Eighteen teachers from the Muscogee County School District (MCSD) will attend the prestigious Harvard University Graduate School of Education June 26-20, courtesy of the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation’s (MEEF) Harvard Fellows program. This year’s Harvard Fellows (HF) are:

• Michele Bezio of Dorothy Height Elementary School

• Kunicko Byrd of Carver High School

• Sicily Coleman of Britt David Magnet Academy

• Danielle Cooper of Aaron Cohn Middle School

• Katherine Culverson of Arnold Magnet Academy

• Gena Davis of Dimon Magnet Academy

• Lisa Elliott of River Road Elementary School

• Rachel Fahnestock of Aaron Cohn Middle School

• Shalon Gillespie of Blackmon Road Middle School

• Jamie Hagan of Double Churches Elementary School

• Amanda Hefner of Columbus High School

• Lara Allan Lasseter of Clubview Elementary School

• Andrea McCarthy of Richards Middle School

• Danielle McCoy of Columbus High School

• Kelly Roberts of St. Elmo Center for the Gifted

• Chelsie Rogers of Northside High School

• Dacia Sheffield of Rothschild Leadership Academy

• Heather White of Aaron Cohn Middle School.

“We are thrilled that after a three-year hiatus (due to Covid), MEEF is able to send eighteen teachers to Harvard this summer. The Harvard Fellows return from this professional development experience with an enhanced insight into ‘learning’. They are re-energized about their profession and can’t wait to get back to their classrooms, impacting, influencing and teaching their students. The program is maximized even further when the HF’s share with their colleagues. It’s a ripple effect that keeps growing. Their experience and input directly affect practical and powerful applications in MCSD, where they are now seen as the preeminent teaching scholars and teacher leaders in our district,” said Marquette McKnight, MEEF’s Executive Director.

Attending Harvard’s project zero was a pivotal professional development that greatly shaped my educational philosophy.” said 2018 Harvard Fellow, Vanessa Ellis. Vanessa’s experience as a Harvard Fellow -- and how she utilized that opportunity for her students was a contributing factor in Vanessa being named the 2022 MCSD Teacher of the Year. “My experience at Harvard led me to prioritize student understanding and making connections … and help students take control of their understanding by reflecting on their own learning. Combined with MCSD’s personalized learning initiative, it’s helped me put students at the helm of learning.”

Since 2012, MEEF has sent 62 teachers to Harvard and after sending this year’s eighteen teachers, (a total of 80 teachers), MEEF will have invested more than $584,000 in classroom teachers through the Harvard Fellows program.

The Fellows are selected from the pool of past MCSD Top Ten Teacher of the Year Honorees from the last ten+ years. Each of the selected teachers will attend the Harvard Graduate School and the Project Zero Classroom where they will spend a week with preeminent scholars and other innovative teachers from around the world. Harvard Fellows will enhance their knowledge and expertise to recognize and develop students’ multiple intellectual strengths; encourage students to think critically and creatively; explore instructional methods that deepen student engagement, model intellectual curiosity and rigor, and make learning more visible.