
FELLOWSHIP
SELECTION
OUR WORK | FELLOWSHIP | SELECTION
SELECTION CRITERIA
Pahara Fellows are exceptional, values-driven education leaders with demonstrated commitment to transforming public education, and to serving students, families, and communities throughout the United States.
We aim to select leaders who:
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Have a track record of leadership in nonprofit schools or organizations successfully impacting students and families not served well by our public education system;
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Are creative and entrepreneurial, and who think beyond traditional boundaries to forge new pathways personally and in collaboration with others;
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Are on a journey to understand the effects of their and lived experiences, including aspects of race and privilege, and how their identity shapes their leadership;
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Hold a breadth of experience and maturity gained from overcoming hardship;
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Are between the ages of 25 and 60, and feel reflection on their leadership and vision for the future is timely;
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Don’t have it all figured out and are oriented towards listening to and learning from others with different perspectives, and can do so with humility, vulnerability, curiosity, and empathy; and,
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Are eager to build relationships and bridge gaps across political lines of difference
2023 ANNUAL SELECTION CYCLE TIMELINE
*Note that the selection cycle timeline is subject to change throughout the year. Please check our website regularly for timeline updates.
MARCH - APRIL 2023
Annual Call for Nominations
MARCH - MAY 2023
Open Call for Applications
MAY 2023
Candidate consideration begins
NOVEMBER 2023
Candidate consideration completed
DECEMBER 2023
Status updates shared
END OF 2023
- EARLY 2024
Selected cohorts announced
MAY & SEPTEMBER 2024
Cohort seminars launch
Our selection process is designed to help us get beyond surface-level information about individuals and their organizations and really get to know candidates and their outstanding work in service to students and families. We take a relational approach involving the following key phases:
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APPLICATIONLeaders who meet our program criteria are welcome to apply to the Fellowship, with or without a nomination. The application is an essential and required part of the process, and allows candidates to share information about their work and leadership, alignment with our selection criteria, and how they most hope to benefit from participation in this powerful development experience. For applicants advancing beyond this stage, this information serves as rich background information on which to base deep, reflective dialogue during interviews taking place during candidate consideration.
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NOMINATIONNominations are accepted on a rolling basis and, while they are not required for entry into the Fellowship, they are critical to our ability to identify exceptional leaders from across the education ecosystem, including but not limited to experience in nonprofit schools, out of/after school learning, human capital, technology, juvenile justice, political and policy strategy, future of work/workforce development, community wellness and mental health, college access and success, faith-based organizations, community based organizations and philanthropy. Ideally, you know enough about the leader’s work to share your thoughts on why they would be an excellent choice for the Fellowship. We are sensitive to the ways sponsorship practices can disadvantage women and Black, Indigenous, and leaders of color who are less likely to have sponsors. When thinking of incredible changemakers to bring to our attention, we encourage nominators to consider leaders from within and outside of their close circles.
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CANDIDATE CONSIDERATIONDuring this stage, we seek to understand candidates’ motivations and challenges, learn more about their background and leadership journey, and determine candidates’ willingness and ability to negotiate the multiple domains of difference that contribute to the tapestry of Pahara cohorts. We conduct a 90-minute Zoom interview with candidates. This interview is followed by referencing carried out by our team. Given the degree of openness and vulnerability expected in this phase of our process, information shared with us by candidates or in reference interviews is held with the highest degree of confidentiality.
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COHORT CURATIONWe aim for cohorts that are inclusive of the breadth of our humanity across multiple domains of difference, including socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religious affiliation, and political ideology. Cohorts are also distinctive in their inclusion of leaders from various organization models, multiple sectors in education, different geographic regions, and various leadership roles. This careful cohort curation is critical, as the cohort is the container within which the personal and professional transformation Pahara is most known for occurs. Cohort dialogue is confidential and both professional and personal in nature. We seek to foster an environment that celebrates the diversity and lived experiences of all of our Fellows.
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SELECTIONWe typically receive many more nominations and applications than we have available seats in each cohort. We strongly believe that creating the ideal blend of perspectives in each group is a vital component of the program’s value and impact on participants. Candidates who are not selected may choose to opt-in to be considered for a future cohort.
STEP 1
NOMINATION
APPLICATION
OR
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Leaders can apply with or without a nomination
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Nominations of exceptional leaders accepted year-round
STEP 2
CANDIDATE CONSIDERATION
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90-minute Zoom interview + Referencing
STEP 3
COHORT CURATION
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Inclusive of the breadth of our humanity across multiple domains of difference
STEP 4
SELECTION
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Candidates notified of their status in December
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Candidates not selected may choose to opt-in for future consideration