Managing Director, Development

Appalachian Futurism Project partners with ETSU to empower youth, reimagine region. The Appalachian Futurism Project (AFP) is partnering with ETSU to bring students from across the region together for the second annual Rural Student Leadership Summit this fall semester. The summit will feature leadership workshops, team-building activities and collaborative problem-solving sessions, along with networking opportunities for students, educators and community partners. Founded by Dustin Hensley, Elizabethton High School librarian and ETSU adjunct professor, AFP aims to help youth reimagine and co-design Appalachia's future through community-engaged learning (CEL) initiatives across the region. AFP partners with ETSU, Teach for America Appalachia and XQ Institute. The project was first announced last fall during an event at the James and Nellie Brinkley Center. AFP's mission is to empower Appalachia by fostering multi-generational collaboration, encouraging innovative problem-solving and strengthening community identity. The framework is based on CEL, a pedagogy that contextualizes subjects and standards within the communities educators and students share. The goal is for young people to collaborate with their communities, tackle real problems they face and develop and implement tangible solutions that align with learning standards. ETSU also facilitates CEL, offering more than 45 experiences for students to participate in each semester, paired with many professional development opportunities. For a course to be designated as community-engaged learning and earn the "Go Beyond the Classroom" distinction, the class must be mutually beneficial, critically reflective, instructionally intentional and assessed on one of three student learning outcomes. "The future of learning is empowering learners to freely explore who they are as individuals and equipping them with the tools to pursue a better world for themselves and those around them," Hensley said. "We cannot teach them to master every piece of new technology that is released, but we can provide them with the ability to celebrate their own and everyone else's humanity and collaborate on building a better future together." Last May, AFP collaborated with ETSU's Center for Rural Education and Development to host the inaugural Rural Student Leadership Summit. The event hosted more than 200 students and educators. "One thing I learned is that no matter where you're from, you always have a voice," a student who participated in the event said. The second annual Rural Student Leadership Summit will take place Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at ETSU. The event is targeted to middle school, high school and college students. Interested students and educators may register online at etsu.edu/coe/rural-education-development/events.php. Looking ahead, AFP will host its first town hall meeting to foster dialogue about what it means to be Appalachian during the fall semester. In partnership with ETSU, the data will then be analyzed and used to inform future project design and campaign development. More information is expected soon.

Teach For America New Jersey holds historic induction ceremony in state's capital for the first time. July 06, 2026, 20:27 GMT TFA NJ Inductees form lifelong friendships with fellow future educators at Foundation Academies Tahina Perez (TFA NJ Executive Director), Dr. Lily Laux (NJ Commissioner of Education) and Sheria McRae (CEO of Foundation Academies) Amid concerns over Trenton's exclusion from critical education funding, Teach For America and Foundation Academy signal a renewed commitment to student success. TRENTON, NJ, UNITED STATES, July 6, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - TRENTON, N.J. (July 6, 2026) - For the first time in its history, Teach For America New Jersey relocated its long-standing induction ceremony from Newark to Trenton, convening close to 70 new teachers joining its 2026 corps cohort at Foundation Academy Charter School and sending a powerful message about the future of educational opportunity in New Jersey's capital city. Hosted at Foundation Academies' elementary campus at 363 West State Street, the event welcomed new educators from across the state for a full day of orientation, training, and community-building as they prepared to begin their service in classrooms this fall. The relocation marks more than a change in venue. It reflects a growing recognition that Trenton - a city that has too often been overlooked for educational investment - is poised for significant growth, innovation, and leadership in public education. The day began with remarks from Foundation Academies Chief Executive Officer Sheria McRae, Teach For America New Jersey 2025 corps member Khary Golden, and Teach For America New Jersey Executive Director Tahina Perez. In her welcome address, McRae emphasized the importance of bringing the state's future educators to New Jersey's seat of government. "Trenton has been overlooked for educational development. Yet it remains the capital of New Jersey; the place where decisions are made, priorities are established, and the future of our state is shaped. There is something powerful about the 2026 TFA cohort beginning its journey here. To me, it sends a message that educational opportunity matters." The significance of the moment was further underscored by a keynote address from Dr. Lily Laux, New Jersey Commissioner of Education and a Teach For America alumna. Drawing on her experience as a corps member, Commissioner Laux urged inductees to approach their communities with humility, remain open to feedback, and keep students at the center of their work. She emphasized that teaching requires evidence-based practice and a commitment to expanding opportunity for every child. Community leaders, educators, and invited guests attended a fireside conversation featuring McRae and Perez. The discussion explored the importance of cultivating authentic relationships with students as a foundation for academic success, while also addressing contemporary challenges in classroom management, evolving learning trends, educator preparation, and sustainable funding models for public education. New Jersey ranks among the worst states for educational equity. The inaugural Trenton TFA induction sends a clear message: investment in educational excellence belongs in New Jersey's urban centers and certainly in its capital city. It is a declaration that Trenton is worthy of attention, worthy of innovation, and worthy of the next generation of educational leaders. About Foundation Academies Foundation Academies is a K-12 public charter school network serving students in Trenton, New Jersey. Founded on the belief that all children deserve access to exceptional educational opportunities, the organization combines rigorous academics, extended learning time, college and career pathways, and community partnerships to prepare scholars for lives of purpose, leadership, and economic freedom. Foundation Academies is one of the largest charter districts in the state of NJ, slotted to serve 2,000 students by the year 2030. The school consistently ranks in the Top 1% for academic growth amongst all public schools in the state. For more information, visit www.foundationacademy.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram. About Teach For America Teach For America works in partnership with communities across the country to reach One Day when every child has access to an excellent education. Founded in 1990, Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a growing network of leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that impact a young person's education. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 70,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite fellows working in pursuit of profound change so that one day every child has the opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads. Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. You just read: July 06, 2026, 20:27 GMT EIN Presswire's priority is author transparency. We do our best to weed out false and misleading content. The content above is the sole responsibility of the author who makes it available. If you have any complaints, kindly contact the author above. Genevieve King Foundation Academy Charter School +1 609-968-2223

My latest videos. Video Muted Peloton is partnering with Teach For America to "bring movement, wellness, and community" to the organization's 35th Anniversary Summit, themed "The Power of Us." The Summit takes place Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. Teach For America announced the partnership via Instagram, in a video featuring both Jess and Chelsea, writing: "35 years in and we're still finding new ways to show up | @onepeloton is joining us for our 35th Anniversary Summit this October and we could not be more excited. See you there @jesssims @chelsealovesyoga" Peloton will start each day of the Summit with movement, with Jess and Chelsea each leading a different style. Jess will lead a bodyweight strength class, billed by the event page as "part sweat session, part reunion energy" and built around joy, movement, and connection. For those looking for a slower pace, Chelsea Jackson Roberts will lead a "restorative yoga experience focused on grounding, clarity, and community." The classes are complimentary for Summit attendees, who will also receive exclusive swag, and will be offered on both Friday and Saturday. Because capacity is limited, sign-ups are first-come, first-served and prioritized by when attendees registered for the Summit. The partnership has a personal connection for Jess, who is a Teach For America alum herself. A former teacher and principal, she gave a shout-out to her "Houston '10 corps" in the announcement video. Chelsea is also a former educator. It also continues Jess's ongoing work celebrating teachers through Peloton. Earlier this year she led a four-city Teacher Appreciation Tour with stops in Seattle, Houston, Detroit, and New York City, and Peloton released a Teacher Appreciation Bodyweight Strength class with her to mark Teacher Appreciation Week. Teach For America describes the 35th Anniversary Summit as a celebration of its legacy, with thousands of alumni, educators, leaders, and partners expected to gather to mark 35 years and "shape what comes next." Support the site! Enjoy the news & guides we provide? Help us keep bringing you the news. Pelo Buddy is completely free, but you can help support the site with a one-time or monthly donation that will go to our writers, editors, and more. Find out more details here. Chris Lewis is the creator & founder of Pelo Buddy. He purchased his Peloton in 2018, and uses all the different devices: Peloton Bike, Tread, Row, and Guide. He has been involved in the fitness industry for more than a decade - previously co-founding the websites Mud Run Guide & Ninja Guide. You can find him on the leaderboard at #PeloBuddy.