EKI Educator Collaborative

A program of the Earthwise Knowledge Initiative

The EKI Educator Collaborative supports the professional growth of educators through scholarships, partnerships, and program development spanning mentoring, curriculum design, instructional practice, and educational technology. The Collaborative operates from a straightforward premise: teachers should not have to pay for their own professional development out of pocket, and access to high-quality learning opportunities should not depend on a school’s budget or a district’s priorities.

EKI funds and administers collaborative scholarships directly. Program development and delivery partnerships are coordinated through the Oaks Center for Educational Advancement and other partner organizations.

EKI Teacher Induction Scholarships

In California and 31 other states, teachers are required by law to complete a new teacher induction program within their first few years to earn the credential that allows them to keep teaching. When a school or district does not cover the cost, teachers pay out of pocket.

The EKI Teacher Induction Scholarship Program funds teacher participation in Gateway Teacher Induction, a San Francisco Bay Area program that pairs early-career teachers with experienced mentors for sustained, individualized support. EKI funds participation directly. The Oaks Center for Educational Advancement administers the program as a contracted service provider. Teachers pay nothing.

Gateway Teacher Induction recently advanced from initial to full state accreditation in California.

Help keep teachers in the classroom!

Spring 2026: IMA Conference Scholarships

The EKI Educator Collaborative’s first scholarship cohort will attend the 2026 International Mentoring Association Annual Conference, May 12-14, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The International Mentoring Association is the leading professional organization for practitioners, researchers, and program developers working in mentoring across education, business, and community settings.

The 2026 conference theme is Mentoring Metamorphoses: Growing and Flourishing in an Era of Change.

EKI is funding seven scholarships for this cohort, covering conference registration, travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend. Recipients are teacher-mentors currently participating as mentors in the Gateway Teacher Induction Program.

Scholarship applications for future conference cohorts open later in 2026.

Scholarship Applications

Applying for EKI Educator Collaborative Scholarships

The EKI Educator Collaborative accepts scholarship applications on a rolling basis for professional development opportunities including conferences, workshops, certification programs, and structured learning experiences relevant to teaching practice, mentoring, or curriculum development. There is no application fee.

Who can apply

Any working educator may apply: classroom teachers, instructional coaches, mentor teachers, and teacher-educators. Applicants do not need to be affiliated with an EKI partner organization.

What scholarships cover

Scholarships may cover registration fees, travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend depending on the opportunity and available funding. EKI reviews each application individually and determines award amounts based on documented costs and fund availability.

How to apply

Submit the following by email to [email protected] with the subject line “Scholarship Application” followed by the name of the opportunity:

Your name, title, and school or organization A description of the opportunity you are seeking funding for, including name, dates, location, and cost breakdown A brief statement (250 words or fewer) describing how this opportunity relates to your current work and what you expect to bring back to your students, colleagues, or program Confirmation that your school or district is not funding this opportunity

EKI will respond to all applications within 30 days. Applications for time-sensitive opportunities should be submitted as early as possible.

Selection

Scholarship recipients are selected based on the relevance of the opportunity to the applicant’s teaching practice, the expected benefit to students or colleagues, and available funding. EKI does not discriminate on the basis of school type, district affiliation, years of experience, or subject area.

Looking Ahead

The EKI Educator Collaborative is developing additional programs in curriculum design, including work in backward design frameworks for instructional planning, and online professional learning delivered through our partnership with Northern Pacific Digital and the Oaks Center for Educational Advancment. Future initiatives will include workshops, structured learning cohorts, and certification support for educators across subject areas and career stages.

Organizations interested in partnership or program development through the EKI Educator Collaborative may contact EKI at [email protected].

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