Women’s Concerns Committee Cohort Leadership Training Program Application

Thank you for your interest in the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) Women’s Concerns Committee Cohort Leadership Training Program (WLTP). WLTP is a year-long, cohort-based, professional development program—targeting (but not limited to) early career and emerging educators—that seeks to support diverse educators who are interested in pursuing leadership opportunities within the Association at the local, state, and national levels. Cohort members will engage in a powerful learning journey whose goal is to raise their individual and collective awareness about their ideas and competencies as leaders, build and strengthen their capacity to become transformational leaders, and catalyze them to take action and lead the movements focused on creating and sustaining equitable, inclusive, and just schools and communities as well as strengthening a professional Association firmly rooted in racial and social justice. All members who identify as women/womxn/femmes are eligible to apply to the cohort providing you do not currently hold an elected office (serving as a delegate is not applicable) in a local association, MSEA, or NEA.

Applicants who are selected for the cohort must commit to attending the three WLTP training sessions (virtually and/or face-to-face) taking place during the 2023-2024 school year. The dates for the sessions are as follows: ● October 6-7, 2023 ● December 1-2, 2023 ● April 19-20, 2024 Cohort members will be required to participate in every component of the program. Your signed commitment is required because, if selected, you will fill one of a limited number of spots in the cohort that another interested applicant would otherwise have an opportunity to fill. Additionally, in order to receive credit for successfully completing the WLTP program, participants are expected to conduct and present a leadership project. The leadership project will be introduced during the second WLTP session with formal work on the project commencing thereafter. The final project will be due by either the third WLTP session or in September of 2024 (unless otherwise arranged with program leaders). Cohort members will receive support and guidance from WLTP program leaders, staff, and/or WLTP alumni serving as mentors). Finally, cohort participants will be engaged in interim bridge meetings and activities, which will take place between the three scheduled sessions. Full participation is required of all cohort members. Please note that this training is open to members who identify as women/womxn/femmes. Additionally, when possible, at least 35% of those selected will be new activists to the work of the union. A cohort member’s absence from any in-person training session is subject to the participant being invoiced for any resulting expenses incurred by MSEA and potentially being removed from the cohort training program.