Michael joined the corps with a background in education. His TFA experience gave him a unique social justice and educational equity lens that bolstered his career as a school leader.

Q&A

Why did you join TFA?

As a first-generation college student who succeeded through a love of reading and writing, I felt impassioned and inspired to leverage my own fire for literacy and to empower kids in similarly disadvantaged circumstances from within the ELA classroom.

What's your favorite TFA memory?

One of my most struggling students left school indefinitely to go home to Cuba and asked me if he had any homework on his last day. Sarcastically, I remarked, "no, just send me a postcard," thinking he wouldn't remember any homework. Weeks later, he returned, and while in Cuba, he had a postcard custom sketched and drawn that read "To Mr. Cress, from Cuba" and had an inkwell and a pen on it, which represented the reading and writing we did in my class. That day changed my heart, my soul, and my life.

How has TFA impacted you?

Even coming into TFA with a teaching license and a background in education, TFA provided me with a social justice and educational equity lens that has been indispensably critical to my experiences and successes. Without it, I wouldn't be the leader I am today.