in-person sessions will also provide participants the opportunity to speak face-to-face with district leaders, state elected officials, non-profit leaders and every other type of advocate in between during panel discussions. Each 2-hour session will include 30 - 45 minutes of panel discussion with those in-service guests. The featured panelists of the week will align with that session’s theme:
The in-person sessions will also provide participants the opportunity to speak face-to-face with district leaders, state elected officials, non-profit leaders and every other type of advocate in between during panel discussions. Each 2-hour session will include 30 - 45 minutes of panel discussion with those in-service guests. The featured panelists of the week will align with that session’s theme:
- Week 1- Local Policy & Advocacy
- Week 2- State Policy & Advocacy
- Week 3- Education Influencers and Policy Organizations
Who can apply?
Recruitment efforts will target educators of color, education advocates of color and their allies.
How do I apply?
We are not accepting applications at this time.