10 Essential Insights Into the ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship for 2026-27

1. What Is the Voices of Change Fellowship?

The ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship is a year-long program designed to amplify the voices of K-12 educators and school leaders who are actively reshaping teaching and learning in the age of AI and technology. Launched to address the rapid evolution of classrooms, the fellowship empowers practitioners to share their firsthand experiences, strategies, and challenges through first-person essays and multimedia stories on EdSurge. By giving educators a national platform, the program fosters real-time conversations about instructional innovation, new roles, and systemic changes needed to prepare students for tomorrow. The fellowship is a key initiative of ISTE+ASCD, reflecting their commitment to putting those closest to the classroom at the center of education’s transformation.

2. Why This Fellowship Matters Now

Technology, particularly AI, is fundamentally altering what it means to teach and learn. Schools across the United States are reimagining curricula, assessment methods, and leadership structures to meet the demands of a digital age. The Voices of Change Fellowship provides a timely outlet for educators to document their journeys, share what works, and learn from peers facing similar challenges. Rather than waiting for top-down mandates, fellows catalyze innovation from within their communities. This bottom-up approach ensures that solutions are grounded in classroom realities and can be adapted by other educators. The 2026-27 cohort continues this tradition of frontline leadership at a pivotal moment in education history.

3. The Sixth Cohort: Meet the 2026-27 Fellows

After a rigorous application process, ISTE+ASCD selected six exceptional educators to join the sixth cohort of the Voices of Change Fellowship. These individuals represent a diverse cross-section of K-12 education, including classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and school administrators from various regions of the United States. Each fellow brings a unique perspective on leveraging technology to enhance equity, engagement, and deep learning. Their stories will be featured on EdSurge throughout the 2026-27 academic year, offering readers an inside look at real-world challenges and victories. The cohort’s selection reflects the high caliber of applicants who are already guiding their schools toward innovative practices that define the future of learning.

4. How the Fellowship Amplifies Educator Voices

The core mechanism of the Voices of Change Fellowship is its partnership with EdSurge, a leading education technology news outlet. Fellows are supported in crafting first-person essays and multimedia stories that share their personal experiences with tech integration, pedagogical shifts, and systemic reforms. This platform not only gives educators a national audience but also allows them to contribute to a growing library of practitioner-led insights. The program provides editorial guidance and feedback, ensuring that each story is compelling and actionable. By publishing on EdSurge, fellows join a community of educators who value peer learning and forward-thinking practices.

5. The Application Process: What It Takes to Become a Fellow

The application for the 2026-27 cohort was intentionally designed to identify educators who are already making a difference. Applicants were asked to share their vision for how technology can transform learning, provide examples of their work, and outline how they would use the fellowship to effect change. The selection committee looked for clear, authentic voices with a track record of innovative practice. Key qualities included a student-centered mindset, willingness to collaborate, and ability to reflect critically on successes and failures. Hundreds of talented educators applied, making the selection highly competitive. The six chosen fellows exemplify the depth of talent in K-12 education today.

6. The Role of EdSurge in Sharing Fellow Stories

EdSurge serves as the primary publication channel for the Voices of Change Fellowship. As a trusted source for education technology news and ideas, EdSurge reaches a wide audience of teachers, administrators, and policymakers. Each fellow’s series of articles and multimedia pieces are published over the fellowship year, creating a continuous narrative about their journey. The platform allows for reader comments and discussions, extending the conversation beyond the article page. EdSurge also archives all fellow contributions, creating a growing resource hub for educators seeking real-world examples of technology integration and change management in schools.

7. Topics Covered by This Year’s Fellows

The 2026-27 fellows bring a rich variety of focus areas that reflect the pressing issues in education today. Anticipated topics include: using AI to personalize learning while preserving teacher agency; redesigning school schedules and roles to support student agency; leveraging data to inform instruction without overwhelming teachers; fostering digital citizenship and ethical technology use; implementing blended learning models in diverse settings; and building equitable access to technology for underserved communities. Each fellow will explore their chosen theme through a series of posts that blend practical tips, reflective narratives, and calls to action. Their collective contributions will offer a comprehensive look at the future of learning.

8. How the Fellowship Empowers Change From the Classroom Up

A distinctive feature of the Voices of Change Fellowship is its emphasis on grassroots leadership. Rather than relying solely on policy or administrative decrees, the program recognizes that lasting educational transformation begins with teachers and school leaders who experiment, adapt, and share their findings. Fellows are not just storytellers—they are change agents who inspire their peers by demonstrating what is possible. Through their published work, they influence conversations at local and national levels. The fellowship also connects them with a network of past and present fellows, creating a community of practice that extends beyond the program year.

9. The Impact of the Fellowship on the Education Landscape

Since its inception, the Voices of Change Fellowship has generated a rich repository of practitioner knowledge that has informed professional development, curriculum design, and policy discussions. Schools and districts have used fellow-written articles as discussion starters in PLCs, book study groups, and staff meetings. The program has also helped shift the narrative around technology in education—from tool-centric to human-centric—by highlighting the messy, rewarding work of teaching with and about new tools. As AI continues to reshape the field, the fellowship ensures that educator voices remain central to the conversation, balancing hype with grounded experience.

10. How to Prepare for Future Fellowship Opportunities

If you are an educator who is passionate about leading change with technology, the Voices of Change Fellowship offers a unique platform. While the 2026-27 cohort is now set, ISTE+ASCD typically opens applications for the next round in early spring. To prepare, start documenting your own innovations and reflections. Build a portfolio of writing or multimedia work that showcases your ability to tell compelling stories. Engage with the EdSurge community by commenting on articles and sharing your insights. The fellowship values authentic voices over polished credentials, so focus on sharing your real experiences. Keep an eye on the ISTE+ASCD website for announcements and join their mailing list to stay informed.

The ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship for 2026-27 represents a vital lifeline for educators who are actively shaping the future of teaching and learning. By providing a platform for their voices, the program ensures that the people who know classrooms best are leading the national conversation. As you’ve seen in these 10 insights, the fellowship is more than a honor—it’s a catalyst for change, a community of practice, and a testament to the power of educator leadership. Whether you are a current or aspiring fellow, a school leader, or a teacher looking for inspiration, the stories from this cohort will offer valuable lessons for navigating the challenges and opportunities of education in an AI-driven world.