The Foundation believes that systemic change, the kind that can alter a school's culture and enhance its climate for learning, is derived from visionary leadership within the school. It cannot be mandated by top down attempts at school reform from Montpelier or through federal legislation. Visionary change is predicated on key partnerships that develop between a school leader and the faculty, often inspired by an individual teacher who is given the encouragement and resources to affect change.
To this end the Foundation will annually offer up to ten fellowships to Vermont secondary educators. The Foundation seeks proposals in which a teacher/counselor and the principal/head of school form a clear partnership to improve an element of the school which will profoundly impact students by enhancing the institution's culture and climate. The Rowland Fellow will assume the key leadership role in the project's development and its implementation with financial support from the Rowland Foundation and the guidance of its Executive Director.