All boys. All boarding. Grades 9-12.

Kenan-Lewis Fellowship Program

What is the Kenan-Lewis Fellowship Program?

The Kenan-Lewis Fellowship Program at Woodberry Forest School gives recent college graduates a short-term, two- to three-year appointment to the school’s faculty. The program provides a guided, hands-on apprenticeship designed to create a solid foundation in independent school teaching. In addition to classroom experience, fellows have the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree related to their academic discipline or a master’s degree in teaching and learning from the University of Virginia. By the end of the fellowship, they are qualified to seek full-time teaching positions at top schools anywhere in the country.

How does it work?

Inside and Outside of the Classroom

Fellows are assigned to an academic department, where they work with experienced mentors, observe master teachers, and learn to design lessons and teach classes. As they spend time at Woodberry, fellows gain more responsibility and independence in their work. Outside the classroom, they serve as assistants in extracurricular programs ranging from athletics to the arts, where again, they work with mentors to gain practical experience, from running practices to coaching a game or directing a scene.

Becoming a Part of the Community

Living on campus, they work alongside the full-time faculty in the school’s residential life program and experience fully the life of the community. Most important, fellows cultivate the art of building substantial, enduring relationships with their students and guiding them as they navigate the challenges of boarding school and adolescence. During the length of their fellowship, they have what amounts to a supported and mentored full-time faculty position. The guidance Woodberry’s fellows receive at this early stage in their careers pays off: Since the launch of the Kenan-Lewis Fellowship in 2007–2008, more than two-thirds of the fellows are still teaching at an independent school.

Compensation

Each fellowship carries a salary that is derived from a first-year teacher’s salary, including ample time reserved to pursue a fully-funded master’s degree. For example, recent fellows have pursued an M.A. in history from Gettysburg College and an M.S. in Data Science from the University of Virginia. Fellows also receive housing, meals in the school dining hall, retirement benefits, and health care benefits.
 
 

How to Apply
We accept applications for the Kenan-Lewis Fellowship from
college seniors and very recent graduates for the upcoming
academic year until January 15. In order to be considered for
the fellowship, candidates must have a college major in an
academic subject taught at Woodberry: English, history, Spanish,
Latin, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer
science. Candidates chosen to interview will be notified by
February 15.
Applicants should submit the following:
(1) A cover letter
(2) A résumé indicating previous education, employment, athletic
and extracurricular experience, and special interests and skills
(3) College transcript
(4) Two letters of recommendation

All application materials should be submitted to kenan_lewis@
woodberry.org. Questions should be directed to the director of
the fellowship, Matt Boesen (matt_boesen@woodberry.org).

For More Information Contact :

Matt Boesen
Director of Kenan-Lewis Fellowship Program
Phone: 540-672-6021
Email: matt_boesen@woodberry.org

Meet a Fellow

“I decided to become a Kenan-Lewis Fellow simply because it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I was nervous to start, but I’ve realized that being a fellow invites support from all aspects of the school. When it comes to teaching, I’ve got a great faculty mentor who sits in on my classes and gives me tips and we get to discuss teaching philosophy. And then there’s also the coaching side of it, which is really fun. I’ve been coaching varsity and JV football, and it’s a great opportunity to take a chunk of your afternoon and go have fun with the student-athletes. The experience as a whole has been a great balance between academics and athletics. All of it has been incredibly fulfilling. Spending your time with these boys and the energy they bring, as well as the intellect and the curiosity, is really invigorating.”

Taylor Tucker 
Woodberry Class of 2019, Washington and Lee Class of 2023
Computer Science
Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional private school community for high school boys in grades nine through twelve. It is one of the top boarding schools in the United States and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the country.
Woodberry Forest, VA 22989
Phone: 540-672-3900

Explore & Resources

Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.