South Carolina Educator Kelsey Brown Selected for Prestigious National Teacher Leadership Program

LAURENS, SC (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 Kelsey Brown from Hickory Tavern Elementary and Middle School at Laurens County School District 55 in Laurens, South Carolina. Brown 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. 

“As a national leader in developing teacher leadership roles, NIET is thrilled to welcome Kelsey Brown from Laurens County School District 55 in South Carolina as a member of the NIET Fellows Program," said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. "We identified 12 exemplary educators from nearly 250 applicants across the nation. This fellowship will provide these talented teacher leaders with unparalleled opportunities to enhance their instructional practices and impact student outcomes in their district."

Brown began her career in education in 2012 and has primarily taught 2nd and 3rd grades. She is starting her first year at Hickory Tavern Elementary and Middle School as a Master Teacher this year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Winthrop University, her Master in Education Teaching from the University of South Carolina, and her principal certificate from Lamar University. Brown maintains a professional goal to motivate teachers, improve academic performance, increase parent engagement, and build rapport with students and faculty in order to improve overall school performance.

“We are thrilled to see Kelsey recognized as a member of this year’s NIET Fellows Program,” said Laurens County School District 55 Superintendent Dr. Jody Penland. “In her role as an instructional and reading coach, she has shown a true commitment to supporting other teachers entering the profession and a passion for collaborating with her fellow educators. We look forward to seeing how this program will further refine her instructional skills, positively impacting our students and staff as we build a five-star culture of excellence here in Laurens 55.”

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 so excited to be a part of the 2024 NIET Fellows Program,” Brown said. “My passion lies in helping teachers who are new to the profession and collaborating with other educators to refine my teaching, and teacher leadership is essential to ensuring academic success and improving teacher effectiveness. In my experience, leadership can shape the dynamics of a school through fostering strong relationships that can lead to student and teacher growth.”

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.