Indiana Educator Sarah Phillips Selected for Prestigious National Teacher Leadership Program

INDIANAPOLIS (July 23, 2024) -  Twelve teacher leaders from across the country will join the inaugural class for the NIET Fellows Program. The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching is among the largest trainers of teacher leaders, with more than 35,000 teacher leaders trained to date. The new NIET Fellows Program selects teacher leaders for a dynamic one-year program to deepen their knowledge of instructional best practices and more effectively support the work taking place within and beyond their school and district. 

Among the distinguished fellows is Sarah Phillips from Abraham Lincoln Elementary at Perry Township Schools in Indianapolis, Indiana. Phillips was one of just 12 selected to be a part of the fellowship and receive a $10,000 stipend out of nearly 250 applicants from across the country. 

"It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Sarah Phillips from Perry Township Schools in Indiana to the first cohort of the NIET Fellows Program," said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. "Perry Township Schools has been a national model for the development of effective teacher leaders and the system to support them. We are pleased to continue to partner with the district to create an even greater impact for teacher leaders on student outcomes. This fellowship will empower Sarah to enhance her instructional capabilities and contribute to improving student success in Perry Township Schools."

Phillips received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Indianapolis and her Master of Science in Education from Indiana University. As a teacher leader for over 12 years, Phillips has supported veteran teachers, new teachers, and those becoming teachers.  Facilitating professional development and coaching through conversations are her passions.  She taught kindergarten through fifth grade English Learners, art and music, and in the fifth-grade classroom.

“We are thrilled to celebrate Sarah’s selection as a member of the NIET Fellows Program,” said Perry Township Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Spray. “Sarah has helped her school thrive both in master and mentor teacher roles and supports improved instructional practice among her colleagues. We are excited to see her grow in this opportunity, which will further develop her instructional expertise, benefiting both our students and staff."

The NIET Fellows Program was created with educator effectiveness in mind, bringing together teacher leaders from partner schools nationwide who demonstrate exceptional implementation of NIET's principles, emphasizing educator excellence and advancing student success. Throughout the year-long fellowship, fellows will participate in professional development activities designed to enhance their leadership capabilities, including an introductory boot camp and involvement with two signature NIET events throughout the year - the 2025 NIET National Conference and the 2025 NIET Summer Institute. Each fellow will regionally travel to shadow NIET’s Senior Specialists while maintaining their full-time employment status, including salary and benefits, with their respective districts while being released to participate in program activities throughout the year.

“Throughout my career, there was a teacher leader I admired greatly who helped me uncover my strengths. Doing this led me to become a teacher leader who does the same for other teachers. Building off our strengths impacts students, and I’m excited to continue to build on that growth through the NIET Fellows Program,” Phillips said.

NIET has over 20 years of experience in developing teacher leaders, supporting successful instructional strategies, and building educator capacity to address student needs. NIET partners with schools, districts, states, and universities to ensure all students are taught by effective educators. Through these partnerships, NIET has served more than 9,000 schools and has impacted more than 300,000 teachers and 3 million students.

Read more about the NIET Fellows Program and meet the other 2024-25 fellows here.