Teacher Innovator Institute

Who Should Apply

Middle School (grades 5-8) STEAM teachers who have an interest in expanding their practice to include informal education techniques. 

Ideal candidates are classroom teachers who plan on teaching for several years after TII. 

Efforts will be made to enroll a cohort that represents a variety of perspectives and supports an inclusive learning environment. Early career educators, educators of color, LGBTQ+ educators, educators with disabilities, and educators working in public schools, particularly Title I schools, are strongly encouraged to apply. 

If you have any questions about the program or your eligibility, contact us.

Teachers Will Learn

During their time in Washington, DC, and during the school year, teachers will focus on authentic learning, including the incorporation of real-world problems, open-ended inquiry, and hands-on, student-driven practices. Cohort members will work to refine their practice and design content around their professional goals as they progress through the program. 

Through hands-on activities, museum tours, visits to other museums, group work, and expertise from museum educators and content experts, teachers will use aerospace science, history, and technology to shape their ideas about authentic learning and bring informal education techniques into their classrooms. 

As a part of the application process, teachers will be asked to reflect on their classroom practices and envision the ways in which their learning at TII will impact their classroom and school community.  During their time in TII, teachers will use these reflections to develop and work toward goals by drafting and iterating upon a Professional Development Plan.

We Provide

• There is no cost for teachers to participate. Teachers are provided with lodging, food, and travel.
• During the institute, teachers will be given special museum experiences and access to content experts in both informal education and aerospace content.
• Participants will also have opportunities to connect with their cohort and museum staff several times during the school year.

Expectations for Participants

• Commit to the full two weeks each summer for two consecutive summers.
• Collaborate with other TII teachers to develop and iterate upon your proposed professional development plan.
• Actively participate in sessions led by Smithsonian Institution staff and guests on the marriage of informal and formal learning.
• Assist in the evaluation of and iteration upon current educational programming at the National Air and Space Museum. 

How to Apply

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 cohort! 

Apply Now

• The TII application will remain open until 11:59 pm EST on January 23, 2026.
• Applications will be reviewed and all candidates will be notified by March 13, 2026.  

You will be asked for basic contact information, information about your school, and a few short essay questions. You will also be asked to upload recommendation letters, an administrator sign-off form, and a video introduction.  

Preview the application questions and all of the upload requirements before beginning your application as you cannot save and return to it. 

Please submit the following: 

• Administrator sign-off on participation in the Institute. Please use the provided template.
• Two recommendation letters. Letters should address your role as an innovator in your teaching practice and other qualities that make you stand out.
  • Letter of recommendation from a peer.
  • Letter of recommendation from a member of your community. This can be a student, parent, community member or leader in your district.
• Professional Development Plan Proposal. Please use the provided template.
  • While TII events typically take place over the course of two summers, our objective is to develop lasting outcomes for our participants, the students they serve, and the communities they call home. No two educators are alike, and no two learning environments are the same, so it only makes sense to ask our TII applicants: How do you want to make an impact as an Innovator?
  • We want you to consider your current goals and share why you wish to pursue them in the years ahead. Please use the provided template. During your first summer, you will refine your goals and add action items for the upcoming school year. A third goal focusing on community will be added during year two.
• Link to a video, no more than 3 minutes. Introduce yourself, your school, and your community. How are you connected to where you teach? How would your students describe your class? How do your students' experiences (and your experiences) shape how you teach?
  • You may use YouTube (listed or unlisted), Dropbox, or Google Drive. YouTube is strongly preferred. Please be sure to check the link before submission to be sure the privacy/sharing settings will allow us to see the video. Watch this video for video application tips. 

Apply Now

If you have any questions about the program or your eligibility, contact us.  
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Frequently Asked Questions

I teach grades other than 5-8. Can I still apply?
Yes. Our past cohorts serve students in grades PK-12 and beyond. We do prioritize middle school teachers when reviewing and selecting candidates, but if you fulfill the other criteria, we welcome your application.

I don’t teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Can I still apply?
Maybe. You don’t have to teach ALL of the subjects in STEAM to be considered. We have lots of current cohort members who just teach one of the STEAM disciplines, or who teach a STEAM discipline in addition to others. Those folks are often great candidates, especially if they work to include STEAM disciplines into the other parts of their curriculum. Folks who don’t teach any of the STEAM disciplines are not our target audience for this program. 

I am not a classroom teacher. Can I still apply?
Maybe. The focus of the Teacher Innovator Institute is supporting and uplifting classroom teachers, and through them, their students. Curriculum coaches and administrators may fulfill some of the criteria for application, but would need to demonstrate a direct impact on students to be considered. Folks working in public libraries, museums, universities, and other non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply.

Can educators outside the US apply?
No. TII is focused on teachers in the US and its territories for the time being. The only exception is for US teachers teaching abroad with programs like DoDEA. 

Can I submit more than two letters of recommendation?
No. Though we love to hear that many colleagues and community members want to say great things, please choose your two strongest letters of recommendation for submission, following the guidelines of one peer and one community recommendation.

Internship support for the Teacher Innovator Institute is generously supported by the Thomas W. Haas Foundation.