Joey joined the corps in 2013 because he believes access to a great education is a civil right. Working with 7th graders deepened his commitment to advocating for marginalized communities through a career in law.

Q&A

Why did you join TFA?

I joined Teach For America because education is truly the civil rights issue of today. For a child in the United States to not have access to a great education is a travesty and as Americans, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard in granting all children the opportunity to receive a great education. In today’s extremely competitive society, one cannot hope to be successful without having received a high level of education. However, knowledge doesn’t just open doors for a better career, it opens doors to a better life. Knowledge leads to discovery, to travel, and to endless opportunities. For anyone to not have access to all of the great possibilities that come from a great education is unacceptable.

What is your favorite TFA memory?

My favorite TFA memory happened to be on my last day of teaching. Three of my students from the first year I taught came up to me and presented me with a number of gifts. The first of which was a jar full of Oreo's, which they knew was my favorite snack. The second was a picture of our class. However, the most important piece of the gift was the letter that all three had written me stating that I had changed their lives. All three girls had gotten into some of the top-ranked magnet programs in the district. I don't know if that feeling of pride and purpose will ever be equaled.

How has TFA impacted you?

TFA opened my eyes to the world. Many of the battles our kids endure in low-income communities are difficult and sometimes truly unbelievable. It's easy from the outside to aggregate them into populations such as at-risk or low-income. However, despite all the difficulties my kids endured, they still entered my classroom every day with a healthy dose of optimism and an eagerness to learn. I think about my kids every day and always remember how much is possible with hard work and a smile.