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Memphis

Fifty years after Dr. King gave his life here in the fight for equality, only 31 percent of Memphis kindergarteners are reading on grade level. These statistics serve as reminders that our students need and deserve a systemic solution to improve the current state of education, and they need it now.
Teacher in front of classroom
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About Us

With increasing momentum behind the movement to ensure educational equity for all, Memphis is full of promise. To continue pushing our city forward, our goal is to attract more exceptional individuals to join our corps, develop their leadership skills, and support them in their diverse efforts to expand opportunities for all students. The magnitude and complexity of the change we seek will require sustained leadership both inside and outside of the current education system.

As we consider the educational landscape in Memphis today, we are firm in our belief that this city must be the place that fulfills Dr. King’s dreams of a day when we are “an oasis of freedom and justice;” a place that refuses to question whether some kids can achieve and others can’t, but instead demands that all do at the highest of levels.

People walk in a parade with photos of MLK

Our Corps Members

TFA Memphis teachers are consistently named by the state of Tennessee as among the most effective using their state report card. We’ve had numerous teachers named teacher of the year in their schools, networks, or systems. Every day in the classrooms of our corps members we see students succeed at rates not thought possible and they continue to raise the bar for our own expectations of what is possible in a first- or second-year teacher’s classroom.

“"I remind my students that if we nurture our value of education and continue our thirst for knowledge, no matter what obstacles we face, we can and shall overcome. I want them to hold on to infinite hope.””

Ayo Akinmoladun

Assistant Principal of Instruction, KIPP Memphis Preparatory Elementary

Memphis Corps Member 2013

Though inequities persist, countless signs of progress give us hope.

Teaching Certification and Graduate School

Since 2010, Teach For America Memphis has been a licensed Education Preparation Provider in Tennessee, and each of those years Tennessee has named us on of the top three licensure programs in the state. Through our certification program, our corps members earn their teaching license during their two years in our program, with no outside classes or certification work required.

Completing a master’s degree is not a required part of our program, but we do have partnerships with two graduate schools for those interested in pursuing an advanced degree. Those details are below. 

Changemakers wanted.

Check your eligibility to join the Memphis corps today.
Check Eligibility

Our Alumni

There are more than 600 TFA alumni in Memphis. Our region offers of variety of leadership opportunities for alumni, as well as programming to connect alumni with each other and our corps members like our annual Alumni Brunch, Grits & GRIND. 

A group of TFA alumni gathered in Memphis.

Memphis Alumni Awards and Fellowships

Get in Touch

Questions about Teach For America Memphis?
Send Us A Note

Our Leadership

A man posing in front of a mural.

Christopher Coleman, III

Executive Director

Teach For America Memphis

Chris has been with Teach For America for seven years and most recently served as vice president, program and development for the Memphis region. Chris brings over twenty years of professional experience in the education industry including experience in secondary, post-secondary, and adult education. He holds a B.S. in mathematics and M.Ed. from Southern Arkansas University and received his MBA in finance from the Fogelman School of Business at University of Memphis.



Chris is a proud native Memphian and is deeply rooted in the Memphis community. He has an undeniable passion, commitment, and vision toward every child in Memphis receiving an education that affords them a future full of possibilities. 

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Support Our Work

Your generosity helps us build a diverse force of corps members and alumni serving Memphis students and working from all angles to ignite the movement for educational equity.