What We’re Talking About
Welcome to TFA’s Connection Blog. A space to bring you the latest news, resources, and events happening among the Teach For America Community. Here is what we’re talking about in November:
Heading into election day, Teach For America remains focused on inspiring and bringing people together to work for something we all care about: making sure every child in the country has access to an excellent education.
Every child deserves a great education, and the opportunity to lead a good life. This simple belief unites us in our shared commitment to kids and communities.
The stakes are too high for us not to unite around educational excellence for every child. A modernized education system that equips every student with the skills, learning, and experiences they need to thrive in the 21st century is essential for a prosperous economy, a strong democracy, and a healthy society. We must come together for kids, communities, and the future of our country.
Spotlight
Yamilée Toussaint, NY alum and founder of STEM from Dance is a finalist for CNN Hero of the Year! Voting is open until December 3 and you can allocate up to 10 votes per day.
Hear CEO Elisa Villanueva Beard talk about the impact of mentorship and encouragement, particularly when it comes to getting to the next step on your path. Elisa illustrates her commitment to educational excellence for all kids, and inspires people to find passion in their work.
TFA in the News
- ABC and Telemundo: Ignite Comes to the Bay Area
- CNN: TFA alum Yamilée Toussaint (New York ’08) Named CNN Hero
- Nevada Business Magazine: Tim Hughes announced as TFA Nevada Executive Director
- WVON: TFA Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana Executive Director Anajah Roberts named to 40 Game Changers Under 40 list
- Aspen Institute: TFA President Jemina Bernard to Speak at Aspen Policy Academy’s Inaugural “Action and Impact” Event in Washington, DC
- Houston Business Journal: TFA Houston Executive Director, Tiffany Cuellar Needham, Named 2024 Women Who Mean Business Honoree
- ALX Now: Alexandria City Public Schools Partners with TFA to Meet Local Needs
- Yahoo: For 9th Year, TFA Collaborates with Whirlpool’s Care Counts™ Laundry Program to Provide Students Access to Clean Clothes
- New York Times: TFA Inspired Tulsa Remote Program, Reversing City’s Brain Drain
- K12 Digest: TFA NY Executive Director, Tia Morris, Calls for Financial Solutions to Address Teacher Shortage
- CBS: TFA Detroit Executive Director, Armen Hratchian, Discusses Michigan Report on Teacher Attrition and TFA’s Retention Program
- NJBiz: TFA New Jersey Executive Director, Tahina Perez, Discusses Sobering NJ Reading Statistics and TFA’s Role in Educational Equity
- Houston Style Magazine: Teach For America Houston Ignites Student Success in Fourth Year of Tutoring Fellowship
- Oregon Live: TFA Alum and Middle School Algebra Teacher, Bryan Butcher Jr., Named Oregon’s Teacher of the Year
- TX Border Business: TFA Rio Grande Valley Co-Hosts Youth Panel on College and Career Readiness
- Pine Bluff Commercial: TFA Greater Delta Executive Director Kewanza Williams Recognized for PBSD Partnership
- Houston Daily: TFA Houston Corps Member, Yessenia Ramos-Silva, Receives 2024 CFP Exemplary Teacher Award
- EdNC: TFA NC Executive Director Monique Perry-Graves Interviews Alum, Brittany Wells, on the Impact of TFA’s Work
Data & Research
Research drives our practice at Teach For America. As a data-driven organization, we conduct internal and external research to learn, evolve, and strengthen our work and impact. We currently have 13 studies underway that are focused on different areas of our work and impact. See this update to learn more.
What’s Happening Around November
November 12 Becoming a White House Fellow: TFA/WHF Alumni Advice for Aspiring Public Leaders
November 21 Black Men in Education Convening (BMEC)
November 21 The GSP Community of Practice: Leading Equity-Centered Change in Education
November 21 Building Bridges: Strengthening Family Partnerships for Lasting Engagement
November 21 Introduction to Policy and Advocacy Careers + LEE Fellowships Info Session
November 25: Open House: Global Institute Academy
November 27: Open House: Global Institute Academy
Stay Connected
Whether you just joined the Corps or completed your service decades ago, there are many ways to find your fellow Corps members and friends and connect. We provide both an alumni directory for looking up your old friends and a career networking platform – TFA Connect – for when you want to expand your career network, and several networking events each year. You can even join the national TFA Alumni group on LinkedIn! Wherever you go, the TFA alumni network is accessible and ready to support you.
