6 Things You Need to Know About the ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship 2026-27

Technology and artificial intelligence are fundamentally reshaping the landscape of education, compelling schools across the United States to rethink instructional methods, roles, and systems to prepare students for today and tomorrow. At the heart of this transformation is the ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship—a program that amplifies the voices of those closest to the classroom. By featuring first-person essays and multimedia stories on EdSurge, this fellowship empowers K-12 educators and school leaders to share how they are addressing real-time challenges. The 2026-27 cohort, the sixth in the program’s history, comprises six exceptional educators who are already guiding their communities toward innovative practices. Here’s everything you need to know about this groundbreaking initiative.

1. What Is the Voices of Change Fellowship?

The ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship is a year-long program that provides a structured platform for educators to lead the conversation on educational innovation. Selected fellows write first-person essays and create multimedia stories for EdSurge, sharing their firsthand experiences with technology integration, AI adoption, and systemic change in their schools. The fellowship is designed to highlight grassroots leadership—giving teachers, principals, and district leaders a national stage to influence policy and practice. Unlike traditional professional development, this fellowship prioritizes authentic storytelling over abstract theory, ensuring that real-world insights drive the dialogue. Since its launch, the program has built a growing community of change makers who collectively shape the future of learning.

2. Why Educators, Not Administrators, Lead the Conversation

The fellowship deliberately focuses on the people closest to the classroom because they possess the most relevant, actionable knowledge about what works—and what doesn’t—in modern education. While administrators and policymakers have valuable perspectives, it’s the educators on the front lines who navigate the daily complexities of integrating AI, balancing screen time, and fostering equitable access. By centering their voices, the program ensures that the conversation remains grounded in practical realities. This approach also challenges the traditional top-down model of educational change, proving that innovation can—and should—emerge from classrooms. The 2026-27 cohort exemplifies this principle, with each member bringing unique insights from diverse teaching environments.

3. How the Application Process Identifies True Change Makers

The selection process for the Voices of Change Fellowship is rigorous and competitively open. Applicants submit essays and proposals demonstrating their leadership in technology integration or instructional redesign. The program’s editorial team evaluates each submission for originality, relevance, and potential impact. This year, the team was struck by the sheer number of qualified applicants who are already piloting innovative practices in their schools. The final six were chosen not only for their individual achievements but also for their capacity to inspire others through storytelling. The process reflects a commitment to diversity—geographic, demographic, and pedagogical—ensuring that the fellowship represents a wide range of educational experiences.

4. Meet the 2026-27 Cohort: Six Educators Who Are Redefining Learning

While the original announcement does not list names, the 2026-27 cohort consists of six educators whose work spans elementary to high school, urban to rural districts, and a variety of subject areas. They include teachers who have implemented AI-powered personalized learning plans, principals who have overhauled school schedules to support deeper learning, and instructional coaches who have trained peers in digital literacy. Each fellow brings a distinct perspective, yet all share a common goal: to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Throughout the academic year, their essays on EdSurge will offer a window into the real-world successes and struggles of educational transformation. Readers can follow their journeys to gain actionable insights for their own contexts.

5. What Fellows Produce—and Why It Matters

During the fellowship, each educator commits to producing a series of first-person essays and, in some cases, multimedia stories (including video or audio components) that document their work and reflections. These pieces are published on EdSurge, a leading education news outlet, where they reach a national audience of educators, administrators, and policymakers. The content is unfiltered and personal, offering a rare look at the day-to-day realities of leading change. For example, a fellow might write about the challenges of introducing AI tools in a low‑resource school or the triumphs of using project‑based learning to close equity gaps. This authentic storytelling humanizes complex issues and provides peer‑to‑peer learning that traditional professional development often lacks.

6. How the Fellowship Shapes the Future of Education

The Voices of Change Fellowship doesn’t just showcase individual stories—it influences broader conversations about the direction of K‑12 education. By spotlighting innovative practices from the ground up, the program provides evidence that effective change is already happening in classrooms across the country. This grassroots narrative challenges top‑down mandates and inspires other educators to take risks. Moreover, the fellowship creates a network of alumni who continue to advocate for teacher‑led innovation long after their official year ends. As schools grapple with AI, remote learning, and evolving workforce demands, the insights from this fellowship offer a compass for navigating uncertainty. The 2026-27 cohort’s contributions will add fresh, timely perspectives to this ongoing dialogue.

The ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship remains a vital force in elevating educator voices. By amplifying the stories of those who teach and lead every day, the program demonstrates that meaningful change starts in the classroom. Follow the 2026-27 fellows on EdSurge throughout the year to learn from their experiences and join the conversation about the future of learning. Their insights are not just informative—they are a call to action for every educator to become a voice of change.