Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EdNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University

Liam Julian is associate writer and editor at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, and is program coordinator for Fordham Fellows. In this interview, he responds to questions about his current endeavors and his search for Fordham Fellows.

1) I understand that you are looking for ten education scholars for your Fordham Fellows Program. First of all, who started the Fordham Fellows and when did it start?

Well, we’re not really looking for “education scholars.” We’re looking for sharp, ambitious folks who have spent time working in the classroom and who are ready to translate their on-the-ground education experience into the policy realm.

2) What would the duties of these "fellows" or "scholars" be?

Each Fellow will be working on a specific project at one of ten Washington education organizations. The projects are currently being developed by the organizations where the Fellows work.

3) What are some of the major issues that these fellows would address?

They’ll be working on all sorts of education issues. It largely depends on where Fellows end up. If, for example, one Fellow did work for The Education Trust, he or she probably would concentrate on achievement gaps; if another Fellow worked at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, he or she would work on… well, you know.

4) Who would these scholars be accountable to?

The Fellows are accountable to their partner organizations in the sense that they have to show up to the office each day and do good work. They’re accountable to us because we pay them.



5) Who is eligible to apply?

Anyone is eligible. But we’re looking for folks who are top-notch thinkers and communicators, who are ambitious, who have a deep interest in education policy, and who have previously worked in a school.

6) Would these scholars have to relocate to Washington , D.C. or are there other options?

All Fellows will come to Washington where they will live together for four months in a large house on Capitol Hill.

7) What do you see as some of the most pressing issues in education that need to be addressed?

Take your pick. But a big one is how advocates of standards-based reform can continue to test students and hold schools accountable without contributing to an increase in curriculum-narrowing and without inadvertently encouraging teachers to subtract anything enjoyable from the school day. It seems like lots of schools have really dipped down to the lowest level, teaching their kids math and reading from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. just so they’ll score better on standardized tests. That’s not education, of course. I don’t know what it is.

8) Would the scholars have access to data bases or policy individuals in the Washington, D.C. area?

Yes. The Fellows will be working closely with policy wonks in the various organizations. We’re also planning for the Fellows several social events so they can meet some of the movers and shakers in the national education scene.

9) Is there a web site where interested individuals can get more information?

Yup: www.edexcellence.net/fordhamfellows. I’m especially fond of our logo, which, as far as I know, is the only fellowship logo to incorporate a fleur-de-lis.

10) What important question have I neglected to ask ?

When’s the deadline? April 15, 2007! So, not a lot of time left for interested folks to apply. Are you going to let MTV bring cameras into the Fordham Fellows house and start an education policy reality show? ….