The Innovative Schools Fellowship (ISF) is a two-year incubator that supports future school founders as they design and launch a new school in St. Louis.
Fellows work with parents and community to design and launch world-class schools while receiving full salary and benefits.
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What to Expect:
- Two to three year incubator program with salary and benefits
- Access to world-class capacity builders and executive coaching
- Visits to exceptional schools across the country
- Residencies at high-quality schools
- Co-designing a quality public school with the community
- Pilot programs to pressure test school ideas
“The Opportunity Trust’s support allowed us to build a school model based on families’ needs that is also backed by proven approaches we learned from research and relationships with world-class school leaders.” – Colby Heckendorn, School Founder
Founders: Colby Heckendorn & Genevieve Backer
Model: A Community Lab School
National Models Studied: Citizens of the World & New Schools San Francisco
Grades Served: kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school
Established: 2021
“The more I engage with our founding student leaders and their families, the more sure I am that The Leadership School’s model and approach will offer a space where young people can explore their authentic interests and cultivate the leaders within themselves.” – Kimberly Townsend, School Founder
Founder: Kimberly Townsend
Model: Leader In Me: Sense of Belonging -> Rigorous Academics -> Authentic Student Leadership
National Models Studied: Leader In Me
Grades Served: kindergarten through fourth grade elementary school
Established: 2022
St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts
“Three years ago, The Opportunity Trust took a chance on me and said, we are looking for individuals who reimagine education. I didn’t think I was a person, but I had a vision. They said, we’re going to support you while you do it. And they did exactly that. ” – Dr. Hollie Russell-West, School Founder
Founder: Hollie Russell-West
Model: Learning through media arts and storytelling
Grades Served: kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school
Established: 2023