Country Day Launches Region’s First Teaching Fellows Program to Cultivate the Next Generation of Exceptional Educators

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our inaugural class of teaching fellows in the school’s first-in-the-region Teaching Fellows Program.

The teaching profession has faced a nationwide talent shortage for years, and it has only been exacerbated by COVID-19. Stagnant salaries, increasing demands on teachers, and post-COVID disruptions have all been significant contributing factors to this challenge. As a result, some universities and colleges have either consolidated their education programs or closed them altogether due to the declining supply of future educators.

In response, Country Day has created an exciting new program to inspire and attract outstanding individuals to this vital profession. The Teaching Fellows Program (TFP) is a transformative two-year experience for early-career educators and career-changers aspiring to master the art of teaching and make a unique, lasting contribution to our vibrant learning community.

With the goal of cutting through the intense competition to attract and develop the next generation of life-changing teachers, this program is the first of its kind in the region. Fellows will receive a full-time salary, benefits, and cost-of-living stipend. By the end of the fellowship, participants will be ready to teach in premier independent schools across the country – including Country Day – with a strong foundation provided right here at Country Day.

Fellows, as co-teachers, will be paired with veteran teachers, engage in co-creating classroom activities, and enrich our institution in ways that extend well beyond the school day through coaching and leading co-curricular activities. We are confident that our fellows will become exceptional candidates for future opportunities at Country Day as well as at top-tier schools across the country. As a community, we are proud to lead the way in developing new strategies to identify and attract the next generation of impactful teachers. In doing so, we hope to contribute to the education profession in general by serving as a catalyst for growth and excellence in teaching.

In December 2024, we were thrilled to receive a generous donation from an anonymous donor that made this program possible. We shared the news with our staff and faculty, invited passionate faculty members to step forward as mentors, and posted the opportunity nationwide. The response was incredible: more than 60 talented applicants expressed their enthusiasm for this unique opportunity.

After a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to introduce our inaugural teaching fellows for the 2025-26 academic year: Andy Ahrens, Yasmin Kloth `01, and William Stratford. These fellows are not only eager to learn from our outstanding faculty but also bring an impressive and diverse array of talents in areas such as acting, screenwriting, public health communications, doctoral-level research, and international teaching experience.

Andy Ahrens has been a mainstay in the Chicago acting scene for over a decade, most notably as a member of the cast of Chicago Fire and on stage at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Andy originally studied education in college and has a master’s degree in creative writing. Most recently, Andy has been a substitute teacher at the Latin School of Chicago and the University of Chicago Lab School.

Yasmin Kloth has been a communications leader at the National Institutes of Health for more than 10 years. Her work has focused on brain research, drug abuse, and public policy. A 2001 graduate of CCDS, Yasmin has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Georgetown University. In addition to her work in the sciences, Yasmin is a published poet.

William Stratford is completing a Ph.D. in history at Boston College. During his doctoral studies, Will has served as a teaching assistant at Boston College and has previous teaching experience in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme in Isesaki, Japan, and the University of Chicago Lab School. Will is also a former college track athlete and Kentucky state champion in distance running.

This program is the result of a bold commitment from our Board of Trustees and Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98 to pursue innovative approaches that ensure exceptional teaching thrives at Country Day. Our esteemed faculty mentors are already connecting with their fellows and eagerly planning a program of growth, discovery, and impact. We are deeply grateful for our faculty mentors’ willingness to embrace this opportunity and invest their time and expertise in nurturing the next generation of educators.

There is truly no better way to celebrate our upcoming Centennial than by highlighting the extraordinary teaching that has shaped our past, enriches our present, and propels us into a bright future.

Article written by Alpacino Beauchamp, director of academic affairs.