I began to ask, «Could I discover a set of characteristics of
effective evangelistic
youth ministries no matter the community context, and if I could, would that set of characteristics actually distinguish the
youth ministries as unique?»
This year's new cohort consists of principals, researchers at major educational research organizations and centers, teachers who have been highly
effective in the classrooms, an executive director for a region of Teach for America, policymakers from
ministries of education, a founder of a volunteer organization working on programs for homeless
youths, an education fellow on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, leaders of professional development programs for teachers, a director of development for a private school, and individuals who bring years of experience in the corporate sector and are now turning their energies to the education sector.