Building the skills, resources, and networks of tomorrow's education leaders.
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"My Fellowship has equipped me with the tools to become a change agent in the education arena, and opened up important lines of communication at the local, state and national levels."
Dr. Lisa Green-Derry, EPFP Louisiana '16
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"Effective policymaking requires effective relationships among those who create policies, so EPFP establishes a norm that crosses political lines and bureaucracies."
Ron Cowell, Pennsylvania EPFP Coordinator
| What | An intensive cross-sector professional training program in contemporary education issues, policymaking, leadership, strategy and more |
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| When | November through May yearly, including colloquiums, networking sessions, and the spring Washington, D.C., Policy Seminar |
| Cost | Fellows’ employing organizations pay a small tuition of $2200 that covers local tuition and space requirements, as well as travel expenses to the Washington Policy Seminar. Limited scholarships are available — contact us to find out more. |
| Where | Most local colloquiums take place at the offices of Jones Walker LLP, 201 Saint Charles Ave #5100, New Orleans, LA 70170; as this is a state-wide program, Fellows also engage in several field trips to the Louisiana Capitol and other policy centers around Louisiana. |
Susan Kahn (EPFP Louisiana ’16) — Onward and Upward
Susan joined the EPFP cohort in her last year of attaining a PhD in Educational Leadership and Research at the University of Louisiana. Shortly after graduation, she moved forward to act as the Education Program Manager at Pearson, an international publishing and assessment company that meets professional development and training needs across the world. "The EPFP experience has been nothing short of transformative," she says. "The space has afforded me the ability to deeply reflect and analyze my beliefs, strengthen my leadership skills, and develop deep insight into what's going on in Louisiana's schools. I strongly encourage my fellow education leaders to take part."
About EPFP
Program Overview
The Education Policy Fellowship Program turns high-potential professionals into tomorrow’s education leaders.
EPFP is Louisiana’s only professional development program for emerging policy leaders seeking to improve student outcomes. In 2015, Louisiana joined the ranks of 14 other states across the US in welcoming EPFP to our community.
Fellows remain in their full-time positions and use their work environment as the context for examining issues in education leadership and policy. The program benefits states, organizations, and individuals: Louisiana gains a strengthened talent pipeline of trained education policy professionals, employers gain new organizational expertise and networks, and participants become informed leaders within their workplace and community.
EPFP is Louisiana’s only professional development program for emerging policy leaders seeking to improve student outcomes. In 2015, Louisiana joined the ranks of 14 other states across the US in welcoming EPFP to our community.
Fellows remain in their full-time positions and use their work environment as the context for examining issues in education leadership and policy. The program benefits states, organizations, and individuals: Louisiana gains a strengthened talent pipeline of trained education policy professionals, employers gain new organizational expertise and networks, and participants become informed leaders within their workplace and community.
Speakers & Curriculum
EPFP Fellows are privileged to learn from a wide variety of guest speakers, including Maurice "Moon" Landrieu (Former Mayor, City of New Orleans); Jan Moller (Director, Louisiana State Budget Project); Paul Pastorek (Former Superintendent of Education, State of Louisiana); Dr. Andre Perry (Founding Dean of Urban Education, Davenport University); Scott Richard (Executive Director, Louisiana School Boards Association); Dr. James Richardson (Director, Public Administration Institute at Louisiana State University); and James Singleton (Chairman, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and Former President, New Orleans City Council).
Colloquiums are held one Friday per month from 9am to 3pm at Jones Walker LLP, 201 Saint Charles Ave. #5200.
Colloquiums are held one Friday per month from 9am to 3pm at Jones Walker LLP, 201 Saint Charles Ave. #5200.
EPFP Colloquiums
- Retreat: Setting the Stage
- Colloquium I: Adaptive, Courageous Leadership
- Colloquium II: Autonomy, Equity & Choice: Building Viable Governance Models
- Colloquium III: Show Me The Money: Inside the Louisiana State Budget
- Colloquium IV: From Cradle to the New Standards — ESSA and Beyond
- Colloquium V: The Changing Face of Education Demography
- Colloquium VI: The Future of the Education Profession
- Colloquium VIII: High School / JumpStart / STEM: 21st-Century Learning
- Washington Policy Seminar National Meeting
- Colloquium IX: Leadership for Partnership and Public Advocacy
- Project Presentation & Program Graduation
What Do I Need to Apply?
- • A passion for education policy and a desire to improve opportunities for all Louisiana children
- • A track record for making things happen both inside and across agencies/organizations
- • A commitment to personal and professional development
- • A full-time, professional position with substantive work experience
- • A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
- • The endorsement and financial support of your employing organization
EPFP Commitment
- • Participate in 10 sessions over the nine-month period including a welcome reception / retreat, eight topic-based colloquiums, and graduation ceremony
- • Attend a national forum focusing on policy
- • Share your experience and knowledge with other Fellows through inquiry, discussions, and presentations
- • Conduct independent study and research by reading materials in advance, preparing questions, and completing a self-designed project related to issues explored in the program
For Employers
- • Access to a nationally-acclaimed professional program with a proven track record
- • Better informed, more skillful employees who understand policy making and the interconnections of education with other sectors
- • Employees who are prepared to assume greater leadership responsibilities
- • Employees equipped to make dynamic, research-based contributions to education policy and practice
- • Expanded professional networks that enhance the organization’s ability to access key leaders and decision makers who shape policy on behalf of children and youth
Cohort & Alumni
Coming soon!
K'Shon Booker
K'Shon's Project: Keep It Healthy
K'Shon's project focuses on providing answers to health problems for uninsured kids by helping parents locate information and free or low-cost resources.
Verrina Booker
Verrina’s Project: Dress For Success
Helping young women succeed in the work force and in life through the self-respect that comes with looking your best. Verrina has established a "community closet" of fashion pieces for the neighborhood and provides both fashion and professional coaching to borrowers.
Shirley Datus
Shirley's Project:
Coming soon!
Tarsha Davis
Tarsha's Project: Be Well Now, Be Well Later
Providing awareness and education regarding teen dating violence to school faculty, staff, students and parents. Tarsha provides information promoting healthy dating relationships and promote a culture of empowerment among 7th-12th grade students.
Cassandra Dorsey
Cassandra's Project: Dinner With Me Foundation: Etiquette For Life
A nonprofit organization for teenagers designed to teach proper etiquette. This organization gives lessons in building communication skills, building confidence, table manners, public speaking, poise and composure, etc.
Joyce Duncan
Joyce's Project:
Coming soon!
Eileen Hawkins
Eileen's Project: Humble Village
Providing families in need with useful information based on their individual or family needs. The main focus will be on topics such as Early Childhood Education, health, parenting, mental and social issues, and senior citizen issues.
Yvette Martin
Yvette's Project: Juvenile Mental Health Resources
Yvette provides resource guides on local mental health agencies to local families, and helping agencies understand how best to treat local youths. Referral facilities, such as doctors' offices, schools, churches, police departments, etc. will be informed as to what is available. Once families are aware of what is available in the community, children won't have to find out if there is an updated resource material on MHA (Mental Health Agencies).
Russell Moore
Russell's Project: Recycle for Life's Sake
Russell has started a recycling program in her Treme neighborhood to build community pride and overall clean-up. She's also working on getting recycling lessons and initiatives implemented in local schools.
Alida Murray
Alida's Project: Men Ask for Consent (MAC)
MAC is a sexual assault awareness program. It targets high school and college students. The mission is to expose the issue of sexual assault/violence, to educate the community at-large, and to empower those impacted by it.
Brenda Pitts
Brenda's Project:
Coming soon!
Laurena Rogers
Laurena's Project:
Coming soon!
Queen Tyna Scott
Queen Tyna's Project: Nourish the Heart - Nourish the Mind
This project distributes healthy, delicious, fresh dinners to local children who may otherwise not have stable food access.
LeAndra Shipps
LeAndra's Project:
Coming soon!
Brandi Thomas Scott
Brandi's Project: The WellBeing Initiative
Brandi's project focuses on treating adolescent depression in females, while also addressing any underlying issues that may be exacerbating the depressive system (i.e. economic status, family problems). In ongoing classes at Young Audiences Charter School Brandi teaches coping strategies, social skills and problem solving, while also giving young women a listening ear.
Remika Breda
Remika's Project: The New Orleans Film Arts Academy
Week-long film studies program that teaches high school students about the industry, hones their skills, and ignites their passion for personal and artistic development.
Rosland Brown
Rosland's Project: Home Base
A community service program that offers skills and experience to single parents, young parents and young adults on learning and re-learning domestic home skills
Kanitra Charles
Kanitra's Project: EDCU
Increasing the quality of education within child care centers to improve the development of young learners, creating programs that are accountable and provide measurable outcomes. A resource pool will be created to offer child care centers access to an affordable bookkeeper, professional development and more.
Adriene Gill
Adriene's Project: Breathe-a-Rhyme
Teaching relaxation and breathing techniques that help stressed kids de-escalate conflicts and create peaceful environments for positive self-talk.
Briceshanay Gresham
Briceshanay's Project: Art as Healing
Coming soon!
Rameisha Johnson
Rameisha's Project: Growing Engagement Together (GET NOLA)
Helping increase the capacity of parent engagement programs within schools: starting programs at schools that don't have them, and optimizing the efficiency of schools that do. Uses a three-tier cycle process: compliance evaluation rubric, comprehensive planning, and active implementation.
Angela Keller
Angela's Project:
Coming soon!
Rebecca Lemon
Rebecca's Project:
Coming soon!
Elegra Matthews
Elegra's Project: Glorious Greys
Supporting the elderly and aging population gracefully mature, lending a helping hand toward those who need it most: companionship, housekeeping, meal prep and more. In partnership with TCA and Meals On Wheels.
Maria Montoya
Maria's Project: The Power of Play
For her community project, Maria produced a series of photo essays featuring students with special needs and their feelings about being labeled by doctors, teachers, fellow students and their community. Each essay is paired with a professional photo that will depict how each child sees themselves, and the photos were presented at an event recognizing the students for heroism to "speak up and speak out" on these labels.
Lashundal Moore
Lashundal's Project:
Coming soon!
Kendra Norwood
Kendra's Project: Teaching Parents and Children Fiscal Responsibility
Coming soon!
Megan O'Connell
Megan's Project:
Coming soon!
Davetta Ross
Davetta's Project: Samitra's Corner
Young mother resident and resource center.
Ty Salvant
Ty's Project: Homeschool Parent Resource Center
A space to teach cooking and other extracurriculars for homeschooling families, facilitate meetings that are accommodating to kids, and provide programming that meets the needs of the community.
Erin Scott
Erin's Project: Parents Present
A group to encourage active parenting for parents that may not know how to engage their kids most productively using structure, quality time, and a balance of love and discipline to produce healthier, happier family structures.