Louisiana Educator Jessica Carmean Selected for Prestigious National Teacher Leadership Program

METAIRIE, 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 just twelve 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 Jessica Carmean from Bissonet Plaza Elementary at Jefferson Parish Schools in Metairie, Louisiana. Carmean 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 Jessica Carmean from Jefferson Parish Schools in Louisiana as a member of the first cohort of the NIET Fellows Program," said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. "From nearly 250 applicants nationwide, we selected 12 outstanding educators who are among the most effective teacher leaders in our national network. This fellowship will empower them to enhance their instructional capabilities and contribute to more effective teaching and learning in their districts.”

Carmean, a Louisiana native, has been an educator in Jefferson Parish Schools for 11 years. For the past five years, Carmean has been a Master Teacher at Bissonet Plaza School. She has also led professional development as a Content Leader Fellow in ELA and Math, fostered school improvement on the Instructional Leadership Team, partnered with NIET for a two-year Literacy Cohort Initiative in Jefferson Parish, and participated in Jefferson Parish’s aspiring leaders program called “Operation LEAD.” Carmean believes that the key to promoting the highest level of student achievement is advancing educator effectiveness. Carmean earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University.

“Jessica embodies Jefferson Parish Schools’ commitment to strengthening student-centered learning in her work, and we are thrilled with her selection as a member of the NIET Fellows Program,” said Jefferson Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. James Gray. “Congratulations, Jessica, and we look forward to your contributions to further strengthening teaching and helping our students to excel.”

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 most looking forward to deepening my instructional practices and skills in the NIET Fellows Program so that I can improve both student and teacher effectiveness on a larger scale," Carmean said. “Teacher leaders have a unique position to serve as mentors, advocates, and change agents within their schools. This role allows teacher leaders to have “boots on the ground” and use their expertise to drive positive changes in both pedagogy and school climate. I am excited to expand on this work through the NIET Fellows Program.”

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.