Education Fellowship
Changemakers is a nine-month fellowship that equips New Mexico community leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to positively impact our state’s K-12 public education system today. Through a series of high-quality learning experiences–including hearing from local and national education experts, visiting great schools, and traveling to an out-of-state community that has realized the dramatic transformation of its education system–Changemakers will deepen fellows’ understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our education system and will prepare fellows to create constructive change.
Why Now?
For far too long, too many New Mexico families have lacked access to a quality public school education. Every year, our state spends over $4 billion on public education, yet only 3 in 10 New Mexico students can read at grade level and only 2 in 10 New Mexico students can do math at grade level. For New Mexico to reach its full potential, our K-12 public education system must improve–NOW–and our state's civic leadership must be involved in helping to drive these improvements.
Who Should Apply?
Applicants from across New Mexico are encouraged to apply to Changemakers, although the Changemakers fellowship will be primarily focused on the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The 2024-25 Changemakers class will include individuals who possess diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, and perspectives. Class size will be limited.
There is no cost to participate in Changemakers.
Applicants who have been selected to participate in Changemakers will be notified by email. Applicants not selected will be considered for the next Changemakers fellowship.
“I didn’t know what to expect... I even wondered if I was a good match for the program. Now I get it! Thank you for the invitation and opportunity to participate in Changemakers.”
Your Commitment
The 4th Changemakers fellowship will run from September 2024 to May 2025. The fellowship commitment consists of:
• Participation at one (1) Fall 2024 cocktail reception where the Changemakers class will be announced and one (1) Spring 2025 cocktail reception to celebrate the completion of Changemakers;
• Participation in five (5) half-day convenings that will focus on, among other topics, the history of public education in New Mexico and understanding school data, K-12 politics, and local and national education issues;
• Attendance at one (1) Albuquerque Public Schools (or another local district) school board meeting;
• Travel to one (1) out-of-state trip in Spring 2025 to a community that has realized the dramatic transformation of its education system; and
• (Optional) attendance at one (1) happy hour to debrief the 2025 New Mexico legislative session.
100% OF CHANGEMAKERS COHORT #1 AND #2 FELLOWS SAID THAT THEY WERE “HIGHLY SATISFIED” WITH THE CHANGEMAKERS EXPERIENCE AND WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO THEIR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS.
The tentative dates for this coming year’s program are as follows:
Kickoff Reception - Tuesday, September 10, 2024; 5:00pm-7:00pm
Session 1 - Tuesday, October 8, 2024; 8:00am-noon
Session 2 - Tuesday, November 12, 2024; 8:00am-noon
Session 3 - Tuesday, December 17, 2024; 8:00am-noon
Session 4 - Tuesday, January 14, 2025; 8:00am-noon
Out of State Trip - February 24/25, 2025 ***Tentative depending on the schedule of the district we are visiting
(Optional) Happy Hour - Tuesday, March 25, 2025; 5:00-7:00 pm
Session 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025; 8:00am-noon
Graduation Reception - Tuesday, May 13, 2025; 5:00pm-7:00pm
APPLY TODAY
APPLICATIONS FOR COHORT 4 ARE NOW CLOSED. APPLICATIONS FOR COHORT 5 WILL BE ACCEPTED BEGINNING IN JUNE 2025. PLEASE CHECK BACK THEN.
Applicants from across New Mexico are encouraged to apply to Changemakers, although the Changemakers fellowship will be primarily focused on the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The 2024-2025 cohort of the Changemakers class will include individuals who possess diverse backgrounds, professional experiences and perspectives. Class size will be limited. There is no cost to participate in Changemakers.
Applicants who have been selected to participate in Changemakers will be notified by email. Applicants not selected will be considered for the next Changemakers fellowship.
Excellent Schools New Mexico
Excellent Schools New Mexico is a nonprofit organization devoted to ensuring that all New Mexico children have the opportunity to fulfill their potential and lead healthy, meaningful lives. We invest in entrepreneurial local educators who grow transformational public schools and build the capacity of New Mexicans to advocate for a better public school system.
NewMexicoKidsCAN
Launched in 2018, NewMexicoKidsCAN is a local non-profit organization that advocates for community-informed, student-centered, and research-backed education policies. Connecting policy, instructional practice, and politics the organization works to reimagine what is possible in New Mexico’s public education system to ensure New Mexico students become the future community, civic, and business leaders New Mexico needs.