North Star Fellowship application open for second cohort of leaders seeking to launch new Connecticut charter schools
The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit, is now accepting applications for the second cohort of the North Star Fellowship, a paid opportunity that provides school leaders with the time, resources, and strategic guidance needed to successfully launch new public charter schools in Connecticut. Applicants should complete a Letter of Intent by the priority application deadline of November 30, 2025.
“The Mind Trust is thrilled to open applications for the second cohort of the North Star Fellowship. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of passionate and talented leaders to expand the number of high-quality school options available to Connecticut families. We are proud and excited to work in partnership with communities across Connecticut to support the North Star Fellows and build on a movement for better educational outcomes for the state’s children,” said Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust.
About the North Star Fellowship
According to the Connecticut Charter Schools Association, more than 5,000 students are on waitlists for public charter schools in the state. To meet the need for more high-quality public school options, the North Star Fellowship was established, with its programming and structure based on The Mind Trust’s fellowship and investment tracks, which have supported the launch of over 50 public charter and innovation network schools in Indiana. To ensure the fellowship builds on the strong work of the education sector in Connecticut and meets the needs of students and families, The Mind Trust team partners with Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD), a Connecticut-based education advocacy organization, and has included stakeholder engagement as an important and ongoing activity since the inception of the program.
North Star Fellows will spend up to two years developing and launching a new charter school in Connecticut. The Fellows are paid a competitive salary with healthcare and benefits and engage with a wide range of national charter school development experts to ensure their school is well-equipped for operational and academic success.
North Star Fellowship application process
Interested applicants can learn more and begin their Letter of Intent today at themindtrust.org/north-star-fellowship. The priority deadline to complete the Letter of Intent is November 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Selected applicants will be invited to complete a full application later this fall.
A strong candidate for the North Star Fellowship will possess these qualities:
- Experience managing teams of adults to achieve outstanding results for students.
- An ambitious, laser-like focus on academic achievement for all students.
- An unwavering belief that all students and communities deserve the opportunity to thrive.
- An entrepreneurial drive that uses resilience, fortitude, and visionary solutions to overcome challenges.
- The ability to live and work in Connecticut by the start of the fellowship in late summer 2026.
North Star Fellowship’s First Cohort
The Fellowship’s inaugural cohort was recently announced and has begun work to bring high-quality public charter schools to Connecticut. The cohort includes four schools and their fellows: Bold Charter School (fellow to be announced), Ben Cruse for Libertas Academy Charter School, David Brown for PROUD Academy, and Dr. Monica Brase for TransformED Academy.
To learn more about the North Star Fellows, visit themindtrust.org/fellows. For more information about all of The Mind Trust’s fellowships, visit themindtrust.org/fellowships.