Teach For America and the Military

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"Teach For America offers an unparalleled opportunity for veterans to continue serving our country. The desire to connect with another cause or mission after taking off the uniform is often very strong. We encourage veterans to seek and consider other mission-driven organizations while establishing their second career. By joining Teach For America, veterans can apply their leadership experience in the military to change the lives of children in our lowest-income communities."

- Geoff Deutsch, Managing Director, Veterans Innovation Center

 

You can help close the educational gap that exists in our country by advancing student achievement as a teacher in a low-income school.  As a Teach For America corps member, you will join others on the front-lines of this movement. Your leadership experience in the military uniquely positions you to succeed in this charge by providing a strong foundation for effective teaching and classroom management. Continue your commitment to service by joining Teach For America and impact the lives of millions of children affected by educational inequity.

Meet corps members and alumni who have served in the United States military.


Kevin Corrinet
  • Kevin Corrinet
    Formerly, Captain, Infantry, U.S. Army
    Los Angeles corps '07, 8th grade math     »
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    Kevin Foster
  • Kevin Foster
    Formerly, Lt. Colonel, Infantry, U.S. Marine Corps
    Kansas City corps '08, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade math     »

    • Kevin Corrinet Formerly, Captain, Infantry, U.S. Army
    Los Angeles corps '07, 8th grade math

    This past year I taught eighth grade Algebra in one of the most challenged schools in all of Los Angeles: Samuel Gompers Middle School, located in the community of Watts. It was not only one of the most challenging years of my life, but by far the most rewarding. Now, in the midst of my second year teaching, I feel that I can fully incorporate the lessons learned from both military and classroom leadership experiences to transform not only my students, but my school and myself as well.

    I decided to join Teach For America in 2007, after the completion of my 5-year service commitment to the army, for numerous reasons. First and foremost, I wanted to apply my leadership skills, my dedication to serving my country, and my relentless pursuit of excellence to something that I felt would truly benefit my country firsthand. I wanted to continue to lead great Americans, and to do so in the most challenging yet rewarding assignment and environment possible. Choosing teaching as a second career, and choosing Teach For America as an organization, provided me the opportunity to get right into a classroom and accomplish all of these objectives. It also provided me the opportunity to participate in a fight that I think is the most important issue currently facing our nation: the fight against the educational inequality present in our country's low-income urban and rural communities.

    I encourage everyone to join us in the fight to end educational inequity.

    Next: Kevin Foster »

    Kevin Foster Formerly, Lt. Colonel, Infantry, U.S. Marine Corps
    Kansas City corps '08, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade math

    I served for 20 years as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Lieutentant Colonel in 2008. In 2004 while in the Marines, I served with the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team in Baghdad, Iraq. It was an organization made up of service members from eleven different countries that was responsible for assisting the provisional Iraqi government in establishing a new Iraqi army. I was assigned to plan, organize, and supervise the screening and initial training of 250 Iraqi army officer candidates. This was a challenging experience that taught me many of the leadership skills I currently use as a Teach For America corps member. Teach For America corps members apply their leadership skills to achieve lofty goals in low income classrooms across the country. Teach For America allowed me to transition quickly into the classroom and to continue serving my country and working for a noble cause. The training at summer institute gave me the knowledge necessary to successfully transition what I already knew about planning, instructing, motivating and leading people in order to apply it successfully in the classroom.

    Next: Kevin Corrinet »

    Our Featured Partner: Troops to Teachers

    Teach For America has partnered with Troops to Teachers to provide more opportunities for military personnel to bring their leadership skills and military experience to the classroom. Since its inception, Troops to Teachers has focused on increasing the number of exceptional educators in low-income areas by helping military personnel identify teacher certification requirements, find programs leading to certification, and locate employment opportunities in high-need schools. Teach For America's mission and unique approach to teacher training and certification make it a great fit for exiting military personnel pursuing a second career in education. All candidates interested in applying to Teach For America should sign-up for more information. Accepted Teach For America applicants are eligible to apply for Troops to Teachers' scholarships and benefits. Click here to learn more about Troops to Teachers.

     
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