Teach For America announced today that philanthropists Rich and Nancy Kinder have donated $1 million to expand educational opportunity for students in local public schools.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kaitlin Gastrock | Teach For America
646-315-1396 | kaitlin.gastrock@teachforamerica.org
HOUSTON, May 5, 2010—Teach For America announced today that philanthropists Rich and Nancy Kinder have donated $1 million to expand educational opportunity for students in local public schools. The funds, to be distributed over five years, will support Teach For America’s work to recruit, train, and develop highly effective new teachers for the city and foster their lifelong impact in the movement for educational equity.
Today, more than 450 Teach For America teachers, also known as corps members, are impacting some 33,000 students in Houston ISD, Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, and area KIPP, YES Prep, and Neighborhood Centers public charter schools.
“We are grateful to the Kinders for their longstanding support of our teachers and their partnership in the effort to improve educational outcomes for all children," said Terry Bruner, executive director of Teach For America in Houston. "Their generosity will enable us to maintain our deep commitment to educational excellence in our city’s highest-need classrooms.”
The Kinders have supported Teach For America since 2000. In 2006, the couple established the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award in honor of Rich Kinder’s mother, a former teacher. Each year, the Kinder award recognizes 15 Houston teachers, including five Teach For America corps members, for their excellence in the classroom.
“Rich and I are honored to support Teach For America’s efforts to ensure that all students in Houston have access to the educational opportunities they deserve,” Nancy Kinder said. “It’s inspiring to see the real and lasting impact of Teach For America teachers and alumni in our schools and communities."
Teach For America has been placing corps members in Houston since 1991. A growing body of research demonstrates the effectiveness of corps members in the classroom. A recent study by the Urban Institute found that Teach For America corps members have a positive effect on student achievement relative to other teachers, including experienced teachers, traditionally prepared teachers, and those fully certified in their field.
Beyond their impact as corps members, more than 700 Teach For America alumni in Houston are working from every sector to level the playing field for children and families in underserved communities. Of the 17,000 Teach For America alumni nationwide, nearly two-thirds continue to work full-time in education, and one-third are modeling excellence as classroom teachers.
About Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. Today, 7,300 corps members are teaching in 35 regions across the country while 17,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.
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