Our People
Corps Members, Alumni, and Supporters
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Vanessa Valenzuela EricksonPhoenix Corps 2008“Phoenix is vibrant, cutting edge, and fast paced.”
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Steve LeibsohnWetzel’s Pretzels“In every classroom that I have been to, the kids are wowed by their teacher.”
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Paulina ReyesPhoenix Corps 2010“Being a corps member is the hardest and best thing I've ever done in my life.”
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Robert KeltyNew Mexico Corps 2001“If I learned anything from my experience in the corps, it is that the achievement gap can be closed”
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Ivette RodriguezPhoenix Corps 2002“I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of the Teach For America community.”
Message from the Executive Director
Lindsay Wheeler DeFrancisco
For many years, Arizona’s results on national assessments put our state at the bottom of the nation for student achievement. But things are starting to change – we are standing up for our children and collectively saying that short-changing their future isn’t acceptable.
Recently, two-thirds of Arizonans voted to increase taxes to support better education in the state. State education leaders are working to create a more reliable and comprehensive data system to track classroom, teacher, and student data.
Teach For America corps members and alumni continue to hold their students to the highest standards and expectations, even in those schools where students face the greatest challenges. Our corps members and alumni who teach in some of the most challenging environments are seeing their students achieve high marks and perform at the same level as students in some of the wealthiest districts in the state. These examples of success prove what can be accomplished. And if we can accomplish it with one student, one classroom, and one school, we will be able to accomplish it for every student in Arizona.
Lindsay graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2005 and joined Teach For America in Phoenix, where she taught fifth grade for three years in the Laveen Elementary School District. In 2009, she received a Master’s degree in education policy and management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and became involved in education reform in Boston during her time there, including a fellowship with Education Pioneers.
Following graduation, Lindsay was a director of school support with The Achievement Network, supporting 17 schools in Boston, Washington D.C., and across the Midwest to improve student achievement by using data to drive instruction and by connecting with other schools in meaningful ways. In 2010, Lindsay returned to Phoenix as a clinical instructor and a professional development facilitator at the Sanford Education Project at Arizona State University. In February 2012, she returned to Teach For America as the executive director of the Phoenix region.
Regional News
Stay informed about the latest news on Teach For America • Phoenix and the state of education reform in the region.
Support Us
Help support Teach For America corps members in your area.
Contact Us
Teach For America • Phoenix
3030 North Central Avenue
Suite 900
Phoenix, AZ 85012
p: 602-304-0211, f: 602-304-0213
Lindsay Wheeler DeFrancisco, Executive Director













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