Pahara Fellowship Application

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Thank you for your interest in the Pahara Fellowship. We are currently accepting applications for cohorts launching in 2025. Through the application process, we hope to learn more about who you are, the work you do, and how you most hope to benefit from participation in this transformational development experience.

Before You Get Started

If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to review the Fellowship Program Overview and Selection Criteria which will provide you with information about the program and the characteristics we look for in the leaders we select. We also encourage you to visit our list of Frequently Asked Questions as this information will be beneficial in helping you frame your responses.

Fellowship Design and Expectations

The Fellowship includes three week-long leadership seminars over a 12-month period. The seminar process relies heavily on a diverse and exceptional group of people making a deep commitment to their own reflection and to engaging in sustained dialogue with each other. At the simplest level, this means being present and fully prepared for all seminars. 


At the heart of each seminar is text-based dialogue, getting grounded in nature, and mind and body connection. If selected as a Fellow, you will complete several readings prior to each seminar in order to participate fully in text-based discussions. For each seminar, readings will be sent at least one month in advance. The curriculum is a mix of contemporary and classical readings, and most of the readings do not come from education. We have found that the combination of these carefully curated readings, deep personal reflection, and the diversity of perspectives within each cohort results in dialogue that is profoundly meaningful to participants.


We curate cohort communities that are vibrant spaces of curiosity, reflection, and learning and include leaders holding multiple differences in background, experience, perspective, and orientation. 


We’ve learned over time that this environment is fostered by participants’:

  • dedication to their personal learning journey; 

  • commitment to suspend judgment on what they believe to be true;

  • value for interdependence and desire to build durable bonds across lines of difference;

  • ability to stay in inquiry, holding complexity and discomfort with openness and resilience; and,

  • skill to self-regulate and navigate differences in values when activated.


We care deeply about leaders and their well-being. In order to create the most productive experience, one’s ability to adhere to our Pahara Community Commitments is required. If you desire a space where everyone shares your worldview, this is not the right experience for you. If your personal experiences or needs warrant more than can be reasonably managed in a group of 24 leaders, please assess if the timing feels right for you to apply.


Seminars begin on Monday evenings and end by noon on Fridays. All seminars are held on our campus in Bailey, Colorado. Please make sure that you have checked dates and times carefully, and can commit to being in person, present, and prepared for each of the seminars in its entirety, including travel days, before applying. You will be asked to provide a statement of support from your manager or board chair confirming their support of your participation. 


In addition to in person seminars, we will hold a virtual session ahead of the first seminar. These sessions will be full day virtual sessions. The virtual session and seminar dates for cohorts launching in 2025 are:


May 2025 - Option 1

  • New Cohort Orientation: April 4, 2025
  • Seminar 1: May 5-9, 2025
  • Seminar 2: October 6-10, 2025
  • Seminar 3: April 20-24, 2026                         


May 2025 - Option 2

  • New Cohort Orientation: April 4, 2025
  • Seminar 1: May 19-23, 2025
  • Seminar 2: October 20-24, 2025
  • Seminar 3: April 27-May 1, 2026


August 2025

  • New Cohort Orientation: June  27, 2025
  • Seminar 1: August 18-22, 2025
  • Seminar 2: March 16-20, 2026
  • Seminar 3: August 3-7, 2026


September 2025

  • New Cohort Orientation: June 27, 2025
  • September 15-19, 2025
  • Seminar 2: March 16-20, 2026
  • Seminar 3: August 3-7, 2026

Preparing Your Application

The application will take you approximately 90 minutes to complete. You will have the option to save your form and complete it at a later time. It is strongly recommended to save a separate copy of your responses from this application, in case there are technical errors with final submission. 


The application requests the following:

  • information about your background, your work, and your leadership;

  • why participation in the Fellowship feels timely for you now;

  • the name, title, organization, contact details, and relationship context of three references. Ideally, these individuals will know you well and have deep insights into your work, and your ability to navigate multiple domains of difference with an open mind and heart; and,

  • a copy of your bio and resume.


Candidates will be notified of their selection status in December.


Should you experience any difficulties submitting your application, please contact the Pahara team at selection@pahara.org for assistance.

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Seminar Availability

May 2025 - Option 1

New Cohort Orientation: April 4, 2025

Seminar 1: May 5-9, 2025

Seminar 2: October 6-10, 2025

Seminar 3: April 20-24, 2026                         


May 2025 - Option 2

New Cohort Orientation: April 4, 2025

Seminar 1: May 19-23, 2025

Seminar 2: October 20-24, 2025

Seminar 3: April 27-May 1, 2026


August 2025

New Cohort Orientation: June 27, 2025

Seminar 1: August 18-22, 2025

Seminar 2: March 16-20, 2026

Seminar 3: August 3-7, 2026


September 2025

New Cohort Orientation: June 27, 2025

September 15-19, 2025

Seminar 2: March 16-20, 2026

Seminar 3: August 3-7, 2026



Please note that indicating availability for a Pahara cohort does not guarantee selection. 

Should you experience any difficulties submitting your application, please contact the Pahara team at selection@pahara.org for assistance.

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Contact Information















Demographic Information

We strive to build cohorts that are inclusive of the breadth of our humanity across multiple domains of difference, including socio-economic background, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religious affiliation, and political ideology. 


While not required, providing the following demographic information helps us ensure we are including individuals bringing a rich array of perspectives and lived experiences. If you would prefer not to provide certain demographic information, please feel free to select "prefer not to share" where that option is available.


The attributes below are not listed in any order of priority.





































Professional Experience

  • Charter: a publicly funded independent school or organization established by community leaders or groups, organizations, teachers, and families under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.

  • Community: a local or regional organization aimed at making desired improvements to a geographic community's social health, well-being, and overall functioning.

  • Consulting: an organization providing services to schools, communities, or individuals  to improve their performance or in any way to assist in achieving organizational objectives.

  • District: A public school district under the control of a local school board.

  • Elected official: Someone elected to public office, serving education and/or students. 

  • Federal: An education role associated with the federal government.

  • Funder: A provider of funds as for the support of a charitable or nonprofit organization.

  • Higher education: An organization or school prioritizing education beyond high school, especially at a college or university.

  • Human Capital: An organization prioritizing the support and development of people through fellowships, professional development, convenings, etc. 

  • Local Government: An elected or appointed official of a local government.

  • Music/Art: An organization that centers performing arts in its mission. 

  • Policy/Advocacy: An organization on the front lines of lobbying, influencing policy, and advocating for students at the local, state, or national level.

  • Pre-K Education: An organization that prioritizes pre-school programming.

  • Private/Independent School: A school not supported financially by the government and that parents pay for their children to attend.

  • State: State agencies or state departments of education that provide resources, support, and assistance to schools and communities.

  • Tech: An organization specializing in leverage software to enhance learning outcomes in the classroom. 

  • Youth Services: An organization prioritizing student leadership, voice, or community engagement.


We would like to understand the scale of your organization. Please complete the following questions:













Other Information


Should you experience any difficulties submitting your application, please contact the Pahara team at selection@pahara.org for assistance.

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Essay Questions
Please respond to each of the following questions in 300 words or less.  As you craft your responses, please know your application may be reviewed without attribution to you and without any identifying characteristics, including the name of your organization. 




Resume, Bio, and References


Please submit the names and email addresses of three references who know you well, and can provide concrete examples that illustrate the impact of your work. We request a minimum of two professional references, ideally one from a direct report, and one from a direct supervisor or equivalent. The third reference can be either a personal or professional reference of your choice. 












To support your participation in the Pahara Fellowship, we require your Manager (or equivalent) to sign a statement of support. We ask that you provide the name and email address of that person. Please note that the Manager Statement of Support is only sought for candidates who complete the interview portion of the selection process. (The Manager may also be one of the references above).




We may also reach out to Fellows in our community who are familiar with your work to understand the full scope of your leadership. Given the degree of openness and vulnerability expected in this phase of our process, information shared with us through this application or in the reference process is held with the highest degree of confidentiality. Please share the names of Pahara Fellows who know your work, if applicable.


Should you experience any difficulties submitting your application, please contact the Pahara team at selection@pahara.org for assistance.