Phoenix
About Us
The Grand Canyon State is full of natural wonder, vibrant culture, and connected communities. People are drawn to Arizona, not only for the beautiful weather, but for the state's sense of opportunity, spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, and a willingness to embrace leaders ready to play an active role in their community.
Arizona needs these strong leaders—willing to roll up their sleeves, and work hand-in-hand with students, families, and their communities, to help raise the bar for education achievement across the state.
Arizona’s future success and economic vitality is also dependent on the rate of Latino educational attainment. Arizona is on track to be one of the first states to have a “minority” majority population, with Latinos making up the majority of the population by 2028, yet education results for Latino students remain disproportionately low.
As of the summer of 2022, there are over 2,000 teacher vacancies in the state of Arizona. We passionately believe a committed and qualified teacher can change the trajectory of a student’s achievement by investing in the talents and abilities our students possess.
Teach For America Phoenix has a proud 28 year history in Phoenix, which is represented in the strength of our community and school partnerships, and in the impact of our over 100 corps members and 1,100 alumni still living in Arizona. Informed and inspired by their students, many alumni choose to teach in high-need schools and communities beyond their two-year commitments. Others lead from many sectors that shape the context and conditions in which schools operate: they are school and district leaders; policy makers; founders of advocacy organizations; social entrepreneurs; and business, philanthropic, and civic leaders working to make change. Our corps members and alumni work relentlessly every day with our communities to ensure the students of Arizona have the opportunities they deserve.
Living Here
Living Here
Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the U.S. and the only state capital with a population of more than 1 million residents.
It's a place of rebirth, rich culture, and endless sunny days. From food trucks to hiking trails to spring training games to art exhibits, staying busy is easy. And with over 300 days of sunshine and an average winter temperature in the 0s, outdoor activities are a must!
“I grew up in a single parent Hispanic household. When I found out that Phoenix was one of my options for Teach For America I recognized that I would have the opportunity to serve students and communities who grew up very similar to the way I did.”
Certification and Optional Graduate School
Unless you already have a valid teaching certificate, you will apply for the Arizona Intern Teaching Certificate. There are five (and potentially six) requirements needed to apply for this certificate*:
- Enrollment in a teacher certification program (ASU Masters of Education or Teacher certification)
- Official degree-conferred transcripts from an undergraduate institution
- Passing score on your required NES content exam OR degree in a corresponding major
- IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Check or money order for $60-120, made out to the Arizona Department of Education
- Structured English Endorsement certificate (only for corps members who will be teaching in ELL/ESL placements)
*The costs for these requirements, not including certification program enrollment, range from $450-$725. IVP ($67) application fee will be paid by Teach For America Phoenix.
Teach For America Phoenix partners with Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College. Through this partnership, Phoenix corps members can enroll in the Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College Masters program, take online classes (synchronous and asynchronous), and receive a tuition discount. The corps member cost for the entire master's degree is a flat rate of $12,000.
“TFA is a forever life-changing experience that unites so many of us together in hope towards a better future for all students.”
Our Alumni
Teach For America has had a presence in Phoenix for almost 30 years, and our alumni community is large and thriving. There are 1,100 alumni across Arizona, more than half still working in schools as teachers, school administrators, and district leaders. Alumni continue their leadership as elected officials, business leaders, health care professionals, lawyers, and other careers rooted in their experience as educators.
In the years to come, we will evolve from 1000+ big to 1000+ strong in Arizona, by strengthening the ties that bind our community, learning from the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and pathways, and empowering our network to learn, collaborate, and take action together towards educational equity in Arizona.
About
1100
TFA alumni live and work in Arizona.
More than
270
Arizona alumni are teachers.
In Arizona,
102
alumni are school leaders, 37 are principals.
About
1100
TFA alumni live and work in Arizona.
More than
270
Arizona alumni are teachers.
In Arizona,
102
alumni are school leaders, 37 are principals.
Explore Alum-Led Organizations
A nonprofit music education organization that teaches, mentors, and provides musical experiences and opportunities for underserved youth.
OneTeacher makes matches between amazing teachers and inspiring Title I schools in Arizona.
Schola is on a mission to improve education outcomes by placing students in their ideal education setting.
Helps educators unleash the critical thinking potential of all students using real-life legal cases, fairy tales, and nursery rhymes for rigorous and engaging lessons.
Aliento serves undocumented, DACA, and mixed immigration status families to transform trauma into hope and action.
A lifestyle brand that brings awareness to important causes by creating one-of-a-kind mismatched socks that tell the inspiring story of those who make our world a better place.
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Support Our Work
This critically important work would not be possible without you. Thank you for supporting our teachers who, like you, are unwavering in their belief that ALL kids in Arizona deserve an excellent and equitable education.