Kansas City
Changemakers Come to Kansas City
Changemakers Come to Kansas City
In 2008, Teach For America came to Kansas City ready to tackle education inequity head-on. We were on a mission to build a diverse network of leaders who would fiercely champion, advocate, and teach our youth. Along the way, we were met with heart! And a whole lot of it.
We locked arms with Kansas City and rallied year after year. Thanks to our loyal community of partners, funders, and advocates, we're celebrating 14 years strong in Kansas City.
Today, Teach For America Kansas City is investing deeply in the professionalization of teaching, addressing how to consistently infuse new talent into our region while also addressing long term retention. Next year, we expect to be actively supporting more than 250 educators, and that could include you!
More than
800
corps members have taught in our region since 2008.
More than
150K
Kansas City students impact since 2008.
Nearly
400
TFA alumni live and work in our region.
More than
800
corps members have taught in our region since 2008.
More than
150K
Kansas City students impact since 2008.
Nearly
400
TFA alumni live and work in our region.
“The future of the Kansas City Public Schools is going to be the biggest story… The story of this year, next year, and long after is how strong our schools are, included in that are our charter school network, and making sure that Kansas Citians have true opportunities.”
Quinton Lucas
Mayor, Kansas City
Our Programs
The Corps
The Corps
Our corps members are reflective and authentic anti-racist classroom leaders, who work in partnership with students and families to deliver rigorous and data-informed content and to create joyful, inclusive learning environments for all students. Together, we will seek to build more equitable education systems through bold leadership and deep understanding of self in relation to others.
The Green Fellowship
The Green Fellowship
Started in 2016, the Green Fellowship supports high-performing Teach For America alumni dedicated to sharpening their skills as teachers. Through in-depth cohort discussions around education, entrepreneurship, and systems change, Fellows receive targeted programming and guidance from the inner circle of their region, education and business leadership in holistically developing fellows, leadership philosophy and actions. The Green Fellowship is a two-year opportunity, open to Teach For America alumni that have at least 3 years of teaching experience.
Accelerate & Early Childhood Accelerate
Accelerate & Early Childhood Accelerate
Started in 2019, Accelerate is a program designed to provide structured development and support to teachers and their mentors, along with close partnership and alignment with school leaders. Participants engage with Accelerate programming over a two-year period, receiving direct classroom observation, individualized coaching support, and collective learning in group development. Accelerate was founded upon the belief that pairing individual coaching and collective learning leads to strong participant development, powerful learning, and a committed community.
The Early Childhood Accelerate program partners with the Kansas City Pre-K Cooperative to provide support to certified Pre-K teachers in 6 different centers across the city. This support includes classroom observations, 1:1 coaching, center based group coaching, and whole group professional development.
Ignite Fellowship
Ignite Fellowship
Started in 2022, Ignite is a national tutoring corps designed to accelerate learning and foster belonging with students, leveraging research-based best practices for high-impact tutoring. Ignite builds on Teach For America’s over 30 years of experience recruiting, developing, and supporting talent and partnering with communities across the country to help students overcome the systemic barriers to an excellent education. The Ignite Fellowship brings exceptional, equity-minded leaders into classrooms virtually to add immediate value for students, while creating shifts towards the future of equitable learning. In Kansas City, Ignite is currently embedded in two of our partner schools.
Living in KC - The Best of the Midwest!
Living in KC - The Best of the Midwest!
There are over 240 neighborhoods in the metropolitan area of Kansas City. Every neighborhood has unique features that make it stand apart from others-- it’s up to you to find the one that’s right for you! Kansas City is a rapidly growing city. As such, there are many different housing options, locations, and prices available. While apartment complexes are the easiest to search/tour/inquire about online there are also many rooms, duplexes, and single family homes for rent. Consider the type of area you’d like to live in, the commute you’re willing to make, and a price point that feels financially feasible for you.
Work Hard. Play Hard. Learning Always.
Work Hard. Play Hard. Learning Always.
We call ourselves the TFAKC Family because that's how we orient to support. The work is hard and it requires a strong ecosystem of support to persevere. As a member of the TFAKC Family we push each other, collaborate with one another, and celebrate together. Whether it's at a professional development, a TFAKC happy hour, or in our classrooms we always have each other’s backs.
Meet Our Alums
Kayla McClellan, Kansas City 2018 Corps
Kayla McClellan, Kansas City 2018 Corps
While Kayla was working toward her master’s degree at Mississippi State University, she became interested in the K-12 education system and its role in preparing students for higher education. Committed to bringing the skills she learned in graduate school back home to KC, Kayla joined the Kansas City corps in 2018 as a history teacher.
In 2022, Kayla won the Kansas City Public School’s Teacher of the Year award and then also went on to win the Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year.
Kellee Ransom, Kansas City 2008 Corps Member
Kellee Ransom, Kansas City 2008 Corps Member
Spend five minutes with Kellee Ransom, and you will leave feeling more hopeful. The 2022 Charter School Elementary Teacher of the Year has become a household name at University Academy. Ask her students, and they will tell you she is a part of their family. Kellee is not only an exceptional educator in the classroom, she is constantly seeking ways to expand her impact by providing support for families as a listener, cheerleader, and mentor. Kellee has a passion for community and has always held the job of teaching in such high regard because she knows that every child deserves the highest quality of care of encouragement every day. Her experience is only surpassed, perhaps by her compassion and deep joy for this work.
Andrew Killen, Kansas City 2009 Corps Member
Andrew Killen, Kansas City 2009 Corps Member
During the 2022-2023 school year, Andrew Killen started his 14th first day of school as a teacher at his placement school. Mr. Killen was a first year corps member at East High School in 2009, when the building reopened in Kansas City Public Schools. Since then he has been the state-tested Algebra 1 teacher, department chair, sponsored the EHS bike club, and revitalized the agriculture program at the school. Students in Mr. Killen’s agriculture classes care for animals, learn aquaponics, tend to garden beds, and have a full orchard to maintain.
Lauren Arthur, Kansas City 2010 Corps
Lauren Arthur, Kansas City 2010 Corps
Lauren joined Teach For America in 2010 and taught English Language Arts at Urban Community Leadership Academy. Today, Lauren is currently serving her second term as a State Senator for District 17. As a state legislator, Lauren advocates for a number of policy issues, including funding for early literacy programs.
Local Leadership
Julie Gronquist-Blodgett
Executive Director, TFA Kansas City
Julie has been a member of the Teach for America Kansas City family since 2010 and is the region’s Executive Director. She attended Bemidji State University where she majored in Early Childhood Education and Political Science. Upon graduation she worked as an advocate for early childhood education and taught special education in the South Bronx. Following the completion of her Masters in Teaching from Pace University, Julie worked as a special education coordinator at Achievement First Bushwick Elementary, where she piloted a special education model that is widely used within the network today. In addition to her work at TFA, Julie is in her 10th year of service on the KIPP KC Board of directors, currently serving as Board President, and is a foster parent.
Our Stories
Support Our Work
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