Teach For America

Today’s young people are shaping the future—and we have a collective responsibility to ensure they’re equipped to create a better world. On this #InternationalDayofEducation, we echo Wendy Kopp's call to action: let’s unite in reshaping education and empowering educators to collaborate, innovate, and inspire students everywhere. Together, we can transform learning for generations to come. 💡🌟 #TeachForAmerica

Teaching hasn’t always been easy, but Craig Shelton (SC ’22) describes it as “the good hard.” His motivation? 🌀 Helping his students grow academically and emotionally. 🌀 Making an impact as a Black male educator. 🌀 Building the skills and experience to one day lead a school as principal. Through TFA’s personalized coaching and hands-on learning experiences, he’s seeing his students thrive—and he’s sharpening his leadership skills along the way. On the hardest days, Craig remembers his “why”: 
“To be the change I want to see in the world – working to develop myself, my students, and ultimately my community.” Thank you, Craig, for showing what’s possible when mentorship, passion, and purpose align. 💙 https://bit.ly/4av9oEz

Such an inspiring update, Alan Murray! Sharing our journey in digital transformation, data, and AI is a vital part of driving impact in education and advancing equity. Thank you to Cloud for Good for creating a platform to connect and collaborate with other mission-driven leaders. Together, we can continue leveraging technology to shape a brighter future for students everywhere.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of justice and equality challenges us to take action today and every day. He believed in the transformative power of education to uplift individuals and strengthen communities. This MLK Day, let’s turn inspiration into action by working toward an education system that serves everyone. Find ideas to honor his legacy through service: https://bit.ly/4fpMwHm #MLKDay #MartinLutherKingJr

The 74 Media has featured an opinion piece by our CEO Elisa Villanueva Beard as one of their most-read articles of 2024! 🔍 In "Too Many Students Say School Just Isn’t Relevant — It’s Time to Listen to Them," Elisa dives into the critical disconnect between students and their education, urging educators, policymakers, and communities to reimagine learning environments that reflect students' voices, needs, and aspirations. 💡💬 “It’s clear that our assignment as adults is this: Make sure our schools engage all kids, no matter their background or where they live. Every school can be a place for connection, rigorous learning, even joy. And when kids are prepared for the future, our country is, too.” Check out the full list of top essays 👉 https://bit.ly/4jdbFIH And read Elisa's powerful and increasingly relevant article here 👉 https://bit.ly/40Abe3X #EducationMatters #StudentVoices

🎉 Exciting update! Five incredible Teach For America alumni have been honored with the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching—the nation’s highest recognition for STEM educators. 🌟 👏 Let’s celebrate: Sharon Collins (New York ’99) Ella Hereth (Indianapolis ’11) Calyah Green (Washington D.C. ’16) Arial Beggs (Chicago ’04) Sarah Milianta-Laffin (Houston ’06) These changemakers are shaping the future of STEM education and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers. 💡✨ Are you a TFA alum recognized with this award, or do you know someone who is? We’d love to celebrate you, too! Drop a comment or send us a message. Learn more about the award and honorees here: https://bit.ly/40B7q2g #TeachForAmerica #PAEMST #STEMEducation #TFAAlumni

TFA Alumni ‼️ Fellowship Opportunity - two weeks left to apply! LEE's Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship is a three-month, paid opportunity for members looking to grow their leadership skills and apply their passion for equity. Members will be placed with a host organization to develop meaningful plans and policies that impact children and communities. Applications are due January 31, 2025. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gAkdmJvc

What will it take to make students more engaged, prepare schools to meet students’ new realities, and support teachers in their own personal well-being and professional development? It’s not surprising that it starts with listening to students. TFA partnered with the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research to pilot The Cultivate System, a tool that helps TFA educators gather feedback directly from their students. Here’s what you should know: - 90% of students taught by TFA teachers felt motivated to work hard. - Over 60% felt connected to their learning goals and saw their identities reflected. - But fewer than 50% felt a strong sense of community or belonging. While this statistic mirrors findings from other surveys—showing that students in public schools, particularly those in historically marginalized communities, often feel less of a sense of belonging—it’s still concerning. When educators genuinely listen to student feedback and have the resources to act on it, it can help build a stronger foundation of beliefs in learning, such as belonging, growth mindset, and personal agency. #TeachForAmerica #UChicago #TheCultivateSystem

I’m so excited to head home to Teach For America this spring as TFA’s next Chief Executive Officer. As I take the baton from Elisa Villanueva Beard, whose leadership has been a seminal part of my own leadership journey, I’m inspired by TFA’s almost 35 years of impact and work with students, families, and schools in over 300 diverse communities. I know that with my TFA network of 70,000 fellow alumni, corps members, Ignite fellows and staff working alongside me, we can shape the future of education across the country and drive meaningful impact in our regions, ensuring that every child experiences an excellent education that prepares them for the future they want. Like so many TFA alums, my life changed when I became a corps member. My students in my Twin Cities high school classroom were incredible and their potential was only matched in size by the challenges they faced in an unjust education system. I knew then I needed to make this my life’s work. In every job I’ve had, I’ve seen firsthand what a collective group of TFA alumni and partners can do together. I’m inspired by what is possible and hopeful that the current trajectory of education and learning in our country does not have to define our future. As I prepare for this next chapter, I have so much gratitude for and pride in my team at One Million Degrees. Together we’ve launched a major expansion with City Colleges of Chicago; we’ve spearheaded a collaboration with Complete College America (CCA) to partner with community college systems nationally; and we’ve seen incredible philanthropic growth which has enabled us to scale our work and impact, nearly quadrupling the number of students OMD works with. Most of all, I know we are having a meaningful impact on students. I know the OMD team will only build on this as they carry the work forward. I am looking forward to an incredible 2025! 

As a fellow alum, colleague, and friend, I’m excited to pass the baton to Aneesh Sohoni (Teach For America – Twin Cities ’09) as the next CEO of Teach For America. It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead this incredible organization for the last 12 years and serve the organization for the last almost 27 years. I’m optimistic about the next phase of our collective efforts with Aneesh’s leadership, alongside our standout staff, and 70,000 person network of corps members, alumni, and Ignite tutors. I believe the best chapter of our work is ahead of us. Here’s to moving boldly toward One Day.