description of the fellowship
What is the Education Entrepreneur Fellowship?
The Mind Trust’s Education Entrepreneur Fellowship is a nationally unique incubator for
transformative education ventures that provide new solutions to public education’s most vexing
problems. The Fellowship offers promising education entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop
and launch their break-the-mold education ventures and the support necessary for success. The
Mind Trust, which invests approximately $250,000 in each fellow, provides fellows the freedom
to innovate and the support necessary to succeed. The term of the Fellowship is two years.
During that time, fellows receive a full-time salary ($90,000), full benefits, customized training
and the support necessary to turn a promising idea into a successful educational venture with
large-scale, transformational benefits for students in Indianapolis and throughout the nation.
Fellowship ventures target underserved or disadvantaged populations with solutions that attack the
root problems in the delivery of public education. The Fellowship is for people who envision entirely
new approaches to the challenges of public education, and possess the relentless drive necessary to
exploit opportunities to fulfill their visions. Fellows join a growing network of education entrepreneurs
dedicated to forging dramatic change in public education.
To participate in the Fellowship program, do I have to live in Indianapolis?
No. Education Entrepreneur Fellows, however, will be required to participate in meetings with their
cohort of fellows in Indianapolis at least quarterly. The Mind Trust hopes to foster collegial and
collaborative relationships among the growing network of education entrepreneurs doing work in Indianapolis.
Fellows will also need to spend any additional time required to successfully launch their initiatives in
Indianapolis (as they will need to do in all cities included in their initial launch plans). The $20,000
stipend fellows receive may be used for travel to and from Indianapolis.
What is an education entrepreneur?
Education entrepreneurs are individuals who develop new approaches to tackle society’s greatest
challenges in radically new ways. They are driving some of the most compelling improvements in
educational outcomes for chronically underserved students. Ventures like Teach For America, College
Summit, New Leaders for New Schools, The New Teacher Project and the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP)
are prime examples. The leaders of these organizations have transformed education for thousands of children
and have changed our very ideas about what is possible in public schools. To access resources on education
entrepreneurship, please click here.
How many fellows do you plan to select for your second cohort of Education Entrepreneur Fellows?
The Mind Trust is fully prepared to offer at least three Fellowships for the second cohort. Fellows will be selected for the second cohort in December 2008.
What type of training and support is provided through the Education
Entrepreneur Fellowship?
The Mind Trust will work with each fellow to design the customized package of support the fellow needs to develop and launch the fellow’s proposed venture. This package of support will include:
- Fellows will receive $20,000 over the course of the Fellowship to support their work. These resources may be used for customized training, travel or other reasonable purposes that advance their initiatives.
- Fellows will be matched with a Champion who can provide guidance, support, and access to people or groups necessary for the fellow’s success. Champions, likely senior-level business and community leaders, will be people committed to the fellow’s work and success and people who recognize that education entrepreneurs can bring about transformative change in public education.
- Fellows will receive ongoing support from The Mind Trust’s Board, staff and advisers at every stage.
- Fellows will also receive constructive feedback from an advisory committee that will evaluate fellow’s ongoing work and offer their expert advice and support to fellows as they continuously seek to refine and improve their design and launch.
- Fellows will participate in a growing network of education entrepreneurs in Indianapolis who can share ideas and resources as they develop their initiatives.
Does a fellow’s idea for a new initiative remain the fellow’s idea during the Fellowship or does the idea become The Mind Trust’s idea?
Fellows’ ideas and initiatives are their own. Fellows own their initiatives and are ultimately responsible for the success of their initiatives. Once the Fellowship is over, fellows have no ongoing responsibility to The Mind Trust. However, we very much hope fellows will remain closely affiliated with The Mind Trust and provide guidance and support to future fellows.
Who employs Education Entrepreneur Fellows, and are fellows eligible
for employee benefits?
Education Entrepreneur Fellows are full-time employees of The Mind Trust for the two years of the Fellowship. They are eligible for medical, dental and retirement benefits. The Fellowship is a full-time responsibility; fellows may not have additional employment, consulting contracts, or other professional responsibilities. Note: The Mind Trust may need to make adjustments to the employment packages of fellows not based in Indiana to comply with state law and/or other factors, including but not limited to, the cost of employment.
What do fellows do upon completion of their Fellowship?
At the end of the two-year Fellowship, fellows are expected to launch and lead the initiatives they used the Fellowship to incubate and develop. Initiatives are expected to be self-sustaining after the two years of the Fellowship. The Fellowship’s purpose is to give education entrepreneurs an opportunity to design and launch new education initiatives that will be sustained over an extended period of time after the Fellowship is completed. The Mind Trust’s financial support of fellows ends when the Fellowship is over.
What is the total compensation Education Entrepreneur Fellows receive
during the two year Fellowship program?
During the two-year Fellowship, fellows work full-time at The Mind Trust developing and incubating their ideas to transform public education. Fellows receive a $90,000 annual salary during the Fellowship and a full benefits package. In addition, fellows receive $20,000 to support their work. This stipend may be used for customized training, travel or other reasonable purposes that advance the fellow’s work. Note: The Mind Trust may need to make adjustments to the employment packages of fellows not based in Indiana to comply with state law and/or other factors, including but not limited to, the cost of employment.
Do fellows receive office space in Indianapolis?
Yes. Fellows will have access to offices (likely in a quiet, spacious cubicle) at The Mind Trust. While working in Indianapolis, fellows will also be provided a computer, a phone, free, convenient parking, and access to printers, copiers, a conference room, a kitchen and other office amenities. Fellows will work in close proximity to a growing network of education entrepreneurs in Indianapolis, including other Education Entrepreneur Fellows and staff from Teach For America and College Summit, whose offices are located on the same floor as The Mind Trust’s.
Does The Mind Trust oversee and evaluate fellows’ work over
time?
Yes. With each fellow, The Mind Trust develops a set of benchmarks charting the expected progress of the fellow’s work. Each fellow periodically makes presentations to The Mind Trust’s staff, advisers, and other fellows on their progress to elicit guidance and constructive feedback. Fellows must make substantial and sustained progress toward implementing their ventures in order to remain Education Entrepreneur Fellows.
When do fellows begin the Fellowship?
It is expected that the second cohort of fellows will be selected in early December 2008. Each fellow works with The Mind Trust staff to establish an appropriate start date. Fellows should be prepared, however, to start within a reasonable time period after the Fellowships are awarded. Fellows enrolled in school may finish the school year before beginning their Fellowship with The Mind Trust.
