2026 Civil Rights Teaching Fellowship
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is excited to open applications for our third Civil Rights Teaching Fellowship.
Program Description:
The Civil Rights Teaching Fellowship is composed of two parts: a summer institute and virtual meetings throughout the school year. Participants will first come together for a five-day summer institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. This year’s theme is “Student Activism in the Civil Rights Era: SNCC and Beyond.”
Teaching Fellows will work with a slate of experts in the history and education fields on pedagogies, methodologies, and primary sources. They will have the opportunity to explore our expanded exhibits, connect with resources around and beyond Atlanta, and work together on ways to utilize museum and archival resources to support equitable and honest curriculum.
Following the summer institute, Teaching Fellows will meet virtually throughout the 2026-2027 school year. In these meetings, Fellows will discuss how they are incorporating what they’ve learned during the summer institute, request assistance and gain insight from their cohort, and receive early access to and provide feedback on forthcoming NCCHR curriculum.
Scholar in Residence:
Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries | Associate Professor of History, The Ohio State University
Important Dates:
- February 16, 2026 – Applications Open
- April 15, 2026 – Applications Close
- May 1, 2026 – Acceptance Letters Sent Out
- May 15, 2026 – Participants Registrations Due
- June 22 – June 26, 2026 – Summer Institute
- July 2026 – First stipend payment
- December 2026 – Second stipend payment
We Want Grades 8-12 Educators Who:
- Cover social studies content related to civil rights, U.S. history, 20th century history
- Work at public, charter, or independent schools.
- Live within driving distance to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
- Seek new ways to adapt to an ever-changing landscape while remaining committed to teaching honest history.
Stipend
Applicants who are selected for the Fellowship will receive a stipend of $2,000. Half of the stipend will be awarded following completion of the in-person portion of the program and the final half will be awarded at the end of calendar year 2026.
*Note that lodging will not be provided this year. Daily parking will be covered for those commuting in by car.
Application Information
Requirements
Interested educators will need to complete the application linked below and attach the following items as either a pdf or document file format.
- Current Resume
- A Letter of reference from an administrator or mentor specific to this opportunity
- A personal essay describing why you are interested in participating in the Civil Rights Teaching Fellowship and what you hope to gain from the experience. Length: 1.5 – 2 pages Spacing: 1.5 lines
The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm April 15, 2026.
For questions regarding the Teaching Fellowship or the application process, please reach out to us at [email protected].
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ 2026 Civil Rights Teaching Fellowship is proudly sponsored by Cox Enterprises and the Cousins Foundation.