Teacher Advisory Board
Collaborating to Transform Education
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.
WANT TO BE PART OF TAB?
We’ll accept applications for our 2025 TAB Cohort between 12:01AM (ET) on Tues. 10/01 and 11:59PM (ET) on Thurs. 10/31.
Our online application takes just a few minutes to complete.
WHAT TAB MEMBERS SAY
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Check out these frequently asked questions, or use our Contact Us form and we’ll route your inquiry to Dre’ Helms – who oversees TAB.
Applications for next year’s TAB cohort can be submitted, exclusively by online form, between October 1st and October 31st each year.
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
Check the FAQ below for what we’re looking for in TAB Members.
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 asked to attend a kick-off/on-boarding session in December and then attend a one-hour virtual team cohort meeting during the school year months to discuss educational trends, classroom opportunities, and Empowered projects.
In addition there are typically 1-2 “projects” the cohort is working on at any time. Our most-engaged members typically give us 3-5 hours/month.
TAB Members are not required to meet any specific criteria but we do ask that you stay generally involved in and engaged with the group.
TAB Members are rewarded for the value they create within their cohort and for our organization. Incentives for TAB participation include:
- An Empowered TAB Swag Pack;
- Early access to Empowered resources and events;
- Hourly compensation for reviewing materials, participating in meetings, etc.; and
- Eligibility for an all-expenses paid trip to an Empowered Training event.
Additional perks might include:
- Compensation for leading and/or participating in special projects and initiatives;
- Financial recognition for outsized contributions to TAB and its work;
- Invitations to participate in additional Empowered and Stand Together discussions and initiatives.
To receive any compensation, TAB Members must provide banking for direct deposit and tax documentation.
All incentives, unless otherwise arranged, are paid quarterly.
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 organize applications as they are received with a formal evaluation of all candidates in November.
We anticipate notifying those selected for the 2025 TAB Cohort on Friday, 12/13/24.
SPECIAL THANKS TO 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
New To Empowered?
Empowered, first and foremost, is a community of educators committed to making learning more engaging and meaningful for students, families, and communities. Learn more about us and, if you see value in what we’re offering, take a few minutes to join our movement today.
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.