Teacher at Reyes Elementary School Selected for Statewide Education Policy Fellowship Program
Jacqueline Martinez, teacher at Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School (RES) will be running up that hill, Capitol Hill that is, when she travels to the nation and state capitol this school year to hone her leadership skills as an educator and expand networks in public policy.
The fourth-grade teacher was one of 23 leaders and professionals from all sectors of education, including nonprofits, K-12 and higher education across Texas selected to be part of the Texas Tech University 2022-2023 cohort of the Texas Education Policy Fellowship Program (TX-EPFP).
TX-EPFP is a 10-month, intensive professional development program for emerging and mid-level leaders in education and education related-fields coordinated by the College of Education. The program provides rich and robust experiences to both educate and empower participants in their work for sound education policy and practice in Texas.
"Our District continues to lead the way at the state level by selecting highly qualified educators to participate in this one of a kind experience,” said RES Principal Jessica Melendez-Carrillo. “I am proud of Ms. Martinez, as she represents Canutillo ISD, and embarks on this journey that will impact student success."
Fellows participate in a variety of activities to enhance their knowledge of education policy, build leadership skills and expand professional networks. The program features leadership and policy events, where fellows have the opportunity to interact with top education officials.
The cohort will meet regularly from August through May and will participate in the Institute for Educational Leadership's Washington Policy Seminar. Fellows will also join a network of 9,000 alumni in all 50 states, including state legislators, university presidents, school superintendents, state teachers of the year and leaders of nonprofits and foundations.
“We are excited to welcome our fourth cohort of fellows as the Texas site of the Education Policy Fellowship Program,” said Rebecca Hite, TX-EPFP director and an assistant professor in the College of Education. “We have a strong and diverse cadre of leaders from around the state. They are ready to engage in the important and purposeful work of improving educational outcomes for learners in a variety of formal, informal and non-formal settings. We are glad to provide the opportunity and platform for these leaders to grow in their knowledge, leadership and networks to achieve their personal and professional goals in education policy.”