Duke TeachHouse is a living and learning community for early career teachers in Durham. The intensive experience focuses on equipping early career educators with the confidence, competence, knowledge and networks necessary to develop leadership, creative problem solving, and innovation skills.
Duke TeachHouse includes two neighboring houses on 9th Street and one house on Markham near Duke University. Each TeachHouse Fellow has two roommates, their own living space and a private bathroom.
Register for the Spring UnConference
TeachHouse Fellows Welcome
NC Supt. Maurice Green and DPS Supt. Dr. Anthony Lewis
North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Maurice Green and Durham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis joined TeachHouse Fellows and Community partners for dinner-dialogue and reception at TeachHouse. Superintendent Green’s message - "Revere Educators” - inspired all!
Celebrating TeachHouse Expansion
Meet the 2026 TeachHouse Fellows
The 20 new TeachHouse Community Practitioner Fellows joined the 15 residential TeachHouse Fellows at the Hill Learning Center on January 15th 2026 to celebrate the launch of the pilot program for nonresidential fellows, all teachers in Durham Public Schools.
TeachHouse Impact in Durham
Durham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis speaks about the impact of Duke TeachHouse. "When you invest in TeachHouse you invest in our students."
Congratulations TeachHouse Fellow Jessica On!
Jessica On, was named the 2024 NC Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Student Teacher of the Year. Jessica was honored and celebrated at the 2024 NCACTE Student Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony held September 18, 2024 in Raleigh NC.
Connecting and Supporting Teachers and Communities
Duke TeachHouse Fellows are deeply committed to teaching excellence and to the students, families, and communities they serve.
- As emerging teacher-leaders, TeachHouse Fellows share a common goal and vision to create change related to the priority areas of workforce stability and health and wellbeing (students, teachers, schools, and communities).
- TeachHouse Fellows and alumni are employed in schools across the Triangle, reaching a diverse number of communities -- diversity in language, ethnicity, race, immigration status, and economic background. Through the TeachHouse UnConference and the virtual community of practice, TeachHouse supports teachers from across NC and beyond. The program's broad reach allows Fellows to take a preventative role in relation to these systemic issues by equipping K-12 students with the tools they need to succeed and providing support to families in navigating community resources.
- The development, cultivation, and collective health of the teacher workforce are at the heart of the work of TeachHouse. Teacher shortages across our nation reflect not only an educational crisis, but social and economic crises as well.
- Teacher resiliency and empowerment, equity-based practices, peer mentorship, and self-care are central tenets of the work of TeachHouse. Teachers benefit significantly, and in turn, their students benefit. The quality, health, and stability of the teacher workforce directly impact workforce development and career readiness of our high school graduates, thereby impacting housing and food security of the families and communities served.
TeachHouse Fellow and Program Honors
2025-2026
- Justice Hatcher, Grace Klein, Bre Anna Clinkscales, Eleanor Mackey, Jessica On, Maia Solomon, and Anik Sen presented at the 2026 DRIVE Coalition Annual Summit at NCCU School of Education: "Supporting, Retaining, and Advancing Diverse Educators: Evidence and Practice”
- Bre Anna Clinkscales spoke on behalf of TeachHouse at the joint meeting of the DPS School Board and Durham County Commissioners — "Advancing Teacher Recruitment, Retention, Affordable Housing, and Educator Thriving”
- Jessica On received a grant from the Durham Public Schools Foundation and designed and led a school-wide initiative for Lyons Farm Elementary School families — "From Home to Classroom: Lifting Up Family Expertise Summit”
- Amy Swartzer (2026 TeachHouse Community Practitioner Fellow) named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Creekside Elementary
- Anik Sen (TeachHouse Resident Fellow) named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Riverside High School
- Jenny Lee (2026 TeachHouse Community Practitioner Fellow) named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability
- Jessica On (TeachHouse Resident Fellow), named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Lyons Farm Elementary School
- Kimberly Hernadez- Lartigue (TeachHouse alumna) named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Durham School of Technology
- Tabetha Jones-Evans (2026 TeachHouse Community Practitioner Fellow) named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Rogers-Herr Middle School
- Justice Hatcher received a shoutout on CNN10
- Jessica On named a GoGlobal NC Global Teacher Fellow
- Izabela Willis selected to participate in NC's Community of Practice Pilot Program sponsored by the NC Department of Public Instruction and U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The program is focused on ways to bring inquiry-based instruction to Holocaust education
- Bre Anna Clinkscales is Duke University's nominee for NC Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Student Teacher of the Year and a state finalist for this award (2025)
2024-2025
- Bre Anna Clinkscales received the Virginia S. Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award
- Myriama Smith Traore named a 2025-2026 Kenan Fellow for Teacher Leadership by NC State University
- Jessica On, Grace Klein and Dr. Jan Riggsbee presented "From TeachHouse to Teach Ins" at the Southeast Regional Coalition for University Assisted Community Schools Symposium
- Zach Meredith named a Pauli Murray Social Justice Teaching Fellow.
- Akanke Mason-Hogans named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Riverside High School in her first year of teaching
- TeachHouse alumni Colin Wolgemuth (2021-2022) named Durham School of the Arts 2025 Beginning Teacher of the Year
- Jessica On named NC Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Student Teacher of the Year (2024)
- Akanke Mason-Hogans presented at the NC Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Fall Forum: “I Don’t Really Like Science”: Improving Self-Perceptions of Scientific Aptitude in BIPOC Adolescents Through Representation and Teacher Leadership
2023-2024
- Dorcas Gyekye named the Jordan High School Beginning Teacher of the Year
- Kelly Marsh named the Club Boulevard Elementary School Beginning Teacher of the Year for the second consecutive year
- Abby Wood named the Riverside High School Beginning Teacher of the Year
- Grace Klein received the Githens Middle School Raider Shield of Excellence (for outstanding teaching)
- Akanke Mason-Hogans received the Virginia S. Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award
- Elena Blackwelder, Kim Hernandez-Lartigue, Akanke Mason-Hogans, and Zach Meredith received the North Carolina Governor’s Emerging Teacher Leadership Award
- Kristen Rigsby received the (STAR) Student Teacher Assistance for Retention Scholarship
- Myriama Smith-Traore presented at the 2024 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
- Duke TeachHouse featured as the Duke Board of Trustees' Mission Moment (December 2023)
- TeachHouse receives grant award from The William R. Kenan Charitable Trust (2023-2026)
2022 - 2023
- Alejandra Gómez appointed to the Durham Public Schools Community Wellness and Safety Task Force
- Dorcas Gyekye received an educator grant award from we are (Working to Extend Antiracist Education)
- Kelly Marsh named the Club Boulevard Elementary School Beginning Teacher of the Year
- Duke TeachHouse recognized by the NC Department of Public Instruction as a NC Promising Practice in Education
2021 - 2022
- Michele Saunders named the Durham Public Schools Equity Champion (March 2022)
- Brianna Rochelle named the Club Boulevard Elementary School Beginning Teacher of the Year
- Alejandra Gómez named Brogden Middle School Beginning Teacher of the Year
- Duke TeachHouse recognized by the NC Department of Public Instruction as a NC Promising Practice in Education
2020 - 2021
- Dorcas Gyekye named state finalist for NC Student Teacher of the Year
- Dorcas Gyekye selected to participate in the Case Method Institute training with Harvard Professor David Moss
- Alejandra Gómez received the William J. Griffith University Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Durham and Local Community from Duke University NC Campus Compact
- Alejandra Gómez received the Community Impact Student Award from Duke University
- Madeleine Sparrow received Duke's Cornerstone Award for demonstrating commitment to improving the lives of students, faculty, and staff at Duke and in the Durham community
2019 - 2020
- Michele Saunders received the Virginia S. Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award from Duke University’s MAT Program
- Alejandra Gómez received the Middle School Teacher of the Summer Award from Student U (Durham nonprofit)
- Carter Zenke collaborated with Durham educators and the NC Department of Public Instruction to develop North Carolina’s elementary computer science curriculum
- Mary Margaret Mills received National Board Certification
