Committed to a life of service, Steven Ward was called to teach even before TFA. Inspired to be a role model and give back to his community, he joined the corps to help bring more black male leaders into the public schools that need them.
Q & A
You were already a teacher before joining the corps. What made you decide to join TFA?
For five years, I taught in schools in affluent areas where I was one of the very few black male teachers within sizeable faculties. I was troubled by the fact that my classroom didn’t reflect our nation’s greater diversity, and I wanted to serve students and communities more like my hometown of Washington, D.C. That’s when I decided to join TFA.
What was most rewarding about your corps experience?
One hundred percent of my biology students passed the end-of-course assessment, but my students taught me so much more. My students and I had conversations about race and class in America that shattered what I thought I knew about growing up in a supposedly post-racial society. These are lessons that I still draw upon today.
What advice would you give to someone considering TFA?
I was called to a career of service, and my path to service came through education. If you feel similarly called to serve, I encourage you to live your life in a way that enables as many people to have access to the same opportunities that you have had. Teaching is one way to do this. You will make a difference every single day.