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Memphis

Too many children in Memphis are denied access to an excellent education based on their zip code. Teach For America catalyzes leadership to make educational equity a reality and illuminate every learner.
Mural in Memphis
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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, with over 78% of our corps members receiving a score of 3 or higher on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS).  We've had numerous teachers recognized by their schools or the district for their work.  In the past 4 years, 8 of our alumni have been named New Memphis Educators of Excellence.  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.

“For me, the work is to make sure that kids have the chance for an equitable education - that's the bottom line - and I believe that education is the key to ending poverty, education is the key to future success, is the key to current success.”

Cartavius Black

High School Success Coordinator, Grizzlies Prep

Memphis Corps Member 2017

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 (EPP) in Tennessee, and this past year was the number 3 provider in the state, and 1 of only 10 EPPs to receive an overall rating of "Exceeds Expectations" on the state report card.

Through our certification program, our corps members earn their teaching license during their two-year commitment, 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 a partnership with Johns Hopkins University for those interested in pursuing an advanced degree.  The TFA Alumni Hub details partnerships with other institutions as well.  

Changemakers wanted.

Check your eligibility to join the Memphis corps today.
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Our Alumni

There are more than 700 TFA alumni in Memphis. Our region offers of variety of leadership opportunities for alumni like our Aspiring School Leader Fellowship, Alumni Advisory Board, and Civic Leadership Series.  We also offer programming to connect alumni with each other and our corps members through events like our annual Grits & GRIND Alumni Brunch. 

Grits & Grind attendees; Barbara Rosser Hyde Honorees; alumni teacher

Memphis Alumni Awards and Fellowships

Get in Touch

Questions about Teach For America Memphis?
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Interview with TFA Memphis Executive Director on WKNO

Check out the interview Chris did with WKNO's series "The Spark", where he talks about the great things TFA Memphis Corps Members and Alumni are doing in the region!

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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.