Thirteen 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:

“MEEF’s Harvard Fellows increase the capacity to improve learning for all children by bringing back what they learn at Harvard and sharing it with other teachers. Their classrooms become models, based on what they learned; they share with their colleagues at their own schools and others; and they are now the advisory council to Superintendent David Lewis. Their experience and input directly impact, practical and powerful applications in MCSD where they will now be seen as teacher leaders,” said Marquette McKnight, MEEF’s Executive Director.

2017 Teacher of the Year and Harvard Fellow, Shane Larkin describes the importance of the program. “Being a Harvard Fellow is professional development (PD) in its truest form, and in new forms. Teachers hear the term PD and they think they are going to get resources, or the newest, coolest educational trend. Harvard's Project Zero is not this ... it is about a paradigm shift in education. Project Zero teaches educators to use holistic approaches to provide students with the tools needed to learn and succeed.”

MCSD Superintendent David Lewis praised MEEF and Harvard for their incredible support of this program. "MEEF consistently stands as a steadfast ally to MCSD, honoring exceptional teachers every year. Alongside MEEF, Harvard contributes as a collaborative force, offering tuition aid and further chances for professional growth. The impact of this collaboration for MCSD is truly energizing."

Since 2012, MEEF has sent 80 teachers to Harvard and after sending this year’s thirteen teachers, (a total of 93 teachers), MEEF will have invested more than $724,000 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.