Three Seagoville High School teachers are among 107 teachers nationwide to be named 2015 Stanford Hollyhock teaching fellows, a professional development program at Stanford University geared toward classroom leaders who serve a predominately low-income student population.
Jasymne Alexander, Kristin Alvarado and Cirina Espinoza will represent their school and the Dallas Independent School District. They will first travel to Stanford University in July for the summer institute before participating in coaching sessions throughout the 2015-2016 school year with their school-based team members, a cluster of fellows in their content area, and 1-to-1 conversations with their instructional coach.
“The program is aligned to Dallas ISD’s core beliefs and shares the common philosophy that great teachers and quality instruction make the biggest difference in student achievement,” said Michael D. Jones, Seagoville High principal.
The Stanford Hollyhock fellowship is a competitive program that selects candidates from across the country with 2-7 years of high school teaching experience in science, mathematics, history, or English, with a record of exemplary teaching and a commitment to professional growth. The program is free for participants and includes a $2,000 stipend for participation over two school years, all expenses paid for the summer experiences, continuing education credits, and a certificate of teacher leadership for completion of the program. Each fellow applied to the program with colleagues from his or her own school to ensure school support and commitment.
The teachers selected this year come from public and charter schools nationwide. On average, the teachers have 4 years of teaching experience; 60 percent have earned master’s degrees; and 43 percent of them are first-generation college graduates. The schools they teach in are low-resourced, and 80 percent of the students they teach qualify for free or reduced lunch rates.
