Agenda Item
i. Boundless Educator's Initiative (BEI) Ignite Teachers Residency Grant ($130,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Cherisse M. Campbell, Chief of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education accept the BEI IGNITE Teacher Residency Grant Award for $130,000, funded through the Boundless Educators Initiative (BEI), to provide financial support for the IGNITE DeKalb County School District Teacher Residency Program during the 2026-27 school year.
Why: Approving this grant will strengthen DCSD’s teacher pipeline by expanding financial, certification, wellness, and post-residency supports for IGNITE residents. The award reduces barriers to completion, supports early-career teacher retention, and helps prepare educators who reflect and understand DeKalb’s students and communities.
Details: The $130,000 BEI award will expand IGNITE’s teacher residency through resident financial support, GACE preparation, wellness programming, alumni engagement, and post-residency mentoring. These initiatives are expected to reduce barriers to completion, strengthen certification readiness, and improve early-career retention among educators who reflect DeKalb’s communities.
Financial impact: There is no cost to the District or to accept the donated funds from BEI.
Contact: Dr. Cherisse M. Campbell, Chief of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, 678-676-0409,
Ms. Carina Harrigan, Director of IGNITE Teacher Residency, Division of Human Resources, 678-676-0385
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs
June 25, 2026
Dear Carina Harrigan,
Congratulations! I'm pleased to share that IGNITE DeKalb County School District Teacher Residency
Program has been awarded a Year 8 grant through the Boundless Educators Initiative (BEI). We’re
excited to welcome you to the BEI community.
As we move forward in Year 8 of BEI, the importance of preparing and sustaining teachers who reflect
and understand the communities they serve has only grown. Your proposal demonstrated a strong
commitment to that work, and we are pleased to partner with you in advancing it.
This was our most competitive application cycle yet. We received more proposals than ever before,
with applicants requesting more than $14 million in funding. While we were not able to fund every
request in full, we are pleased to invest in your work through BEI.
IGNITE DeKalb County School District Teacher Residency Program has been awarded $130,000,
pending NCTR’s receipt of funds. The grant term is July 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027.
Next steps:
● Submit a revised budget reflecting your final award amount by July 24, 2026 to
bei@nctresidencies.org. Use Columns H and I on the “Budget and Financial Reporting” tab.
● Your grant agreement will follow in a separate email and is due August 7, 2026.
● A member of the BEI team may also reach out to gather additional information or provide
onboarding support.
Thank you again for your submission - and welcome! We’re looking forward to working alongside you.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Keilani M. Goggins, Ed.D.
Managing Director, Boundless Educators Initiative