WIDA Fellows

Honoring the process of collaboration and inquiry, the WIDA Fellows program brings expert educators and WIDA staff together in a collaborative effort to enhance the development of WIDA products and services. In establishing these fellowships, WIDA formally acknowledges the invaluable role of exemplary educators of multilingual learners in advancing the field in collaboration with professional development and research partners. 

WIDA established the WIDA Fellows program in 2019 to

• Recognize the contributions of excellent educators
• Leverage educator expertise for guidance and feedback on the development of WIDA products and services
• Create a collaborative professional learning community among expert practitioners and WIDA professional learning specialists

Read the 2025-2026 WIDA Fellows news article to learn more about our current cohort.

2026-27 Nominations

Nominate an Expert Educator for the 2026-27 WIDA Fellows Program!

WIDA is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the 2026-27 cohort of WIDA Fellows! Twenty WIDA Fellows will be selected to participate in a dynamic professional learning community of instructional experts and educational leaders and contribute their expertise to the development of WIDA professional learning materials. 

Program Benefits

• Complimentary registration, airfare and lodging to attend the 2026 WIDA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, September 15-18, 2026
• In-person orientation day to learn about the program and meet other WIDA Fellows on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (Note: Travel will be required on Monday, September 14, 2026)
• A $1,500 honorarium at the completion of their term 

Additional details will be provided to accepted WIDA Fellows. 

Requirements

All nominees must be

• Exemplary educators of multilingual learners currently employed by a school or district in the WIDA Consortium
• Available to travel on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, to attend the in-person WIDA Fellows annual orientation day on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, and the annual conference through Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
• Educators who remain employed by a school or district in the WIDA Consortium throughout the fellowship

Self-nominations will not be accepted. Only submit one nomination form per nominee.

If you have questions about the WIDA Fellows program, send an email to professionallearning@wida.wisc.edu. 

Nominate an Expert Educator

To nominate an educator, complete the nomination form by February 27, 2026. Accepted nominees will be notified by  May 1, 2026.