Teach For America

A little over a month ago, I graduated from Boston University with a double major in Political Science and History, and a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies. Since then, I immediately immersed myself in work, starting pre-service Teach For America in the Houston Region. Yesterday marked the end of my Practicum at Burbank Middle School. I am grateful to all the people I have met, of who I have learned lots from. I had such an incredibly supportive team, including my LDC Amber, who was a strong support as I navigated my practicum teaching 7th Grade ELA. Special thank you to Candy Fernandez M.Ed for being such an amazing School Director (GO EAGLES🦅🦅🦅) and for making Practicum such a wonderful and welcoming learning experience. Her dedication and support for our growth was inspiring, and I looked forward to the positive energy every day! I have learned so many things from Candy (especially the array of attention getters), and am incredibly excited to apply my newfound knowledge to my classroom this coming year. In a couple of weeks, I will be teaching English I at Chavez High School, starting my 1st year as a corps member. Alongside teaching English I, I will be starting my master’s degree in Education for Equity and Social Justice at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. I cannot wait to apply what I have learned over Pre-Service, and continue to grow as an educator who fights against systems of oppression and educational inequity.

Sourcing the right candidates is only the first step toward building a diverse, dynamic workforce. “It’s not enough to just get a diverse talent pool,” Jessica Morton, VP of People at TFA says. “We need to ensure that our hiring practices are mitigating bias.” “We have a very strong commitment and very ambitious goals,” Jessica says. “We have a baseline goal that 50% of our candidate pools identify as BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color].” Learn more about how TFA meets ambitious hiring goals in this article published by LinkedIn for Nonprofits: https://lnkd.in/gNsRA9Ns

Meet three outstanding educators from our TFA network who help students thrive in the classroom by celebrating their individual needs 🧑🏫❤️ In honor of Disability Pride Month, we asked our featured educators: what does Disability Pride mean to you? Read their answers ➡️ #DisabilityPride #DisabilityPrideMonth #Teachers

Time to add “beating Shazam” to the long list of skills our TFA community holds. 📝 Raymond A. Mullings, MPS (Arkansas ’15) competed in #BeatShazam and used this platform to share his passion for #EducationEquity and his ‘why’ behind being an educator. ✨ #teachforamerica

Before stepping foot in the classroom, I believed teaching was about presentation skills and tailoring content to students’ interests, but over the past two years with Teach For America, I’ve discovered it’s so much more. It’s analyzing data to develop individualized behavior strategies and plan engaging lessons, cultivating an inclusive and growth-minded learning environment to motivate students, as well as building trust-based relationships with challenging students and parents – including some who don’t speak English. It’s caring deeply for students without taking their behaviors personally. It’s hearing “Miss” 80+ times a day, switching lessons when the copier malfunctions, and teaching a brand-new class when there’s no substitute. It’s making split-second decisions and stepping up to lead amid rapid turnover. Some of my top moments during the past two years have been:  1) One of my English Language Learners raising his hand for the first time (and continuing to participate at least twice a class!) 2) A parent expressing heartfelt gratitude during an ARD meeting, thanking our team for helping his kid make better choices and become excited about school again 3) My homeroom class spontaneously clapping when I finished reading Charlotte’s Web 4) My kids bringing me Stitch paraphernalia and then switching to free ones when I expressed concerns about them spending money on me 5) My students independently correcting each others’ behaviors, reflecting on their own actions, and acting as leaders in the classroom 6) My kids learning to self-regulate their emotions and be kind to people they don’t like 7) My star student taking the time to write me a poem, have the whole class sign a note, and hug me on the last day :’) Thankfully, teaching is the most collaborative industry I’ve ever worked in, and many colleagues at my school offered me great insights into navigating difficult relationships, inspired me to improve my management style, and provided me with valuable resources to save me time. I am grateful for my sweet, energetic kids and the personal and professional lessons I’ve learned. I am beyond proud to be a TFA alum and to be part of a network that has opened its arms to me and made such a profound impact on the lives of students. Thank you to my friends, family, coach Grecia Zermeño-Castro, mentors, and Assistant Principal for your continuous support, feedback, and encouragement on tough days. While I have the utmost respect for everyone in this profession, I have missed solving business challenges, identifying new growth opportunities, crafting compelling value propositions, developing branding strategies, and above all, helping people deliver their message to the right people. Incredibly excited to return to the ever-evolving field of marketing and continue meeting great people, and I hope to support incoming educators and students in the future! 

In college, I was on track to be the first lawyer in my family until I heard about Teach For America and just had to be part of this group of extraordinary people changing the world, starting in the classroom. When I told my parents, who cared so deeply about me and my future, it took them time to come around to the idea that teaching was the right choice. As Zid Mancenido notes in this interview about his research, there are so many implicit and explicit messages that students receive about teaching. Our students deserve an exceptional pool of educators, and we have to create the conditions for young people to say yes to teaching. That means meeting them where they are and changing both the reality and the perceptions of the teaching profession. For example, we know that financial stability and well-being are important to Gen Z, so we have to ensure high-quality professional development, mental wellness support, and increased compensation for teachers. We know Gen Z is thinking about their careers earlier, so we need to give them more opportunities, like tutoring, to be in an authentic relationship with kids and see the impact they can have. And ultimately, we need to redesign the teaching profession, with different staffing models, as part of a broader reinvention of our education system to move beyond the outmoded, one-size-fits-all approach and better serve the individual assets and needs of students and educators. https://lnkd.in/gkKP7e8x

Imagine "tossing out the textbook" to revolutionize learning — this is the story of Dashiell Young-Saver (San Antonio '17). As a teacher, he witnessed his students grappling with real-world problems and decided to make their education relevant to their lives. After asking his students what they wanted to learn, their answers transformed the curriculum—covering everything from social media earnings to food deserts. The result? A staggering leap from a 2% to a 42% pass rate, proving the power of relevant education. Dashiell's initiative grew into "Skew the Script,” a website that now helps over 400,000 students nationwide with tailored educational content. His story is a testament to the impact of listening to and empowering students, turning their real-life concerns into powerful learning experiences. #TeachForAmerica

The St. Louis Alumni Board planned a heartwarming meetup at Castlewood State Park, uniting local alumni and their family and friends in a nature-filled adventure! 🌿 While the TFA community always cherishes opportunities for professional development and learning, there's something truly magical about forging connections amidst the tranquility of the woods, with the joyful laughter of children (aka future TFA corps members!) echoing all around. #TFACommunity #FutureLeaders

🌟 Juneteenth Spotlight 🌟 Join us in honoring the incredible achievements of Black changemakers who have made their mark in education and extended their impact beyond the classroom. 👩🏾🏫 Claudine Miles (Metro Atlanta '08) shares her gratitude for TFA's unwavering support in her entrepreneurial journey with Restore More. “[I was accepted into the] Social Innovation Fellowship, which was a program to help alumni launch education businesses. TFA has continually supported my vision and work over the last 6 years and for that I am eternally grateful, because due to that support I’ve grown my little idea into a successful business that helps educators.” 🧠 Alicia Williams (Houston '16) saw a need for student mental health support and turned her vision into reality with Abloom. “Standing in that classroom, I saw firsthand the silent crisis of student mental health. Now, with Abloom, I’m on a mission to revolutionize student mental health support, ensuring every student has the tools to thrive.” 💼 Mario Jovan Shaw (Charlotte '12) was ignited by TFA's mission to address societal inequalities. “Interacting with TFA alumni who had founded social impact organizations motivated me to make my own mark through meaningful work.” 🫂 Brandon Martin (Metro Atlanta '14) energized his community to ensure that Black boys in Atlanta can see and reach their full potential. “TFA's emphasis on activating community to solve academic challenges influenced me to do the same thing outside of the classroom.” Let's celebrate these trailblazers and continue championing their endeavors for a brighter, more equitable future! 🚀 #TeachForAmerica #BlackOwnedBusinesses #BlackAchievement

To our 2022 corps members, welcome to ALUMNIHOOD! 🎓 Across the entire nation, we’re celebrating the commitment and dedication you put into your classrooms and communities over the last two years. Thank YOU for helping us ensure that all children can attain an excellent education. Keep up with the TFA community and head to our Alumni Hub: https://bit.ly/4ccaTaz #EducationEquity #TeachForAmerica