The East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Kiera Deloch has been selected as one of only 13 educators nationwide to participate in the 2027 National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) Teacher Leader Fellows Program.
The highly competitive professional development opportunity is designed to strengthen instructional leadership and school improvement efforts. The fellowship, which runs from July 2026 through June 2027, provides teacher leaders with advanced training and hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding of NIET’s systems of improvement and enhance their ability to support educators and students within their schools and districts.
“As an educator, I am passionate about helping teachers grow so they can positively impact student achievement,” said Deloch, who is a TAP (Teacher Advancement Program) content trainer. “I am honored to join this cohort of teacher leaders from across the country and look forward to bringing new insights and strategies back to East Baton Rouge Parish.”
Deloch is a graduate of Southern University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and completed the iTeach program, earning certifications in grades 6-12 English and Family and Consumer Sciences. She is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Capella University.
Her career in education began as a substitute teacher before she advanced to paraprofessional and classroom teaching roles. Over the past decade, Deloch has served students in both public and charter school settings across multiple grade levels. As a TAP content trainer, she supports first- and second-year TAP schools throughout the district.
Throughout the fellowship, participants will focus on:
- Building a strong foundation in leadership best practices.
- Understanding leadership structures that support professional growth.
- Expanding their knowledge of distributed leadership models.
- Exploring instructional practices that drive positive change in schools and districts.
- Strengthening coaching and instructional leadership skills.
As part of the program, fellows will attend a five-day boot camp in Scottsdale, Arizona; participate in virtual learning experiences; shadow NIET team members working with districts across the country; contribute to national communications efforts; create professional learning resources; and assist with NIET’s National Conference and Summer Institute.
Fellows remain employed full time by their school districts while participating in the program.
