Call for Teachers: Innovative Curriculum Development

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Opportunity for educators in grades 7–12

We are seeking passionate educators teaching grades 7–12 who are looking to grow their creative toolbox to become part of the 2026 MIT MAD / WPS Teacher Innovation Fellowship for the upcoming spring term (February to June, 2026).

This is a unique opportunity to shape educational materials and contribute to meaningful open source design and making curriculum (see classroom activities from last year here). Working together across schools and content areas, fellows will be joining a vibrant learning community committed to reimagining K12 education. Hands-on design and making activities offer important transferable skills to a wide range of subjects — from math and science to English and history.


Applications Due: EOD January 24, 2026
Acceptances: January 30, 2026
First meeting: 4–6pm, February 10, 2026 at MIT

Program Overview

Who We’re Looking For

  • Currently employed school teachers
  • Grades 7–12, diverse representation across subject areas:
    • Math
    • Science
    • English
    • Art
    • History
    • Engineering
    • Making
    • Library

Minimum Qualifications

  • Minimum of 2 years classroom teaching experience
  • Currently teaching in a middle or high school setting
  • Experience with diverse learning modalities and student populations
  • Commitment to educational innovation

Fellowship Commitment

We recognize that teachers work within many constraints. If there are commitments you're uncertain you can fulfill, we've provided space at the end of the application (due January 24) for you to share more details.

  • Attend all in-person meetings
  • Pilot resources in development in your own classroom (approximately 2-3 class periods) and provide critical feedback on interdisciplinary design lesson plans and materials, to help ensure practical classroom applicability.
    • Host classroom visit by fellowship mentors while you are facilitating a fellowship classroom activity.
  • Explore additional ways to integrate design learning into your classroom and share them with the group.
  • Make a brief presentation to your community about your learning, via a PD workshop or faculty meeting, etc

Expected Outcomes

Teachers will:

  • Gain resources and skills to implement new approaches to hands-on learning
  • Develop creative leadership skills
  • Build relationships with like-minded educators

Compensation

  • $750 stipend per teacher for the semester (February to June). Compensation will be disbursed in two payments; the second payment is conditional on completing all fellowship commitments.
  • Recognition on the MAD and WPS websites

Program Commitment

Time Investment

A maximum of 25 hours (5 hours per month) this will be a mix of:

  • One in-person two hour session per month (see dates below)
  • 3 hours (maximum)/month of asynchronous work

Program Timeline

  • February: Program Setup and Orientation
    • In Person: Tuesday, February 10th at MIT from 4-6pm
  • March, April, May: Monthly meetings and Active Feedback and Curriculum Development
    • In Person: Thursday, March 5th at MIT from 4-6pm
    • In Person: Thursday, April 2nd at MIT from 4-6pm
    • In Person: Thursday, May 7th at MIT from 4-6pm
  • June: Final meeting, program feedback and celebration
    • In Person: Thursday, June 4th at MIT from 4-6pm

Applications

Please fill out this form.

  • Name
  • Email
  • Grade
  • Subject Area
  • Years taught
  • School and School district
  • 2-3 sentences
    • Why are you interested in the Teacher Innovation Fellowship? How did you learn about the program?
    • Tell us about the last time you had fun in the classroom?
    • Tell us about something in the classroom that didn't go as planned or a time you took a risk that didn’t work out? What would you do differently?
  • Can you commit to a monthly 2-hour in-person session and 3 hours (maximum) asynchronous work
  • Can you commit to piloting at least 2 class-length activities in your classroom?
  • Are you willing to host a visit by fellowship mentors while you are piloting the activities?
  • Can you commit to exploring additional ways to integrate design learning into your classroom, and share them with the group of fellows?
  • Can you commit to presenting to your community in some way about your learning, via a PD workshop or faculty meeting, etc?

Deadline: January 24, 2026

Contact

For more information, please contact designPD[at]mit.edu.

Who are we?

This fellowship will be led by Carrie Wihbey of WPS and Rosa Weinberg of MAD. Carrie Wihbey has over 15 years of experience as a middle and high school educator, teaching English and serving in instructional leadership roles. She currently serves as Director of Strategy and Innovation at the WPS Institute, where she works closely with teachers to co-design and support the implementation of hands-on, design-based learning in school and out-of-school-time settings. Rosa has a background as an architect and has taught design and making for over ten years at innovative high schools, including six years at NuVu Studio. She is the K–12 Design Education Lead for the MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD).

MAD

Launched in 2022, the MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) is an interdisciplinary hub that celebrates the transformative power of design. Since its founding, MAD has worked to develop programming to foster innovation, empower individuals, and reshape the way we learn using design tools and methodologies. We believe design initiatives can create transformative experiences for learners. MAD fosters creativity, critical thinking, making, and collaboration, exploring a range of dynamic approaches to prepare students for complex, real-world challenges.

WPS

Since its founding in 2017, the WPS Institute has offered programs for teachers and students with a focus on fostering educational innovation and opportunity. We advance models of schooling where learning thrives everywhere, in classrooms and beyond; where students and their families are empowered to shape their own educational journeys; and where entire communities contribute to the development of young people.

MAD and WPS are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusive education. We strongly encourage applications from educators representing diverse backgrounds and teaching experiences.