Six Educators Selected for Prestigious ISTE+ASCD Voices of Change Fellowship Amid AI Revolution in Classrooms

Breaking News — The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and ASCD have named six K-12 educators as the 2026-27 Voices of Change Fellows, tapping frontline classroom leaders to shape the national conversation on teaching and learning in an era of rapid technological upheaval.

The announcement comes as schools across the United States grapple with the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and digital tools on instruction, assessment and student engagement. The fellowship, now in its sixth year, provides a platform for practitioners to share firsthand essays and multimedia stories on EdSurge, reaching educators and administrators nationwide.

“These fellows represent the very best of what it means to lead from the classroom,” said the program editor in a statement. “They are already guiding their communities toward innovative practices that will define the future of learning, and now they’ll have a national audience.”

Background

The Voices of Change Fellowship was launched in 2021 by ISTE and ASCD, two of the largest education organizations in the United States. The program selects a small cohort of educators each year to document and share their real-time strategies for navigating systemic changes in education.

This year’s application cycle drew a record number of submissions from teachers and school leaders who are reimagining instructional approaches, roles and systems. The six selected fellows will produce a series of essays and multimedia pieces throughout the 2026-27 academic year.

Fellows are chosen for their demonstrated ability to drive innovation in their schools, particularly in areas such as personalized learning, equity-oriented technology integration and student agency. The program emphasizes first-person narratives that highlight both successes and challenges.

What This Means

The selection of these educators signals a shift in how the education sector values practitioner voice. Instead of relying solely on researchers or policymakers, ISTE+ASCD is betting that teachers on the front lines can offer the most relevant insights for peers facing similar transformations.

With AI and technology “fundamentally changing what it means to teach and learn,” according to the organization’s announcement, the fellowship aims to provide concrete, timely guidance. The stories produced by the fellows will serve as case studies for schools that are rethinking their curricula, professional development and assessment methods.

“The voices of those closest to the classroom are often the ones most needed in national conversations,” added the program editor. “These fellows will help bridge the gap between innovation and practice.”

Observers expect the 2026-27 cohort to focus heavily on AI literacy, data privacy and the evolving role of teachers in a technology-rich environment. As school systems continue to adapt, the insights from the fellowship could influence policy decisions and funding priorities at the district and state levels.

The six educators will be introduced individually in the coming weeks on the EdSurge platform.