Louisiana Educator Emily McLellan Selected for Prestigious National Teacher Leadership Program

WHITE CASTLE, LA (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 Emily McLellan from White Castle High School at Iberville Parish Schools in White Castle, Louisiana. McLellan 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 a privilege to welcome Emily McLellan from Iberville Parish Schools in Louisiana as a member of the inaugural cohort for the NIET Fellows Program," said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. "Emily will be part of a group of 12 exceptional educators selected from a nationwide pool of nearly 250 applicants. The fellowship will empower these teacher leaders to further develop their skills, driving instructional and student learning advancements." 

McLellan is a Master Teacher in Iberville Parish where she serves teachers and students in grades 7 through 12 at White Castle High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, secondary education, and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership. McLellan has conducted and presented research on rhetorical pedagogies and collaborative-based writing instruction and is currently conducting research on supporting teachers in promoting student engagement. McLellan’s work is rooted in her passion for supporting teachers and students in their personal and professional growth. 

"Being chosen for the NIET Fellows Program is a testament to Emily’s leadership and support for fellow educators,” said Iberville Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Louis Voiron. “As a master teacher, Emily supports her fellow teachers in developing their instructional skills. This opportunity will further refine her abilities and drive improvement and change both in her classroom and across the school and district.” 

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.

“I’m thrilled to have this experience that will allow me to grow in my career as an educational leader. The NIET Fellows Program directly aligns with my goals and passion for teacher leadership,” McLellan said. “Teacher leadership is important because it is a crucial element of building collective efficacy, in which all teachers work together to grow in their profession and raise student achievement. At the heart of teacher leadership is the belief that relationships build strong communities of educators and strong communities engender an unwavering commitment to helping students meet their fullest potential.”

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.