Teach For America is bringing high quality teachers to Hartford willing to do whatever it takes to lead students to achieve and who hold themselves personally responsible for the academic success of each and every one of their students. Beyond their two year commitment, these accomplished and dedicated individuals continue to be leaders in the effort to close the achievement gap and improve public education. Teach For America is an outstanding pipeline of talent for the city of Hartford.![]()
- Dr. Steven J. Adamowski, Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools
This year, a corps of more than 110 of the nation’s most promising future leaders are teaching in our city’s lowest-income classrooms as a part of Teach For America • Connecticut. They are working to ensure their students have the educational opportunities they deserve. Our alumni are a leadership force, working from within education and every professional sector to effect broader change. Together they are helping us make educational equity a reality in Connecticut. Learn about living and teaching in Connecticut. Learn about living and teaching in Connecticut.
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Corps Impact | ![]() |
Alumni Impact | ![]() |
Financial Sustainability | ![]() |
Regional Supporters | ![]() |
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Executive Director |
Recent press releases
Recent press coverage
During the 2007-08 school year, 110 corps members are directly impacting the lives of more than 9,000 students in Connecticut. Cat Baker is one example of the tremendous difference our corps members are making.
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Cat Baker (Connecticut Corps '06) |
Cat Baker is teaching third grade students at Wexler-Grant Elementary School in New Haven this year. Cat uses a variety of learning modalities, including music and dance, to help her students stay on task and learn class material. She is also the coach for the school’s cheerleading squad. Last year, Cat taught first grade and led every student to achieve between one and a half and three years of academic progress in reading, and master all grade level mathematics. Following her term of service with Teach For America, she would like to continue teaching and plans to attend law school.
Connecticut: Our Impact on Students and Schools Today
| School Year | Corps Members | Students Reached |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 48 | 4,080 |
| 2007-08 | 110 | 9,350 |
| 2008-09 | 150* | 12,750* |
| 2009-10 | 175* | 14,875* |
* projected |
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Principal Satisfaction
*"Teach For America 2007 National Principal Survey,” Policy Studies Associates, July 2007.
Impact on Student Achievement
According to a highly regarded study by Mathematica Policy Research, corps members outpaced fully certified and veteran teachers in their schools in moving their students ahead academically. Read national results.
Student Profile
Connecticut: Corps Member Placement
| Assignment | # of Corps Members | % of Corps |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 9 | 8% |
| Science | 15 | 14% |
| Foreign Language | 5 | 5% |
| Social Studies | 11 | 10% |
| English | 19 | 17% |
| Elementary | 51 | 46% |
| Total | 110 | 100% |
*Percentages rounded and may not add up to 100 percent.
Characteristics of the 2007 Corps
| Corps Profile | Top alma maters by market share* |
|---|---|
| Average GPA: 3.6 | Yale University, Trinity College, Princeton University: 7% |
| Average SAT: 1321 | Georgetown University, Stanford University, Wesleyan College: 6% |
| Held leadership roles on campus: 95% | Harvard University: 5% |
| People of color: 28% | Connecticut corps members that are graduates of Connecticut colleges or universities: 12% |
*Percentage of senior classes who applied to Teach For America
Fostering Alumni Leadership for Systemic Change
As the number of corps members grows, so does our alumni base. By 2010, we will have over 150 Teach For America • Connecticut alumni pursuing professional careers and impacting educational reform from every sector.
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Morgan Barth (Mississippi Delta Corps '02) |
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Cathy Holahan (South Louisiana Corps '94) |
Morgan Barth and Cathy Holahan are two of the many alumni working toward our vision in Connecticut. Morgan is currently the academic dean of Elm City College Prep in New Haven. Cathy practices law in the Children at Risk Unit of Connecticut Legal Services, working to keep children in school and out of the criminal justice system. Morgan and Cathy’s efforts fuel our collective goal of closing the achievement gap.

Growing Our Impact: Funding Needs, 2007-2010
Each additional recruit is another dedicated teacher for children growing up in low-income communities in Connecticut, and another talented leader with the insight and commitment
necessary to sustain the reform efforts underway, which is critical to the ongoing vitality of our region.
| Year | Corps Size | Revenue Needs |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 110 | $2.9 million* |
| 2008-09 | 150* | $3.7 million* |
| 2009-10 | 175* | $4.85 million* |
* projected |
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We are grateful to have many supporters who generously contribute to our movement in Connecticut. The foundations, corporations and individuals listed below have made it possible for Teach For America to continue to recruit, select, train, and support teachers who are working to eliminate educational inequity in our city.
To support Teach For America • Connecticut with a gift or to request additional information about our impact or finances, please contact:
Teach For America • Connecticut
Emily Barton, Executive Director
Diana Gilberti, Development Director
142 Temple Street
Suite 303
New Haven, CT 06510
p 203-786-5498, f 203-786-5497
emily.barton@teachforamerica.org
diana.gilberti@teachforamerica.org
Prior to becoming executive director of Teach For America • Connecticut, Emily Barton taught seventh grade math in Opelousas, Louisiana, as a member of the 2004 corps. She led her students to 1.8 years of growth in her first year and 2.7 years of growth in her second year. Emily graduated from Yale University, where she majored in history. During college, Emily built alliances among nonprofits to support the needs of children undergoing abuse and neglect proceedings in New Haven’s juvenile and probate courts.