Earlier this month, we asked our fellow Teach For America staff members to share some of the things for which they are most thankful this year (spoiler alert: A LOT). Here is what they said, presented from A to Z:
All people who believe that kids deserve an excellent education. Whether you’re inside or outside the Teach For America community, we’re thankful for your commitment to helping kids succeed. —Pass The Chalk Editors
Best Friends. For encouraging us to always be our best selves, and loving and supporting us through the moments we fall short of that. —Kenie Huber, Video
Board Members. We have one the BEST regional boards. We would not be at the place we are today without their commitment and sacrifice on behalf of our kids in Milwaukee. #kidswin —Mitzi Keel, Milwaukee
Collaboration. I am thankful for the entire DFW regional team for constantly supporting each other and working together. Daily we push each other to be better and better. —Dakota Rubin, Dallas-Fort Worth
Community. My local Greenville, MS community; my regional Delta team; my TLD cohort; my national and alumni community. They all support, develop, and ground me. —Samantha Hoare, Greater Mississippi and Arkansas Delta
Challenges. Nothing that is worth having comes easily. —Melissa Curiale Galloway, Recruitment
Democracy. Nationwide we continue to see our brothers and sisters exercise their rights and make their voices heard. I’m excited that we’re modeling the privileges and responsibilities of living in this great country. —Brittany Packnett, St. Louis
Educators Everywhere. TFA, non-TFA, we’re all here serving kids. We would be nothing without these dedicated, passionate, and committed leaders. —Erin Teater, Chicago
Family. For loving, lifting, and protecting each other. —Gaby Barahona, Human Assets
Fortune 100’s List of Best Companies to Work For. We have made the list in 2011 and 2012, and it’s because Teach For America has staff members who care about each other and the work that we do. —Katie Dettmann, Human Assets
Friends. Who keep me grounded and sustain me. —Justin Meli, Recruitment
Great weather, even in November. Just one more reason to love South Louisiana (aside from the amazing regional team we have here). —Ryan Rydzewski, South Louisiana
Home. I recently moved back to my hometown of St. Louis and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to rediscover and make an impact in the city that shaped me. —Lauren Moxey, Admissions
#hashtags. Because everything is better with one and #teammemphis rocks them. —Athena Turner, Memphis
Identity, and the importance we are placing on creating space within our work on staff, and with the corps, to dive deeper into conversations on race, class, culture and privilege. I feel blessed to work for an organization that places emphasis on the absolute necessity of understanding my own identity within the historical context of our country. —Ursa Scherer Robinson, Teacher Preparation, Support & Development
Justice, and the belief that the moral arc of the universe bends towards it. —Garrett Bucks, Marketing + Communications
Kindergarten and pre-K. Paints and stories and stickers and playtime with new friends—what a magical entry into a lifetime of learning. —Leah Fabel, Alumni Affairs
Kids. After all, that’s why we do what we do.—Katie Dettmann, Human Assets
Lotsa Love. I feel like my work is fueled by love: Love for my amazing workmates, love for our students and families and our communities.—Laura Zingg, Engagement
Learning. Constantly. I’m always thankful that we do everything humanly possible to learn and improve absolutely everything we do, even if the doing of that learning and improvement is hard
and painful.— Athena Turner, Memphis
Music. Has the ability to change moods, create energy, and inspire. Wouldn’t want to live in a world without it. —Dom McClendon, National Diversity and Inclusiveness
Memphis Merged Program Pilot. the work we are doing to root our 2013 CMs in the great city of Memphis is going to put us all on an accelerated path! We are thankful for all of the support we get from our colleagues across the organization! —Marilyn Stotts, Memphis
Neil Diamond. Because even at 71 years old, he’s rocking it out.—Aaron French, Human Assets
New York City. My lifeblood and the only place I want to call home for the foreseeable future.—Justin Meli, Recruitment
Oakland Youth. They taught me more about life than I could have ever taught them about science! —DJ Cervantes, Massachusetts
Opportunity. I am deeply grateful to have been given lots of advantages in life that have helped me to succeed, and I hope there will be a day when everyone in our country has the same level of
opportunity.—Shen Lim, Human Assets
Parents. I’m always amazed at how so many of my teammates balance such demanding work while also being moms and dads—both are full-time jobs!—Justin Kestler, Digital Product Development
Privilege to do the work I’m so passionate about with people that have so much potential and whose stories are so powerful.—Athena Turner, Memphis
Purpose. Sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps me going on tough days.—Justin Meli, Recruitment
Questions, especially the hard ones people ask that make us rethink how we work and end up in a better place (though easy questions are pretty great, too).—Cameron Cutro, Human Assets
Quacking. Our 2012 Corps Members in DFW have built an incredibly community around one simple phrase: “Keep Calm and Quack On.”—Dakota Rubin, Dallas-Fort Worth
Relationships, because they are what this work is about, and what keeps me grounded in my work.—Kori Hamner, Memphis
Risk-Takers, for redefining what’s possible and bringing us leaps and bounds forward.—Sara Kovacic, Strategy and Execution
Support of friends and family, without which I couldn’t be where I am today! —Rachel Levy, Insights
Students! For reminding us of all their talent, potential, brilliance and hope, day after day. All of us do this for you, and we promise to get better every day to live up to YOUR expectations.—Brittany Packnett, St. Louis
Trust. The trust and confidence that we have in our co-workers allows us to take risks, be creative, and innovate without fear.—Lauren Bloom, Strategy and Execution
Team. I am so thankful for the group of amazing folks I get to this work with everyday. I am grateful for each and everyone!—Meg Loucks, Video
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. A #TeamSTL favorite to share with each other, our corps members, and our friends.—Brittany Packnett, St. Louis
Unique perspectives. If everyone were the same, life would be so boring. #Diversity rocks!—Monique Carswell, Regional Marketing
Upbringing. That I was raised by my family to understand the value of and fully take advantage of the immense opportunities I had available, and to understand how important it was to try to make these same opportunities available to everyone. —Joe Robins, Technology
Vacations. I love immersing myself in other cultures and unknown destinations.—Monique Carswell, Regional Marketing
Wondering. I admire how much we as an organization, and as thousands of individuals in this movement, are always wondering...how we can do and be better, what’s next, why people feel what they do and how we will fully live out our aspirations for one day. —Crystal Brakke, Twin Cities
X-roads. Forks in the road are frustrating and heartbreaking in the moment I’m facing them. But crossroads really force me to dig deep into my soul, find out what *really* matters to me. I’ve gotten revelations that wouldn’t have been possible without them.—Steph Zhong, Content Strategy
XX. The exact number of corps members, alumni and staff with first names beginning with “X” as of this week.—David Rosenberg, Digital Marketing
Youth in the communities where we teach who inspire us with their courage and resilience! Their names and stories make the issue of education inequity real for us. We learn from them, we love them and they teach us how to become better, stronger advocates in the fight for change! —Adrinda Kelly, Pass The Chalk
YouTube. Where else can you catch President Obama’s entire re-election speech, adorable sneezing cats and David Gregory dancing to Mary J. Blige all in one place? Man, I love technology.—Brittany Packnett, St. Louis
Zebras and all of the other amazing creatures on this earth!—Emily Leahey, Regional Marketing
Photo by Alexmbr via WikiCommons
