Washington, D.C. (October 14, 2025)— The NEA Foundation is proud to announce the selection of the 2026 cohort of Global Learning Fellows. The Global Learning Fellowship is The NEA Foundation’s unique professional development program for educators, centered on deepening global competency skills that empower students to excel and flourish as they navigate our interconnected world.
The new cohort includes 50 educators from 41 states and U.S. Armed Forces bases in Belgium and Japan. The educators in the 2026 cohort teach in a range of community types, including urban, suburban, and rural. Of the 50 fellows, more than half teach at schools that have been federally designated as eligible for Title 1 programs, indicating that 40 percent or more of the student population is low-income.
“The 2026 Global Learning Fellows have demonstrated a commitment to deepening their global competency and elevating global perspectives,” said President and CEO of The NEA Foundation Sara A. Sneed. “This commitment will prove to be immensely valuable in helping students thrive in the 21st century. The NEA Foundation is honored to support their global learning journey through this fellowship experience.”
Taking place over the course of the next year, the Global Learning Fellowship includes:
- Ongoing workshops and webinars with global competency and education experts
- Fellows’ independent study followed by group reflection and discussion
- Group mentoring
- A two-day in-person conference
- Completion of a capstone project incorporating one or more of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals into classroom instruction
- A 10-day international field study to examine another country’s education system, culture, and historical context
The Global Learning Fellowship fosters a deeper appreciation for cultural differences, stronger perspective taking skills, and firsthand experience of another culture’s approach to education. The fellowship also reinforces the importance of access, opportunity, and a sense of belonging for students to grow into participating members of their communities. Additionally, the fellows will develop an informed understanding of what global competency in the classroom looks like, why it’s critical for the future of education and our world, and how they can be advocates for global learning.
The new fellows will join a network of more than 600 public school educators that have participated in the Global Learning Fellowship Program since its inception in 2011. Program alumni are invited to participate in the community of Global Learning Fellows on an ongoing basis, contributing to an evolving network of continual learning, growth, and connection. Fellows have come from all 50 states, teaching every subject, at every grade level, and at all stages of their teaching careers. For many past fellows, participating in the field study was their first time traveling abroad.
Get to know the 2026 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellows by visiting www.neafoundation.org.
The NEA Foundation will begin accepting applications for the 2027 Global Learning Fellowship in January 2026.
