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 September:
Believing in Students, 35 Years Strong.
As students head back to school, we’re highlighting the educators shaping what’s next. In New, Orleans, where this fall marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, alum Tanya Byrant is one of many still leading with courage and care. From classrooms rebuilt after crisis to innovations led by Gen Z, TFA educators are bringing urgency, optimism, and a deep belief in students. Bright spots across our more than 300 rural and urban communities remind us of their brilliance. As we mark our 35th Anniversary, that belief in kids is what must guide the road ahead.
Spotlights
Volunteer as a Mock Interviewer
Help a promising college student shine in their next interview! TFA is proud to partner with Braven, to support their Mock Interview events for college students from humble beginnings this fall! We’re looking for TFA alums to spend just 2.5 hours giving back to the next generation of leaders! You’ll conduct practice interviews with Braven Fellows and provide feedback to help students prepare for internships and full-time roles. Training is included in the 2.5 hours and you’ll be given all the materials you need to be successful.
Details:
- When: Afternoons and evenings in October. Choose one or more!
- Where: Virtual on Zoom
- Commitment: 2.5 hours (includes 30 minute training)
- Sign up here: https://link.braven.org/SIPS-TFA
- Sign up deadline: October 5
Learn more about the opportunity here. Hope to see you make a lasting difference in a student’s career journey!
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Teach For America Career Acceleration Series Fall 2025
Join the Teach For America Career Center for our Career Acceleration Series from October 15th to December 3rd, 2025! Presented alongside fellow mission-aligned organizations, these virtual events will cover a variety of topics to support, inspire, and accelerate your career. All sessions are open to alumni, corps members, staff and members of the TFA network, except where noted.
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Finding Purpose in the Classroom
Teach For America CEO Aneesh Sohoni reflects on his first days teaching in the Twin Cities and celebrates 2025 corps member Patricia Etienne, who shared, “The kids really just solidified that this is where I’m meant to be. I do it for the kids.”
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Save the Date: Our 35th Anniversary
“We’re celebrating, 35 years of purpose, people, and progress and we want you there! Spread the word about this event that will serve as a catalyzing moment in education by sharing with TFA alumni in your network and posting on your social channels.
TFA in the News
- The Storm, Aftermath, and Recovery: How Katrina Shaped This Educator’s Career
- Innovation and Human Connection in Schools
- Back-to-school tips from education leaders to start the year strong
- OPINION: Will Nevada’s new laws actually move the needle on literacy rates?
- Teach For America describes how social media help recruiting efforts
*Note: In pursuit of our vision of One Day and our 2030 impact goal, Teach For America has built a broad coalition, and we work alongside over 300 communities across 37 states, the District of Columbia, and sovereign nations. To meet the needs of the children we serve and our participants, we partner with several other organizations and entities to establish a repertoire of resources and supports. While we review these resources, we recognize the content of links may shift, change, or be not fully aligned with our complete view, values, or vision. The inclusion of any link is intended to direct users to potentially useful information. Teach For America encourages users to exercise their own judgment when accessing linked websites.
Data & Research
The Pupils Project
Nearly 900 students received glasses through a school-based vision imitative – and three smart strategies helped boost wear rates. Learn more about the Pupils Project and see how simple tweaks made a big impact.
Teach For America: AI in Education, Arcade AI & Prototype Results
AI Impact Report — Discover how Teach For America’s Reinvention Lab sparked AI dexterity across 1,200+ educators and 10,000+ students—through hackathons, Prototype Shops, and the pioneering Arcade AI ecosystem. Download the AI Impact Report now to explore 720+ tools built, learn what leaders are saying, and see how real-world classroom innovations are shaping the future of learning.
What’s Happening This Fall
Join the Teach For America Career Center for our Career Acceleration Series from October 15th to December 3rd, 2025! Presented alongside fellow mission-aligned organizations, these virtual events will cover a variety of topics to support, inspire, and accelerate your career.
October 25: The EdTech Co-Lab Fellowship: Bay Area, Beta to Breakthrough
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.
