Washington, D.C. (August 14, 2024) — The NEA Foundation is thrilled to announce Joshua Middleton from Howard University as its inaugural Community Schools Graduate Fellow, in partnership with Howard University. This fellowship will support The NEA Foundation’s ongoing efforts to study and affirm the critical role of educators’ voice and leadership in advancing student success through community schools.
The NEA Foundation’s Community Schools Initiative, which launched in 2020, focuses on the Deep South, one of the most under-resourced regions in the country. The insights gained from the fellowship will generate new knowledge that will inform community schools’ practice, both at the Foundation and beyond, helping to ensure that students in the Deep South and around the country have access to high-quality community schools.
Middleton is an educator and doctoral student at Howard University. He holds a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, both from Florida State University. His diverse background includes supporting teacher pipelines aimed at restoring Black educators to the classroom with the Center for Black Educator Development. As a graduate research assistant, he has conducted independent research on education policy, focusing on racial disparities in school discipline.
“We are thrilled to have Joshua join us as our Community Schools Graduate Fellow,” said Sara A. Sneed, President and CEO of The NEA Foundation. “His breadth of experience and dedication to educational equity are perfectly aligned with our mission. We are confident that his contributions will significantly enhance the community schools field’s understanding of the critical roles that educators can and do play in the design and implementation of exemplary community schools throughout the country.”
Middleton expressed his enthusiasm about the fellowship, stating, “I am deeply honored to become the Community Schools Graduate Fellow with The NEA Foundation. This opportunity allows me to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of educators in community schools, which can improve the educational experiences of countless students and educators.”
The NEA Foundation’s Community Schools Initiative, which currently works with sites in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, was recently featured in a report by In the Public Interest. Through this initiative, the Foundation has supported the redevelopment of numerous public schools in under-resourced communities as community schools, addressing the previously unmet needs of students and families through robust and often unprecedented family, school, and community partnerships.
To learn more about The NEA Foundation’s Community Schools Initiative and other programs, visit www.neafoundation.org.
