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:
📰 Thankful for TFA’s 72,000 Strong Network
Teach For America’s growing network of leaders is working urgently to expand educational opportunities for every child, in every community. This month we’re celebrating and sharing your bright spots that prove progress is not just possible, it’s happening.
⭐ Purpose in Action: Insights from Aneesh
Every leader’s story starts somewhere. For many, the classroom is where purpose meets practice. In his latest LinkedIn article, Aneesh explores how we can disrupt the career funnel to ensure joining the corps is seen as a powerful, purpose-driven launchpad, not a detour, for the next generation of changemakers.
🔦 Spotlights
Expanding Leadership Training for Rural Educators
TFA and the Aspen Institute are partnering on a policy impact series to enhance TFA’s Rural School Leadership Academy, a yearlong fellowship now in its 13th year. This series will help fellows lead effectively in their schools and communities, while building the skills to influence policy at the state and national levels.
“The heart of rural schools lies in the leaders who choose to stay and invest in their communities.” – Casey DeFord (Arkansas ’12) Managing Director of Alumni Career Advancement & Field Integration at Teach For America
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🎓Leadership Lifts
- Levi Bachmeier (South Dakota 2014) Named North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction Before stepping into the state’s top education role, Bachmeier taught through TFA, helped lead North Dakota’s fastest-growing district, and served on three state education boards. Now he’s focused on making sure every student graduates ready for college, a career, or the military.
- Victor Wakefield (Chicago 2007) Starts as Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Wakefield is leading Nevada public schools with a focus on bi-partisan progress in K-12 education. Originally bound for law school, he found his purpose in his students and in helping them build the foundations for their futures through expanded opportunity.
- Joseph Whitfield (Arkansas 2015) Appointed Mayor of Helena-West Helena ArkansasWhitfield, a Helena-West Helena native and former corps member, was appointed Mayor of the city where he was taught by TFA teachers as a student. Guided by his motto, “People first. Community first.,” he’s focused on building a strong future for his hometown.
📚TFA in the News
- A Rare Moment to Redefine What it Means to Teach – TFA Los Angeles and Green Dot Public Schools are reimagining teaching to better empower, support, and respect educators in LA School Report.
- Where Students Mean Everything, Community Thrives – Students at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School 2 throw their principal Briana Lanoye (Buffalo ‘15) a surprise wedding on Good Morning America.
- Giving Teachers Clarity and Confidence to Grow – Adam Geller (St. Louis ‘06), CEO at Edthena, makes TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 list for AI Coach, which provides instructional coaching to teachers.
*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.
🙌 Opportunities
Career Acceleration Series
The Teach For America Career Center’s Career Acceleration Series is open October 15th to December 3rd, 2025. Available to alumni, corps members, staff, and the TFA network, these sessions with mission-aligned partners aim to support, inspire, and accelerate your career.
Prove What’s Possible with Braven
TFA is partnering with Braven, a national nonprofit that equips college students with skills, confidence, and networks to land a strong first job after graduation.TFA alums can continue to make an impact through two virtual volunteer opportunities:
Leadership Coach (January-May) – Gain leadership and time-management skills as you guide small groups of Fellows through weekly, virtual career-building experiences and real-world business challenges.
Professional Mentor (Feb 16 – May 8) – Provide one-on-one support to college students navigating jobs or internships, helping them build professional networks, materials, and confidence.
Final deadlines:
- Leadership Coach: 12/3/25
- Professional Mentor: 12/22/25
Scripps National Spelling Bee
All TFA partner schools can now enroll in the Scripps National Spelling Bee for free through the new “Beelieve” initiative. Watch Scripps Executive Director, Corrie Loeffler explain why.
The Role of Social Wealth Growing Your Career
Curious about the role social wealth plays in growing your career? Watch Nisaini Rexach’s (Chicago ’13) Ted Talk.
What’s Happening This Fall
November 5: Fuel Your Career of Impact: Networking with Purpose in the TFA Alumni Community
November 12: Breaking Into the C-Suite: Executive Pathways in Education & Social Impact
November 19: AI for Impact: Mapping Your Mission-Driven Career with Precision
December 3: AI-Powered Teaching, Future-Ready Careers
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.
