Ascend | Teaching Innovation Fellowship

Transform urban education. One student — and one classroom — at a time.

The application for the 2021 ATI Fellowship is now open!

Apply now to become a 2021 Ascend Teaching Innovation Fellow! Please click the link to submit an online application.

Fellowship Overview

Ascend is an innovative initiative that aims to transform how we serve our lowest performing students in urban public schools. Ascend Teaching Innovation (ATI) Fellows commit to serving as Learning Coaches for two years in an urban, public elementary school in Cincinnati, Ohio. Learning Coaches work one-on-one with a cohort of low-performing students in grades three through five during the school day. Students and LCs work together on individualized, “low-floor, high-ceiling” math tasks that foster a growth mindset, support social-emotional development, and establish a foundation of conceptual understanding in math. Each session takes place in one of Ascend’s Learning Stations – immersive, student-centered learning environments in the school building that empower students to take ownership over their learning. Learning Coaches receive coaching, training, and support from Ascend’s team of seasoned, expert teachers, with a focus on instructional coaching and analysis of student understanding.

ATI Fellows serve as Learning Coaches for two years, beginning in August 2021. During their two-year fellowship period, fellows receive an annual salary of $40,000.

Candidate Criteria

Our team is looking for exceptional individuals to join our tight-knit fellowship cohort — recent college and masters-level graduates who are passionate about issues in urban education, want to affect change in underserved communities, and are excited to be part of an innovative and challenging initiative.

Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Successful applicants will engage in a rigorous application process that is comprised of the following components: submitting an online application and participating in one or more interviews by video conference with members of our team.

The application for the 2021 ATI Fellowship is now open! You can submit an online application here.

Upcoming Application Deadlines:

March 1st
March 26th

Working on the Ascend team has been the most formative post-grad experience I could ever have imagined. As a Learning Coach, I have been encouraged to think critically and be creative. The best part of my job is forming deep and meaningful relationships with each of my students and sharing in their successes - there is nothing like the feeling of breakthrough moments! I've also learned so much about myself as a person and educator with the support of my instructional coach. Each morning on my way to BHA, I feel grateful to be a part of something so innovative that is transforming lives and will impact how we serve high-need students across the country.

— Anna Layman, current Ascend Learning Coach at Bond Hill Academy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it required that I have a background in education in order to apply?

We do not require that ATI Fellows studied elementary or secondary education at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. It is important that applicants have experience teaching and working with students, but not necessarily in a traditional classroom setting (i.e. serving as a tutor, camp counselor, outdoor education leader, etc.).

Can I apply to serve as an ATI Fellow for only one year?

All ATI Fellows are required to serve a two-year commitment as Learning Coach. Why? Because it takes time to achieve significant, lasting gains with our students on an individualized level, both academically and social-emotionally. The relationships that we develop with students are foundational and require a level of trust that a Learning Coach will show up day after day, year after year.

In addition, our ATI Fellows receive purposeful, intensive coaching over this two-year period to develop a strong foundation in instruction. This foundation is what allows them to plan individualized tasks and task progressions, achieve authentic, individualized instruction by assessing student understanding in the moment and adjusting instruction accordingly, and seamlessly support students’ social-emotional development by expertly embedding Habits of Mind throughout a given task.

Do I actually want to live in Cincinnati?

Yes, you do! Cincinnati consistently ranks as one of the best cities to live in the country for recent graduates and young professionals. It also ranks as one of the most affordable cities to live and work. If you don’t believe us, check it out for yourself!

At the same time, for those of us passionate about making a difference in underserved communities, Cincinnati is a great place to be. Like most cities in the region, Cincinnati is a city that also has immense need. Today, nearly one in three city residents live in poverty, and Cincinnati currently ranks sixth among all major U.S. cities for child poverty. And yet – the city is not inundated with programming and services for this population. We believe that there is nowhere better for highly motivated young people who want to make a meaningful difference in urban education!

For more information, please contact Jenna Schmidt at jenna@bondsofunion.org