Pahara Fellowship Application

| Resume a previously saved form
Resume Later

In order to be able to resume this form later, please enter your email and choose a password.

Password must contain the following:
  • 12 Characters
  • 1 Uppercase letter
  • 1 Lowercase letter
  • 1 Number
  • 1 Special character

Page 1 of 4

Thank you for your interest in the Pahara Fellowship. We are currently accepting applications for cohorts launching in 2027. 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. 


Lastly, we believe that a broad, diverse coalition is needed to reimagine the role and manner of education in society. While the Fellowship is open to all education leaders who meet our selection criteria, we are particularly seeking to identify innovative leaders who represent the following:

  • Charter schools 
  • Nonprofit organizations supporting charter schools 
  • Leaders bringing perspectives from across the political spectrum (we aim to have cohorts that are ⅓ left leaning, ⅓ moderate and ⅓ right leaning)
  • Latiné leaders

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, grounding 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’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.

  • 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 20-22 leaders, please assess if the timing feels right for you to apply.


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.


In addition to in-person seminars, we will hold a virtual orientation ahead of the first seminar. The virtual orientation and seminar dates for cohorts launching in 2027 are:


Option 1: 

Virtual Orientation: December 4, 2026 

Seminar 1: February 1-5, 2027

Seminar 2: July 12-16, 2027 

Seminar 3: December 6-10, 2027


Option 2: 

Virtual Orientation: December 4, 2026

Seminar 1: February 22-26, 2027

Seminar 2: July 19-23, 2027 

Seminar 3: December 13-17, 2027

Preparing Your Application

The application will take you approximately 90 minutes to complete. You will have the option to save your form and return to complete it at a later time. It is strongly recommended to save a copy of your responses separate 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 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.

  • a copy of your bio and resume.


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


We also recognize that racial, ethnic, and political identity categories are complex, personal, and evolving. Throughout this application, we invite you to select the option(s) that feel most accurate or comfortable for you. If none fully capture your identity, or if you’d like to share more context, we encourage you to use the open text box to describe your identity in your own words.


In the coming weeks, we will send the reference form to the individuals you listed in your application. Please remind them to keep an eye on their inbox, as we kindly request their responses within two weeks of receiving the email. If we encounter any issues with receiving their forms, we’ll follow up with you.


Candidates will be notified of their selection status in November. If our timeline changes, we will notify you via email. 


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

Page 2 of 4

Seminar Availability

Option 1: 

Virtual Orientation: December 4, 2026 

Seminar 1: February 1-5, 2027

Seminar 2: July 12-16, 2027 

Seminar 3: December 6-10, 2027


Option 2: 

Virtual Orientation: December 4, 2026

Seminar 1: February 22-26, 2027

Seminar 2: July 19-23, 2027 

Seminar 3: December 13-17, 2027 



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

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

Page 3 of 4

Contact Information















Demographic Information

We collect demographic information to help ensure that each cohort of fellows reflects the broad range of experiences, perspectives, and identities that shape the education sector.  The questions that follow are drawn from widely used, rigorously tested survey instruments, including those developed by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pew Research Center.




























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 leveraging 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 Selection Team at selection@pahara.org for assistance.

Page 4 of 4

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. 












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 Selection Team at selection@pahara.org for assistance.

This form may take one to two minutes to submit - please do not move away from this screen until you get the confirmation notice that it has been submitted. 
Save my progress and resume later | Resume a previously saved form