Faculty Info Center
We’re Happy to Have You!
Thank you for agreeing to be a part of the Highlights Foundation faculty! We are honored that you have chosen to help us amplify the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves by taking part in one of our programs.
Highlights Foundation Founder Kent Brown with Crystal Allen (an early scholarship receipient, and now friend and faculty member)
Our Mission, Standards, and Philosophies
What is now the Highlights Foundation began in 1985 with a summer workshop for children’s authors and illustrators at the Chautauqua Institute in New York. While much has changed, our commitment to our mission remains: to amplify the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.
We ask all of our faculty members to review our mission, values, philosophies, and standards in advance of their first session with us.
By joining our faculty, you agree to uphold the following:
- Our Mission
- Our Community Standards
- Our Anti-Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct (including guidelines for reporting any incidents that do occur)
- Our Statement of Commitment to Equity & Inclusion
- Our Critique and Feedback Philosophy
Honorarium Payments + Processing
After your workshop is confirmed, you’ll receive a Letter of Understanding from our team outlining the honorarium you discussed with the programming team and other logistics.
Your honorarium for your program will be processed within 14 days of the conclusion of the program, as long as you have provided a W-9 and current mailing address. You’ll have to do both (if you have not already) to receive payment from the Highlights Foundation.
To facilitate W-9 collection and direct deposit of payments, we use a service called Bill.com.
A member of our team will be in touch before the conclusion of your program to facilitate your account setup on Bill.com, and invite you to fill out a W-9 if you haven’t already.
Logistics & To-Dos for Your Program
START HERE
Bio, Photo, and Honorarium Information Collection
- If you are a new faculty member: provide your information via this form. We'll use this to help inform our honorarium payment process, and create your bio on our website.
- If you have joined us on faculty before: we'd still apprecaite it if you complete this form so we can keep our records up to date, especially if you have moved. You don't have to provide your bio information again if it is already correct. [Your current bio on our website can be found here. If your bio and photo require no updates, put “No Updates” in the bio field, and do not upload a headshot. If they do require updates, please note them and/or provide fresh information.]
Your To-Do List
Review Our Mission and Standards
These links are provided here, at the top of this page. Please make sure you review them ahead of your program so we’re all on the same page.
Provide or Update Bio & Contact Information
Collaborate with Marketing
The marketing team will reach out to you to coordinate plans to market your program.
In general, we ask that all faculty members post or share their programs on social media platforms where they are active. We also ask that all faculty members collaborate on at least one piece of content in the lead up to their program.
Prepare Your Slide Presentation (if using)
Beta reads are available if you provide your slide presentation to us in advance.
Review the our slide presentation due date guidelines and best practices here.
Prepare Your Handouts (if using)
If you plan to provide handouts to attendees, they are due one week before your first session. Please provide them to your program team contact.
Our To-Do List
“Register” You for the Program
We will “register” you for the program through our software system, RetreatGuru. You will get a confirmation email that includes pertinent information and links. You’ll also get emails from this system leading up to the event to coordinate logistics, as needed.
Finalize and Launch the Program on Our Website
We will be in touch if we have any questions. Your timely submission/update of your bio information will help this process.
Market Your Workshop
A member of the marketing team will be in touch with a Google Drive link to your program’s graphics folder, and additional information about how we can collaborate on marketing.
If you’d like to learn more about that process works, see our Faculty Marketing Info Center.
Coordinate Agenda and Technical Logistics
A member of our programming team will reach out to you to coordinate the finalization of your program’s agenda, including any content and technical needs, as the program approaches.
Process Your Honorarium Payment at Program Conclusion
A member of our team will contact you to complete your W-9 (if we don’t already have it on file), double check your mailing address, and get you set up in bill.com for electronic payment (if you aren’t already). Your timely response to these requests will help us pay you in a timely manner.
Is Your Program In Person?
Plan Your Travel
As you plan your travel to our retreat center (whether on your own or through our travel agent), please consult this page on our website for guidance for your travel options and information about reimbursements.
Before Your Book Your Travel, Please Confirm Your Exact Stay Dates With Us!
Your accommodations and meals on our campus are covered for the duration of your program, plus one additional night (either before or after your program) to allow for travel flexibility. Additional nights are available at our standard rate. However, availability cannot be guaranteed except for during the duration of your program. Before you book your travel, please inquire with our team about the availablity of your desired stay dates to be sure we can accommodate your needs.
More Helpful Information About the Highlights Foundation
Did you know that we have a robust Scholarship Program to help students find their way to the Highlights Foundation when they might not otherwise be able to?
There’s a good chance that your program will include one or more scholarship recipients. Learn more about it here.
We are a non-profit 501c(3) organization with a strong history of helping authors and illustrators bring their stories to children. Learn more about ways to support our mission here.
We strive to support our faculty in their own professional development. We occasionally offer free webinars and training; stay on our mailing list to get these announcements.
From time to time, we invite faculty to audit courses.
Finally, we offer a discount code to faculty on select workshops. Learn more here.
Contact Us
Thank you for working with us! Contact us and our staff can get back to you, usually within one business day.
