About Us

Established in the Greater Baton Rouge area in 1990, Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge has partnered with communities to tackle the barriers that stand between children and opportunities. We take pride in our festivals, our food, and our culture, but we are especially proud of the resilient spirit woven into the fabric of our region. The region has a rich heritage filled with courageous visionaries committed to moving our communities forward through collective change.

Given our own commitment to the growth of our community, Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge has been dedicated to developing the leaders and coalitions required for children to gain access to the education they deserve.

In recent years, we have seen leaders across Louisiana come together to tackle the disparities plaguing our systems. Teach For America and the community came together almost 30 years ago to bolster the efforts that were already underway to expand excellent opportunities for more students. Today more than 300 Teach For America leaders are working alongside our urban and rural communities proving every year that all Greater Baton Rouge students can achieve at the highest levels.

As our region enters the greatest period of economic growth since the late ‘90s, we find ourselves within a modern-day movement toward social change. In partnership with educators and advocates of all backgrounds, we’re proud of the role Teach For America leaders have consistently played in passionately ensuring access and opportunity for students in Greater Baton Rouge from inside and outside the classroom. Our connected community is reaching unprecedented growth in bringing children the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals.

Today, our 25 alumni school leaders and more than 100 classroom leaders are impacting thousands of children in our community each day. At the same time, Teach For America leaders are working in various ways to bring innovative improvements to the systems that impact children. Some leading non-profits that address community needs, some working as advocates to build effective coalitions, and some working in the Louisiana Department of Education to create policies and laws that will change the trajectory of Louisiana students.

When committed leaders come together to solve an issue, incredible things can happen—our network is proof of it.

Teaching Here

One of the amazing things about the opportunity to work in a rural community is that because the populations are smaller, corps members can build close relationships with their students, their students’ families, their principals, and even their superintendents. This isn’t always possible in much larger urban school districts. The level of relationship that can be developed, gives corps members access to opportunities to participate in and shape programs, structures, and policies within their school district in ways that aren’t always possible for beginning teachers in larger school districts.

Some of our corps members teach within East Baton Rouge (EBR) Parish school district where they have the opportunity to work close to the seat of our state government in the capital city of Baton Rouge. Here, students and families have access to an array of public charter, magnet, and traditional public schools.

Outside of teaching, many corps members volunteer with one of our local nonprofits, BRYC, which is currently led by a TFA alumnus and employs many TFA SLA alumni. And many of our CMs coach sports and lead extracurricular activities within their schools.

Our Community 

South Louisiana is home to people and organizations committed to the growth of the Capital region. We have worked with multiple organizations to ensure we maximize our impact from the Walls Project to the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition to Metromorphsis.

While the State Department of Education works diligently to create policies and structures to support public education, community organizations bring members of our community together to understand and solve some of our most complex issues.

We are indeed gaining momentum toward change, but it still requires a greater number of committed leaders to work alongside us. By joining the movement in Greater Baton Rouge, you have the chance to contribute to a number of efforts driving historic change in our region while being a part of a growing community centered around our unique culture. From crawfish boils to festivals, bringing your leadership to the region is an opportunity you will never forget.

Earn Your Graduate Degree—Tuition-Free

TFA corps members in Greater Baton Rouge can pursue a graduate degree at LSU completely tuition-free for six semesters through our exclusive partnership. This isn't just about getting a degree—it's about positioning yourself as a leader who can tackle complex challenges from day one.

Available beginning your second year of teaching or the summer immediately following completion of your two-year commitment. This pathway lets you gain hands-on leadership experience, then leverage that into advanced credentials that set you apart in any career field. Alternatively, corps members in secondary teaching placements may combine their teacher certification requirements and the opportunity for an advanced credential to earn a MAT in their first year of teaching.

Participants must be admitted to their desired graduate program to be eligible. This partnership does not include the cost of fees and program materials (books, etc.). Graduate programs available through the graduate school of LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge are available under this partnership. View them here: Programs and Degrees. Graduate programs offered through LSU Online are not included.

Ready to learn how this accelerates your post-graduation plans? Contact us for details.