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Profiles of Leaders in the Teach For America Network

Alumni

Louise Baigelman

Founder and CEO

Story Shares

Region: Massachusetts, '09

Louise Baigelman is the founder and CEO of Story Shares, a digital platform that generates and distributes new categories of literature to address the literacy needs of struggling readers everywhere.

Damon Bailey

Executive Director

Teach For America Alabama

Region: Metro Atlanta, '09

Damon Bailey is a seasoned education professional with more than 10 years of experience in public education and community revitalization in low-income communities.

Alumni

Julie Baker

Associate General Counsel, Employment

US Foods

Region: Rio Grande Valley, '05

Julie always knew she’d be a lawyer—she was drawn to the problem-solving aspect of the law. She honed that skill through figuring out how to get her students to succeed, and it prepared her to excel as a lawyer and to advocate for students.

Jill Baldemor

Executive Director

Teach For America Hawai'i

Region: New York, '95

Born and raised in Honolulu, Jill Baldemor leads Teach For America’s Hawai’i region.

National Council

Paul Wolman, Baltimore

Principal

WolmanEdge

An entrepreneur since age nine and former lawyer and advertising executive, Paul combined his varied experiences to found Feats in 1985.

Lexia Banks

7th and 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher

R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy, Selma City Schools District

Region: Alabama, '18

Lexia spent the past two years teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies in Selma, Alabama and is a 2020-21 F.R.E.E. Fellow through TFA Indy.

Alumni

Lorea Barturen

Product Marketing

LinkedIn

Region: Colorado, '09

Lorea first got to see the everyday work, mission, and life of a corps member with TFA through her roommate. Soon after, Lorea traded in her consulting job at Accenture to join the corps, teaching high school Spanish—an experience that would lead to a purpose-driven career.

Alumni

Fatema Basrai

Managing director

InnovateHealth Yale and the Sustainable Initiative at the Yale School of Public Health

Region: San Antonio, '12

Fatema Basrai, a San Antonio 2012 TFA alum, noticed the close connection between education and public health as a third grade teacher. Today, she works at the Yale Institute for Global Health to support the creation of innovative health solutions.

National Council

Mary Vascellaro, Bay Area

Community Volunteer

Education and the Arts

Mary Vascellaro, a graduate of Brown University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, has an extensive background in retail buying and management, working for organizations such as Filene's and Lord and Taylor.

Stephen Bell (Tulsa 2013) is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and has just started as the Indian Ed Coordinator in the Office of Equity with Guilford County Schools. He is excited to partner with Native students and families to ensure their academic, social, and emotional success, as well as elevate the Guilford Native community voice.