LANSING — The Innovative Educator Corps is seeking applications for new members who teach in Michigan and help prepare their students for 21st Century careers in innovative ways.

An online application for the IEC’s second cohort is available at tinyurl.com/IEC-Spring19 from April 1 to May 5, the Michigan Department of Education and program co-sponsor Genesee Intermediate School District jointly announced recently.

Created by the Marshall Plan for Talent (Public Act 227 of 2018), the IEC recognizes Michigan teachers who use an innovative educational program, methodology, or strategy to help prepare their students for future success in high-demand fields.

“We want to recognize, celebrate and learn from Michigan’s innovative educators, who are so vitally important to Michigan becoming a Top 10 education state in 10 years,” said Interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles. “The creative ideas, techniques, tools, and strategies of teachers across the state will help increase student achievement and bring out their passion for learning.”

Each local school district’s governing board may designate one innovative educator to apply to the program. Applicants selected for the second cohort will join 14 current members of the group.

Ideal applicants are educators who have successfully implemented an innovative program to better prepare students for 21st Century careers in high-demand fields.

Applications are scored based on a range of criteria, including evidence showing a clear link between participation in the innovative program and increased student achievement.

Each IEC member receives a $5,000 stipend in recognition of their work, which can be renewed for two years (contingent on availability of funds). In addition, each IEC member’s ISD is eligible for a similarly renewable $5,000 grant to support the expansion, replication, and dissemination of the IEC member’s innovative education strategy across the state.

New IEC members will be announced in early June.

For more information about the IEC, including the application timeline, FAQ and scoring criteria, visit the IEC website.