Lifelong Leaders
panelTeach For America looks for exceptional leaders who will have an immediate, positive impact on their students’ achievement. However, we also know that transformational change will not be achieved unless our corps members’ impact continues well beyond the two-year teaching commitment. Realizing our mission relies on corps members becoming lifelong leaders in the movement to expand educational opportunity for all kids.
As a corps member, you’ll commit two years to teach in a low-income community, but that’s just the beginning. During those two years, you’ll develop the skills, insights, and personal commitment needed to help drive lasting, systemic change.
Whether you continue teaching in your school, work in other leadership roles within education, or choose a different career path impacting the lives of kids, the challenging and rewarding experience of working to close the achievement gap for your students will increase your ability to make an impact.
Teach For America’s more than 24,000 alumni are a part of a growing force of leaders who are fulfilling our vision of one day providing all students with a great education – and the opportunities that come with it.
Our People
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Araceli Martínez-OlguínBay Area Corps 1999“Seeing what my students were capable of motivated me to pursue a career in civil rights law.”
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Peter JenkinsBaltimore Corps 1995“Similar to the values that drew me to TFA, I’m committed to trauma surgery because of my interest in health equity.”
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Michelle RheeBaltimore Corps 1992“From Teach For America, I know that progress is possible when you're goal-oriented and have high expectations for students.”
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Lela BaldwinEastern North Carolina Corps 1993“Had I not joined the corps, I would not have felt the immense impact a single teacher can have on students.”
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Derek KennedyLos Angeles Corps 2005“Seeing the obstacles my students faced in securing adequate health care motivated me to return to medicine.”
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Ayyana ChakravartulaGreater New Orleans Corps 1999“Regardless of my long-term career, TFA helped me understand my individual capacity to change society.”
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Kermit CookSt. Louis Corps 2003“If I hadn't spent two years at TFA, my perspective on leadership would be very different and less balanced.”
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Mitch McVeyGreater Boston Corps 1994“I was better prepared for graduate school and for my current position.”
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Karen DhillonNew York Corps 2003“Coming from Teach For America, I had the ultimate work experience.”
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Dimity KirwanNew York Corps 2007“Teach For America has completely changed my anticipated career path!”
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Jake SochaSouth Louisiana Corps 1994“Teach For America developed my maturity and focus.”
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Dominique LeeGreater Newark Corps 2007“TFA gave me a community to bounce my ideas off of and a support network to accomplish my dreams.”
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Brett KimmelHouston Corps 1996“I developed initial skills in instructional strategies, curriculum planning and collaboration with peers.”
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Maureen MilliganD.C. Region Corps 1999“The responsibility I had as a first-year teacher I wouldn’t have gotten until my fifth year at a large law firm.”
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Peter ThomasGreater New Orleans Corps 1990“I gained insight into a fundamental institution of our society.”
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Prasanna JagannathanLos Angeles Corps 1998“I pursue medicine as another way to serve my students.”
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Layla AvilaLos Angeles Corps 1997“I couldn’t imagine talking about what educators should be doing without having firsthand teaching experience.”
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Andrew GreenhillHouston Corps 1991“You gain a deep, personal understanding of the challenges that many communities in our country face.”
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Hang Kei SimonJacksonville Corps 2008“Teach For America alumni in multiple industries are still committed to the mission.”
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Jesse OlsenNew York Corps 2006“TFA will become the standard by which you measure your future options.”
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Kelley CalvinSouth Louisiana Corps 2005“The only way our country can be everything we have the potential to be is if every single one of our citizens is well-educated.”
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Barry BrinkleyLos Angeles Corps 2001“Since my corps experience, I have continued to work in education in low-income communities.”
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Nicholas McCoyRio Grande Valley Corps 2006“I plan to apply my business experience and knowledge to improve educational outcomes in our country.”
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Jessie WagnerGreater Philadelphia Corps 2005“My experience in Teach for America helped shape my decision to study school counseling.”











Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.