Educators' Neighborhood

Educators’ Neighborhood is a community that learns together inspired by the work of Fred Rogers.

Educators' Neighborhood is a professional learning community of educators across contexts and throughout the world who learn from each other, and apply the life and work of Fred Rogers to their practice. This initiative has grown exponentially and participants report that it has helped them become more effective educators and supported their positive mental health.

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Shortlisted

Overview

HundrED shortlisted this innovation

HundrED has shortlisted this innovation to one of its innovation collections. The information on this page has been checked by HundrED.

Updated April 2023

Web presence

2019

Established

670 2024

19

Countries

Teachers

Target group

The goal of Educators’ Neighborhood is to connect educators to a community of practice that is rooted in Fred Rogers and provides a space for participants to learn from each other and share their own gifts. We aim to elevate the voices of educators and to change education by promoting trust in educator practice, supporting mental health, and inspiring continued engagement in the profession.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Educators across the world are leaving the field at a high rate due to increased pressure and lack of respect. Educators’ Neighborhood provides a community built upon trust for participants to engage the philosophy of Fred Rogers and share their practice. This project exemplifies that to make a lasting impact on children we must support the needs of the adults who care for them.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Educators from around the world and across contexts learn together, exploring resources of the Fred Rogers Archive and connecting ideas to practice. Each year, participants are assigned to small groups based on context. These facilitated communities meet virtually each month, with the larger group of educators bi-monthly, and join three convenings to share practice ideas. Educators explore fundamentals of learning and growing inspired by the work of Fred Rogers: Self-Worth, Trust, Curiosity, Look and Listen Carefully, Play, and Solitude, and also have opportunities to engage more deeply with materials in continuation groups after the cohort year concludes. Over the past two years, 90% of educators report that they are more effective educators and their mental health has improved after participation. One person said: “I can’t overstate how valuable participating in this year’s cohort has been for my practice, not to mention my mental health and..wait for it.. actual joy in teaching.”

How has it been spreading?

Educators’ Neighborhood has grown dramatically in just four years. Beginning in 2019 as a pilot program with 10 elementary educators, participation in Educators’ Neighborhood has doubled in each subsequent year, for a total of 217 educators and leaders across contexts from around the world in 2022-2023. Over the last two years, we have introduced a more structured curriculum. As a result of increased interest, we are offering additional opportunities for current educators to continue their participation including a deep dive into the fundamentals of learning and growing, the Fred Rogers Archive, Mister Rogers Neighborhood episodes, and educator-led inquiry. In addition, we aim to continue to scale the program by increasing the number of new cohorts of the community of practice each year.Ap

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Applications for Educators’ Neighborhood are open each spring for the following academic year. We welcome educators from across educational contexts and around the world to apply. More information and applications can be found at our website: https://www.fredrogersinstitute.org/educators-neighborhood.

Implementation steps

Small Group Meetings

Each month, Educators’ Neighborhood participants meet in a small group of educators from around the world who work in a similar context. In each meeting, Fred Rogers Institute staff facilitate discussion around one of six fundamentals of learning and growing (Self-Worth, Trust, Curiosity, Look and Listen Carefully, Play, and Solitude) related to the work of Fred Rogers. Through discussion, educators apply the fundamentals to their work and share practice ideas with one another.

Large Group Meetings

Educators’ Neighborhood participants meet as a full community each month to connect with educators across different contexts. In full community meetings, Fred Rogers Institute staff facilitate discussion around fundamentals of learning and growing, Fred Rogers Archive materials, and other topics of interest within the community. Archive materials shared in these full community meetings include Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episodes, songs, speeches, and other documents from Fred Rogers.

Whole Community Convenings

A cohort year of Educators’ Neighborhood includes three full-day convenings for all educators in the community. In the beginning of the year, educators come together for introductions to each other and the community. At the midpoint, educators join a conference-style convening where they can share and learn from the experiences of those in the community. Each cohort year closes with a final convening to reflect on the collective learning throughout the year together.

Educator Reflection

Throughout Educators’ Neighborhood, participants reflect on their practice and engage in thoughtful discussion with other educators. Prior to small group meetings, educators complete written reflections on fundamentals of learning and growing. After small group meetings, educators complete a log to document impacts on practice. This innovation provides a platform to engage in reflective conversation among educators.

Educator Presentations

Educators’ Neighborhood provides participants several opportunities to present and share their learning with others in the community. Previous participants of Educators’ Neighborhood are invited to share their experiences in the community with new participants, and educator-led sessions are also a component of the mid-year convening. Educators also have opportunities to be panelists on a global symposium series hosted by the Fred Rogers Institute.

Continuing Participation

Educators’ Neighborhood participants are invited to continue their involvement in the community beyond the first cohort year. Educators can choose from one of five different continuing opportunities: Inquiry Educators, Archive Study, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Episode Study, Fundamental Deep Dive, and Continuing Participation. These continuing opportunities have varying depths of engagement, ranging from participation in group discussions to individual exploration of a particular inquiry.