Texas Educator William Mock Selected for Prestigious National Teacher Leadership Program

SOMERSET, TX (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 William Mock from Somerset High School at Somerset Independent School District in Somerset, Texas. Mock 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. 

“I am excited to welcome Will Mock from Somerset ISD in Texas to the NIET Fellows Program,” said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. “Our work with states and districts across the country demonstrates that teacher leaders are the most effective way to improve instruction and student outcomes, and Will’s work in Somerset ISD has been a powerful example of this impact. This group of successful teacher leaders will work together in the fellowship to grow their leadership skills and bring that expertise back to their school and district.”

Mock is a dedicated educator with a passion for learning and teaching. With teaching experience in Jacksonville, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and Somerset, Texas, he brings a wealth of experience and adaptability to his roles. Notably, Mock has led multiple Algebra 1 teams to district victories, an impressive 94% pass rate at Somerset High School. His expertise spans various subjects, including math, fine arts, and CTE. Committed to sharing best teaching practices, Mock inspires and facilitates growth within his educational community.

“We are so thrilled to have Will represent our district through this program with NIET,” said Somerset Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Jose Moreno. “He is an excellent reflection of our district’s commitment to student success and has driven notable progress in his own school’s math department as the executive Master Teacher. We look forward to supporting Will throughout the year and learning how his experience can help uplift our entire district and community.”

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 am grateful for this opportunity and am eager to contribute to the collective learning through the NIET Fellows Program. Teacher leadership is essential because teachers, like students, need opportunities to learn and grow to better support their students,” Mock said. “For me, seeing the positive impacts on both students and teachers is incredibly rewarding. Supporting teachers in their practices and boosting student achievement reaffirms the impact of an effective leader."

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.