Start a Chapter
Thank you for your interest in establishing a YEP chapter in your community! By organizing social events, panel discussions, volunteer activities, and more, local YEP chapters make it possible for young people interested in education to meet and share ideas. Chapter leaders are at the center of this activity, providing a valuable service to their local communities while also developing management experience and building relationships locally and around the country. As a chapter leader, you would have a key role in shaping the rapid expansion of YEP's network.
Please read this entire page carefully. Starting a YEP chapter can be a very rewarding, yet challenging process. If, after reading this page, you are still interested in starting a chapter, please complete the interest form below and we will follow up with you. You do not need to complete the expansion steps below in order to request an official expansion letter. Additionally, if we receive expansion requests from multiple people within the same city then we will connect all interested parties together. NOTE: YEP is a completely volunteer-run organization at both the local and national levels. |
This has been the best experience working in a group I have ever had. It proves to me that group work actually can be awesome! It's been a good experience learning to manage volunteers, as well. It's also the first time I've had total ownership over a strategic plan and the capability to implement my ideas and see how they go! ~YEP Chapter Leader |
Expansion Steps:
- Review the official expansion letter, which we will send you, and the YEP website (www.youngedprofessionals.org) and decide
whether you want to be a part of the Young Education Professionals
network.
- Look carefully at our mission, vision, and who comprises our membership. Make sure this fits with your expectations of what a YEP chapter is.
- Review the list of previous YEP-DC events. While YEP chapters must tailor programming to their members and communities, it will give you some ideas of what a YEP chapter can accomplish. - Find at least two (2) other interested people to join you on the inaugural Executive Board.
- Have a general idea for your first event and when you will have it (we recommend starting with a happy hour on a week night).
- Find at least seven (7) more people who are interested in becoming members of your chapter.
- Schedule an orientation call with the Young Education Professionals Expansion Team and your inaugural Executive Board members. After you email us, we will send you an affiliate agreement, which we will review on the call.
Being a chapter leader takes more time than I initially thought. But it has been an excellent networking opportunity and I'm meeting more people in the broader education field, not just in the topic area that I work in.
~YEP Chapter Leader This has been a huge learning experience for me and has given me a completely different perspective on leadership. It has been invaluable and helped me in my career. Thank you! ~YEP Chapter Leader |
Chapter Levels:
YEP chapters are segmented by chapter levels, which are outlined in the YEP Chapter Levels Plan. This structure is designed to provide a clear path for chapter growth, clarify chapter expectations and responsibilities, and provide benchmarks for chapters to achieve before progressing to the next level. It also allows chapters in similar stages to communicate and collaborate with each other and learn from more experienced chapters. The chapter levels plan has three distinct stages of growth for chapters:
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Start a Chapter Interest Form
I have learned more about leadership from YEP than from any leadership activities in my workplace. First of all, you really have to communicate the vision to people and get them to buy into it, become a member, and become excited about YEP and creating a professional network for education leaders. I've had varying degrees of commitment from other leaders, so it has been exciting to work with other leaders to coordinate future YEP events and activities. Second, it has actually taught me about many interesting tools that I use all the time now. Third, the national network is incredible! I have made so many interesting connections through the leadership group, and have been able to recommend friends who are moving around the country to different YEP chapters.
~YEP Chapter Leader
~YEP Chapter Leader