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GLSI's Place-Based Educator Institute Fellowship
Expand your Place-Based Education practice with a community of experienced peers.

What is the Place-Based Educator Fellowship?

Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) invites experienced K-12 classroom educators to apply for the 2026-27 Place-Based Educator Fellowship, a year-long professional learning experience to deepen your place-based education (PBE) practice, develop as a school/community leader, and collaborate with peer educators throughout Michigan. This statewide fellowship is designed for educators who self-identify as having developed an advanced understanding and implementation of PBE in their school and community. Participants will refine high-impact projects, collaborate with a professional learning community, and gain support to grow student leadership, strengthen community partnerships, and align PBE with school and district priorities. 

 

Who Should Participate?

This fellowship is more than professional development—it’s a collaborative space for teacher-leaders to reflect, imagine, and grow. With the support of peers and mentors across Michigan, participants will explore how to: 

  • cultivate student leadership and voice,

  • build reciprocal community partnerships,

  • align PBE with school and district priorities,

  • design inclusive and impactful projects, and 

  • extend inquiry and community-based action over time

 

Cost?

FREE for the School Year 2026-27 cohort through grant award support from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust 

 

What You’ll Experience 

Fall Learning Institute
Dive into advanced-level topics grounded in GLSI’s Guiding Principles for Exemplary Place-Based Stewardship Education.  Each session includes collaborative activities, project reflection, and implementation planning. In addition to live sessions (held via Zoom), participants will complete up to a half hour of self-guided leadership development work each week of the institute.

 

Virtual Institute Schedule
Tuesdays, 4:30–5:30 pm ET

Oct 6, Oct 13, Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 10, Nov 17

 

2027 Monthly Meetings Tuesdays,

4:30–5:30 pm ET on Jan 19, Feb 9, March 9, April 27 (Teacher Showcase & Year-End Celebration)

 

1:1 Project Implementation & Leadership Support 
Receive up to 8 hours of individualized project design and implementation support, fundraising strategy consultation, leadership coaching, and/or collaboration with other educators from your school/district. 1:1 support provided by GLSI Place-Based Stewardship Education (PBSE) Specialists (former classroom teachers/principals) throughout the year.

 

Leadership Growth & National Networking
Leverage a scholarship to attend the 2027 National Place-Based Education Conference (October 20-22, 2027)

 

Project Support & Visibility
Expand or complete a project with students, develop tools and resources to share your learning, and contribute to statewide models of exemplary practice.

 

Who Should Apply

We’re looking for educators who: 

  • Teach in a Michigan K-12 school

  • Have considerable experience teaching with a place-based approach and implementing student-driven place-based projects beyond the classroom, and are ready to deepen their practice

  • Want to develop and grow as school/community leaders through place-based education efforts

  • Are committed to engaging in statewide peer mentorship and collaboration

 

Only 15 slots are available for the 2026-27 cohort!

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Additional Benefits

  • $500 stipend to honor your time and commitment

  • Up to 32 SCECH credits 

  • Scholarship to the 2027 National PBE Conference

  • A network of peers and mentors across Michigan. 

 

Apply Now!

Application Process: Now Open

Deadline to apply: Rolling application until filled 

Questions:  Contact Patty Tolly at Patty@greatlakesstewardship.org

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What GLSI Educators say:

"I have been fortunate enough to have professional development with GLSI for two years now, and have attended two of their National PBE Conferences. The PBE Institute and Fellowship have challenged me to reach new heights in my practice, and I cannot stress enough how much of an impact these two cohorts have made. The resources alone would have been sufficient. The coursework was robust, and could have stood alone. But the mentorship, the camaraderie, and the support have been invaluable. The connections made, both with other practitioners and within my own work, are priceless. I hope that this program continues to grow and offer more and more opportunities."

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