Across the country and in Massachusetts, high school and college students are not experiencing education access equitably. These inequities are often rooted in disparities across income level, race, language barriers, levels of ability, and geography. All students are not being given a fair shot. It’s time for the education sector to change, and we won’t get there taking the same approaches that got our education system to this place.
At OneGoal we know the ideas are out there, but we also know there is not always a space to have out-of-the-box, transformational conversations. We believe every student deserves equitable access and support to achieve their greatest postsecondary aspirations. With this in mind, we are excited to convene the Catalyst Innovation Lab fellowship experience.
The Catalyst Innovation Lab fellowship is designed to be an ongoing space of dialogue within our OneGoal community. Our goal is to hold space for provocative, innovative, and continuous dialogue regarding systemic and institutional changes as students transition from high school to college.
The Catalyst Innovation Lab fellowship is designed to be a space of creation and reconstruction. In this space, we hope to reimagine an education system that meets the needs of the most marginalized and the most underrepresented students. We hope that through this collaborative engagement our participants can network and bring new innovative ideas to and from their respective institutions.
The ideal candidate can commit to eight virtual ninety-minute sessions throughout the course of one year, beginning in September and ending in June.
Their professional background includes several years’ experience within the education sector, including decision-making, teaching, researching, policy analysis, etc., within the higher education or secondary education sectors. They are ready to engage in conversation, they are enthusiastic about creating change, and they are ready and able to think creatively about solutions that benefit all students.
“The Catalyst Innovation Lab has helped to reinvigorate me by creating a community of professionals facing similar challenges who are able to collaborate and share thoughts and ideas with one another. Hearing about research in the field of social justice work in education was definitely a highlight for me!”
– Caitlin Gilligan, Lawrence High School
“The Lab is a great opportunity for me to engage with colleagues who are similarly invested in this critical work and to learn from partners who are truly committed to elevating our practice and supporting our students.”
– Joshua Otlin, Principal Milford High School
“Join this fellowship! If you would like to connect with others who are as passionate about education. Having a space where we can talk about great experiences but also changes that need to be made is a great opportunity. No matter your organization you will leave the lab with a new perspective, idea, or change you would like to make. I felt so supported by people I only met with once a month because we all have the compassion to help students succeed.”
– Anonymous
“The lab was a great opportunity for collaborations across institutions and sectors, allowing us to gain insight that we might not gain in our day-to-day roles. It was nice to hear various perspectives on the topics we discussed and to have an opportunity to learn from other professionals working to support students in different capacities. Participating in the CIL was time well spent.”
– Anonymous
“I decided to join the CIL because I believe it’s so important for K-12 and higher education to collaborate in order to address the growing issues in education. It was great to see the similarities and differences but also to share resources to work towards solutions. The CIL lived up to my expectations and more. Overall, the CIL experience helped me to think about the diverse perspectives in K-20 and how this helps inform my ways of thinking so that I have more well-rounded, socially just, and progressive solutions.”
– Anonymous
“The lab provides a space where you can bring your experience, thoughts and ideas and find someone who is as passionate and motivated by it as you are. It is an opportunity for growth and reflection on where you are now and what could be next!”
– Shayna Eddy, Framingham State University
“I really enjoyed this opportunity to connect with colleagues and discuss ways to collaborate more. There is so much work to be done and building communities is the only way we will get it done.”
– Anonymous
The Catalyst Innovation Lab is the place to bring your big ideas and to join a collective dialogue. Along the way we hope to disrupt the system we are all working to reimagine.
The Catalyst Innovation Lab is a year-long Fellowship experience from September to July that invites fellows from across the education sector to collaborate and innovate. The experience is designed to:
The Lab will host eight virtual sessions throughout the year, for a group of 8-12 members. Each session will be structured to include a 90 minute discussion and 30 minute optional networking time following every session. We encourage fellows to take advantage of these opportunities to build community, and network with one another outside of our session.
In addition to sessions, Catalyst Fellows will gain access to OneGoal’s network of education leaders across the state of Massachusetts as well as opportunities to engage with OneGoal in person or virtually. The majority of sessions will include guest members, who bring a variety of experiences and expertise from across the education divide. These members will engage in the material of each session, and serve as thought partners for lab members, as they immerse themselves in each discussion topic. Past Guest Members have been educators and lecturers from surrounding colleges, members of the MA4EC Alliance, and a number of OneGoal senior staff members.
We will hold eight virtual 90-minute sessions throughout the course of one year, beginning in September and ending in July. We’d expect all candidates to be able to attend every session. However, we understand that emergencies happen, please notify the facilitator in advance of any absence.
In order to maintain the community, and fidelity of the program, participants who miss more than 3 sessions, will not be granted a certificate of completion at the end of the year.
For general questions about the Catalyst Innovation Lab or if you have any questions as you consider applying, or wait to hear back about your application, please reach out to Sara Jean-Francois, Director of Partnerships at sara.jean-francois@