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 February:
The Results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The release of the Nation’s Report Card tells a story that is too familiar, but one that we cannot accept as the status quo: our education system has not evolved fast enough to meet the needs of this generation of students or to set them up with the learning, experiences, and skills they need to learn, lead, and thrive in the 21st century.
The results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 4th- and 8th-grade math and reading assessments show that student learning continues to decline in reading and is not progressing enough in math to make up for pandemic learning losses. We’re not doing right by our kids and they deserve better.
The good news is we know what works, and we need to invest in that now. When students read proficiently by 3rd grade and master certain math principles by 4th and 8th grades, they are more likely to graduate high school and to be prepared for college and careers, putting them on track to have agency and freedom in their lives, to fuel our economy, and to make their greatest contributions to their communities and country and strengthen our democracy. To get there we have to work together and invest in high-quality, evidence-based curricula and professional development for educators alongside high-dosage math and reading tutoring for students. We also have to embrace the idea that every child can be a reader and be good at math. And we need to leave room for innovation so that our education system can keep up with what students need from a 21st-century education. The potential is there, we just have to match it with investments and support for all students.
In the 35 years since our founding, Teach For America’s “why” has remained consistent — to create a world where one day, all children will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education. The stakes are too high for us not to unite around this simple belief and work with a shared commitment to kids and communities. Seventy-thousand people have joined our teacher corps and Ignite tutoring fellowship with this abiding belief. We look forward to continuing to recruit, train, and support the next generation of teachers and tutors and working alongside others, including our alumni – at the classroom and systems level – to ensure every child in every neighborhood can receive the education they deserve.
Spotlights
Teach For America to sponsor the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee Educator of the Year Award, as the Bee celebrates its 100th birthday!
Teach For America is thrilled to announce our partnership with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. TFA will sponsor the prestigious 2025 Educator of the Year Award as we help kick off the Bee’s 100th anniversary celebration during our organization’s 35th anniversary year. This award acknowledges the exceptional efforts of spelling bee coordinators and educators who go above and beyond to create enriching spelling bee experiences for their students. TFA shares in this passion for recognizing and supporting excellent educators working to ensure all kids have what they need to learn, lead, and thrive in the 21st century.
Nominations are now open through February 28th, 2025 at this link. If you know an inspiring school bee coordinator or a passionate supporter—such as a teacher, aide, librarian, or administrator—please nominate them! To be eligible, the educator must be from a school enrolled in the 2024-2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee program (schools enroll at spellingbee.com from August – January). The selected Educator of the Year will receive recognition at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Each year, the Scripps Educator of the Year exemplifies the spirit of the spelling bee and educators who invest time and energy into practice sessions, motivate students to believe in their potential, and inspire a lifelong love for learning. Their impact goes far beyond the competition.
If your school is enrolled in the Scripps National Spelling bee program, you know that the school spelling bee isn’t just about words – it’s about building confidence, navigating both triumph and disappointment, and, most importantly, having fun. The spelling bee program thrives because of educators who create meaningful opportunities for students to shine.
Click this link to nominate an educator for this award.
If you don’t have a specific nomination in mind but would like to share your own spelling bee experiences or feedback, we invite you to participate in our survey: click here
Teach For America is proud to support the Scripps National Spelling Bee in its mission to illuminate pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrate academic achievement, and enrich communities. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program.
TFA in the News
- Bluum: Teach For America’s Impact on Idaho Students Runs Deep
- Authority Magazine: TFA San Antonio Executive Director, Nick Garcia, Outlines Five Ways to Become an Effective Educator
- Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service: TFA Milwaukee Corps Member, Hamidreza Majidi, Teaches Math at Carmen High School
- Milwaukee Business Journal: TFA Milwaukee Executive Director, Michael Nguyen, Spotlighted as 2025 40 Under 40 Honoree
- NOLA.com: Few of his teachers were Black men. He became a New Orleans teacher to change that.
Data & Research
American Institutes for Research (AIR) Releases A Meta-analysis of Teach For America Teacher Impact
The American Institutes for Research examined decades of research on TFA teachers, and found that TFA teachers over the last few decades have had a consistent and significant impact on students’ learning and:
- On average, students of TFA teachers perform better in math than those of similar non-TFA teachers.
- On average, students of TFA teachers perform better in science than those of similar non-TFA teachers.
- On average, students of TFA teachers perform similarly in reading to those of similar non-TFA teachers.
What’s Happening Around February
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.
