Twenty years ago, Cary Education embarked on a curriculum project to develop materials to help students understand the ecology of the Hudson River and how it changes over time. The Changing Hudson Project curriculum lives on as foundational lessons in Hudson River ecology, but new phenomenon are emerging and our river is different than it was in the past, thus, Changing Hudson 2.0.
Become a Changing Hudson Teacher Fellow
Help shape the next generation of data-rich ecology resources for Hudson Valley classrooms.
Are you a K-12 teacher looking to elevate your students’ data literacy using real, locally relevant science? Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is seeking three Changing Hudson Teacher Fellows—one elementary, one middle, and one high school teacher—to collaborate on Changing Hudson 2.0.
Join us in creating powerful lessons rooted in Hudson River datasets that support student data literacy and engage students in scientific storytelling.
What You’ll Do
As a Teacher Fellow, you will have an intensive, 60-hour collaborative experience working directly with Cary Institute education staff, scientists and other teachers to:
Co-Construct Data Lessons: Work with Cary educators to create curriculum materials to support student engagement with cutting edge data on Hudson River ecology like glass eel populations, PCBs, microplastics and more.
Field Test in Your Classroom: Be the first to implement these datasets and lessons with your own students, gathering first-hand insights into what works best.
Lead as a Peer Mentor: Collaborate to design and co-facilitate professional learning workshops and a 3-day Summer Institute for other teachers across the watershed.
Fellowship Benefits
Stipend: Receive up to $2,225 total for your expertise and time.
Professional Growth: Earn CTLE credits through Cary Institute.
Leadership: Position yourself as a teacher leader within your school district and the broader Hudson Valley educational community.
Commitment & Timeline
Total Contact Time: 60 hours over the 2026-2027 school year.
August 2026: Fellow selection.
September 2026: Orientation and planning.
October 2026 - June 2027: Regular planning meetings, classroom field-testing, and co-leading three school-year workshops.
June 2027: Co-lead the 3-day Changing Hudson Summer Institute.
July - August 2027: Final reflection interviews and wrap-up.
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for passionate classroom teachers currently teaching in the estuarine Hudson watershed (from Albany/Troy through the mid-Hudson down to New York City).
Apllication deadline: August 31, 2026.
Questions? Contact: Rebecca Van Tassell, vantassellr@caryinstitute.org