Since 1991, Teach For America has worked alongside our partners in the Bay Area in to create opportunities for kids in our most underserved communities.
Change is happening across the Bay Area.
Take Richmond, for example. Over two decades ago, the Richmond Unified School District went bankrupt and planned to close all of its schools. Concerned parents, led by Tom Butt, had to sue California to keep the schools open, which required the state to lend the district $29 million. At a 5.7 percent interest rate, however, the district continued to struggle. To help turn the tides, Wendy Gonzalez, a concerned first-year teacher, and others marched to Sacramento on a hunger strike to lower the rates. Even with lowered rates, Richmond became the first district in California—and possibly the nation—to be taken over by the state.
After 21 years of receivership, the district has successfully repaid all of its debt and renamed itself the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD).
Currently, Teach For America alum Matthew Duffy (New York Corps '95) leads WCCUSD as superintendent. He works closely with our United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) President Marissa Glidden (Bay Area Corps '13).
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) has been named the most improved urban school district in the state of California. Longtime community organizer Ron Snyder, executive director of Oakland Community Organizations, believes the bonds Teach For America corps members and alumni have forged with the community have played a vital role in Oakland’s burgeoning turnaround. “They began to work with teachers and parents,” he says of their efforts, “house to house, school to school, church to church—creating an appetite for improvement."
From Oakland to Richmond, South Bay to San Francisco, the Bay Area is ripe for corps members like you to pull up their sleeves and work in tandem with leaders in the community to answer the question, “What does a quality education look like for all students in this community?”
A Force for Change
260
Corps Members
3400
Alumni with more 1,000 alumni working in schools across the Bay: 750 alumni teachers, and more than 340 alumni in school and network leadership roles
A Diverse Network of Leaders
Each of us brings unique strengths to this work based on our identities and life experiences. Here’s a snapshot of our 2018 corps diversity.
57%
of our corps identify as Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color
44%
identify as being from a low-income background
“For many of us, what started as a two-year commitment has turned into a lifelong mission. Whether in the classroom, or in union and system leadership, or work in education technology, you see a passion among our alumni to do whatever it takes to eliminate the inequities our children face every day.”
Press Releases
Teach For America Bay Area Receives Grant from Texas Instruments Foundation to Address STEM Educator Shortage - January 6, 2020
Connect With Us
San Francisco Office
600 California St, 11th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 659-0800
South Bay Office
1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Suite 270
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 477-3624
Richmond Office
1160 Brickyard Cove Rd
Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 255-0236
Oakland Office
401 Grand Avenue, Suite 400
Oakland, CA 94610
Alumni Affairs
Jennifer Camus-Beebe, Managing Director, Alumni
Xavier Buster, Director, Alumni & Community Engagement
Phil Kang, Director, Alumni Talent & Leadership
Contact Info
Email: tfabayarea@teachforamerica.org
Social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Media Inquiries
Please contact us at press.center@teachforamerica.org.