Collaborating to Transform Education
Teacher Advisory Board
Established in late-2023, Empowered’s Teacher Advisory Board (TAB) is a cohort of 25 educators chosen to approximate the makeup of our national Educator Community.
TAB offers Empowered the vital opportunity to:
- Foster community among those advocating for their students and their profession;
- Collaborate with educators in various locations, settings, career points, and familiarity with our strategy and offerings; and
- Ensure our ongoing efforts to improve the resources, tools, and support we offer are guided-by and align-with the needs of teachers.
By sharing their time, experiences, and insights with our staff and each other, TAB members:
- Receive early access to new Empowered experiments and products;
- Establish themselves as leaders within the Empowered Community;
- Grow their educator network and their confidence in the classroom; and
- Contribute to the movement to transform education in America.
JOIN OUR TEACHER ADVISORY BOARD
Our 2026 TAB application window will open at 12AM (CT) on Wednesday, 10/1/2025 and will close at 11PM (CT) on Friday, 10/31/25.
WHAT TAB MEMBERS SAY
Curious About Our Teacher Advisory Board?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you can’t find the Teacher Advisory Board (TAB) information below – please use our “Contact Us” form. We’ll route your inquiry to Brandi Newry – who oversees TAB.
Applications for next year’s TAB cohort are accepted between October 1 and October 31 each year. They can be submitted exclusively through our online form.
Each year’s TAB serves from January 1 – December 31.
Educators must submit their own application for consideration but we encourage you to share the following links with any teacher:
- INFORMATION TeachEmpowered.org/TAB
- APPLICATION TeachEmpowered.org/TABApplication
No. We specifically want to welcome any teacher to apply to be part of TAB. We hope you’ll see value in our strategy and offerings and try them in the classroom but what we really want is your candor about what you want/need to be more successful in your career.
TAB Members are expected to:
- Participate in a virtual meeting on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:30-7:30PM (CT).
- Share honest feedback on our resources and ideas – helping us see what works, what doesn’t, and what’s missing.
- Bringing the voice of educators to our organizational decisions.
TAB members are also invited to participate in various “projects” throughout the year. Our most-engaged members give us 3-5 hours/month.
TAB members are monetarily compensated for their participation – typically 2-4 hours/month. Please note:
- To receive TAB-related compensation, teachers must complete a W-9 form and submit their personal banking information through our vendor system.
- Payments are made quarterly exclusively through direct deposit.
We want all types of educators regardless of awareness for us. Ideally we’d have a good cross section of:
- Geographies
- Demographics
- Career points
- Subject(s)/grade level(s) taught
- School types (public, private, charter, micro, home, etc.)
We want teachers who:
- Understand and embrace the opportunity they have, as professionals;
- Want to see more learning options – for students and families – that better honor their unique talents and prepares them for life ahead;
- Are comfortable talking about the challenges and opportunities of the profession;
- Will challenge outdated assumptions and ideas that can be improved;
- Have a clear vision for what “good” looks like in their classrooms and careers; and
- Embrace the opportunity to represent their peers as part of an important sub-group within the Empowered Community.
We will notify all applicants about their status by mid-December.
OUR PREVIOUS TAB COHORTS
2024
- Cyndee Barkley
- Kim Bezdek
- Cindy Brandt
- Jackie Brown
- Elena Charles
- Jason Collar
- Braydon Eden
- Sara Estep
- Hannah Falstrom
- Amber Florence
- Makisha Fowler-Miller
- Alana Grant
- Michael Hopfauf
- Scott Johnson
- Kimberly Jordan
- Catherine Kingfisher
- Allie Klusener
- J. Kevin Knierim
- Megan Kupferschmid
- Mary Machart
- Mike Packard
- Brandon Reith
- Joey Running
- Megan Scott
- Shonda Yates
2025
- Courtney Alexander
- Donna Altman
- Kenyon Andrews
- Cyndee Barkley
- Demetria Brown
- Kayla Burke
- Norma Casas
- Amanda de Fays
- Joshua Gibson
- Mary Janssen
- Catherine Kingfisher
- Rebecca Mayer
- Matthew McCrea
- Joann Novak
- Claire Sargo
- Miranda Scott
- Janette Tarbell
- Danielle Taylor
- Sarah Wade
- Kareema Williams
GET EMPOWERED
Empowered is a non-profit organization created for educators who want to make a difference. We provide teachers with the tools and support to help them create moments that matter. We offer access to bold ideas, innovative resources, and a community of like-minded individuals.
Always for free. Always for teachers like you.
Want More Ways to Get Involved?
Want to Keep Exploring Empowered's Offerings?
Join a Community Roundtable
Join our staff and Empowered Educators to discuss opportunities to enhance classroom experiences for students and teachers. Find future Roundtables on the “Events” tab inside Empowered Hub.
Contribute to Teacher Talk
Want to share an idea or suggestion? Need inspiration? Curious how other teachers are using Empowered resources? Find collaborative discussions on “Teacher Talk” inside Empowered Hub.
Qualify for Additional Resources
Start-Up Kits, Micro Grants, Market Day Loans and more are available to educators who tell us a little more about themselves and clarify where, who, and what they teach. Get started on Empowered Hub.