If you're looking to pursue a new direction in your career and want to be a powerful force in the lives of others, consider joining Teach For America.
Educational inequity is our nation's greatest injustice. By committing two years to teach in a low-income community and applying the skills you've developed in your professional career, you can help solve it.
 |
Eligibility | |
Who we look for | |
Alumni profiles | |
Corps member profiles | |
Career resources |
Yes. A candidate's age has no bearing on admissions decisions. Our corps members include outstanding leaders of all ages and experiences, and we encourage anyone who meets our eligibility requirements to apply. In addition to recruiting graduating seniors on college campuses, we actively recruit college graduates currently working in the public and private sectors, as well as those currently enrolled in graduate programs.
Currently, the vast majority of corps members are within five years of graduation from college. This is in part because, like many employers, we focus most of our recruitment efforts on college campuses.
All applicants should evaluate their personal flexibility and comfort with Teach For America. Specifically, our training includes an intensive five-week summer program on a college campus with dormitory-style living arrangements, and regional assignment may involve relocation. To learn more, please visit the Teach For America FAQs.
We seek exceptional students and leaders from all backgrounds and career interests who have a track record of achievement. We also seek individuals who have the potential to achieve based on the skills and strengths that we've determined over time lead to success in our classrooms, and we are committed to building a diverse corps that best enables us to enhance our impact in the communities we serve.
Read more about who we're looking for
Read more about our commitment to diversity
We look for evidence of these qualities and characteristics in the online application and in phone and in-person interviews. Because leaders come in many forms with many past experiences, we do not look for a narrow profile of experience, such as particular academic majors or specific leadership positions. To learn more, please visit the Teach For America FAQs.
Today there are more than 12,000 Teach For America alumni working across the country in every sector. Alumni who joined the corps as working professionals tell us that teaching in a low-income area was a defining experience for them. They say that the experience enabled them to do something truly meaningful while giving them the insight and conviction needed to continue to effect change throughout their careers. Moreover, alumni leave their two years with lasting personal relationships, as well as a deep sense of fulfillment from being an ongoing part of something so significant.
Meet some of our alumni who joined Teach For America after a few years as working professionals and learn about the sectors in which they currently work.
 |
Luis Alonso (Greater New Orleans Corps '02) Carnegie Mellon University, B.S. computer science Pre-Corps Profession: Engineer at technology start-up Post-Corps Profession: Software Engineer, Google |
Read what he has to say |
|
 |
Kermit Cook (St. Louis Corps '03) Dartmouth College, B.A. engineering sciences • Stanford University, M.B.A. Pre-Corps Profession: Business Analyst, McKinsey & Company Post-Corps Profession: Associate, Capstone Consulting/KKR |
| Read what he has to say |
|
 |
Morris Liao (Mississippi Delta Corps '03) Northwestern University, B.A. math and economics • Northwestern University, M.B.A. Pre-Corps Profession: Analyst, Citigroup Post-Corps Profession: Senior Strategic Planning Analyst, Dick's Sporting Goods |
| Read what he has to say |
|
 |
John Fisher (Phoenix Corps '04) Marquette University, B.S. electrical engineering • Arizona State University, M.Ed. Pre-Corps Profession: Electrical Engineer, Sargent & Lundy, LLC. Post-Corps Profession: School Administrator, Arizona Cardinals Preparatory Academy |
| Read what he has to say |
|
 |
Marya Murray Diaz (New York City Corps '04) Georgetown University, B.A. international studies • Georgetown University, M.A. international studies Pre-Corps Profession: Policy Advisor, the Center for Economic and Policy Research Post-Corps Profession: Math Teacher, KIPP Infinity |
| Read what she has to say |
|
 |
Christine Janes(New York City Corps '04) University of Maryland, College Park, B.A. hearing and speech sciences • Fordham University, M.A.T. Pre-Corps Profession: Peace Corps Volunteer, Audiologist in Jordan Post-Corps Profession: Science Teacher, P.S./M.S. 3 Raul Julia Micro Society |
| Read what she has to say |
|
 |
Korbin Johnson (Southern Louisiana Corps '01) University of New Mexico, B.A.broadcast journalism Pre-Corps Profession: Team Supervisor, General Motors Post-Corps Profession: KIPP Fisher Fellow, New Orleans |
| Read what he has to say |
|
Current corps members who join the corps as working professionals tell us that teaching has been a motivational and life-changing experience. They say that their previous experience in the work force has added to their abilities to be ambitious and inspired teachers. Meet some of our corps members who joined Teach For America after a few years as working professionals.
 |
Tyson Kane (Los Angeles Corps '06) University of Texas at Austin, B.A. economics, B.A. humanities, and B.B.A business Pre-Corps Professions: Associate Consultant, Boston Consulting Group; Senior Associate, Carlyle Group |
| Read what he has to say |
|
|
I got very interested in the inner workings of schools, and I wanted to get into the classroom myself to see if what I was proposing was feasible. I wanted to be in a position where I could actually make a difference and have an immediate impact and I decided to apply to Teach For America. Building relationships with my students has been my favorite part of leading a classroom – learning how to motivate my students with compassion. As a teacher, I strive to create an environment where my students truly believe that they matter to me and to their peers. Watching my students empower themselves has been the most incredible experience. A couple of weeks ago in one of my classes we were reviewing a practice test and one of my students stood up in front of the class and started to impersonate the role of his teacher – Mr. Kane. When the class started asking legitimate questions about their tests, he explained the answers flawlessly. That’s the best feeling to have as a teacher – to see that your students have empowered themselves and that they believe in themselves. |
|
 |
Shani Jackson (Houston Corps '06) Howard University, B.B.A. international business • Stanford University, M.B.A. Pre-Corps Profession: KIPP Foundation |
| Read what she has to say |
|
|
|
|
As a Teach For America alumnus, you will have access to a rich set of resources to help you chart your course, both personally and professionally.
Graduate school partnerships: More than 100 graduate schools, including the top-ranked programs in business, law, medicine, education, public policy, and the sciences and engineering, seek out our alumni. Benefits include two-year deferrals and scholarships.
Employer partnerships: Alumni are recruited by hundreds of organizations. Over 20 leading employers, including Deloitte, General Electric, Google, JPMorgan, McKinsey, Morgan Stanley and Wachovia, offer special benefits specifically for Teach For America corps members, such as two-year deferrals, internships, signing bonuses and career mentoring.
Regional alumni support: Many regions have staff members who help connect alumni with career opportunities, civic opportunities and other Teach For America alumni, and foster deeper engagement with Teach For America overall.
Who we're looking for
Corps and Alumni
After two years working as a management consultant for the Boston Consulting Group, I was offered a position in private equity with the Carlyle Group. While there, I worked with a number of schools advising principals on the budgetary, operational, and goal-setting side of managing their institutions. This is where I first heard about Teach For America.