Memphis
About Us
With increasing momentum behind the movement to ensure educational equity for all, Memphis is full of promise. To continue pushing our city forward, our goal is to attract more exceptional individuals to join our corps, develop their leadership skills, and support them in their diverse efforts to expand opportunities for all students. The magnitude and complexity of the change we seek will require sustained leadership both inside and outside of the current education system.
As we consider the educational landscape in Memphis today, we are firm in our belief that this city must be the place that fulfills Dr. King’s dreams of a day when we are “an oasis of freedom and justice;” a place that refuses to question whether some kids can achieve and others can’t, but instead demands that all do at the highest of levels.
Our Corps Members
TFA Memphis teachers are consistently named by the state of Tennessee as among the most effective, with over 78% of our corps members receiving a score of 3 or higher on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS). We've had numerous teachers recognized by their schools or the district for their work. In the past 4 years, 8 of our alumni have been named New Memphis Educators of Excellence. Every day in the classrooms of our corps members we see students succeed at rates not thought possible and they continue to raise the bar for our own expectations of what is possible in a first- or second-year teacher’s classroom.
“For me, the work is to make sure that kids have the chance for an equitable education - that's the bottom line - and I believe that education is the key to ending poverty, education is the key to future success, is the key to current success.”
Teaching Certification and Graduate School
Since 2010, Teach For America Memphis has been a licensed Education Preparation Provider (EPP) in Tennessee, and this past year was the number 3 provider in the state, and 1 of only 10 EPPs to receive an overall rating of "Exceeds Expectations" on the state report card.
Through our certification program, our corps members earn their teaching license during their two-year commitment, with no outside classes or certification work required.
Completing a master's degree is not a required part of our program, but we do have a partnership with Johns Hopkins University for those interested in pursuing an advanced degree. The TFA Alumni Hub details partnerships with other institutions as well.
Our Alumni
There are more than 700 TFA alumni in Memphis. Our region offers of variety of leadership opportunities for alumni like our Aspiring School Leader Fellowship, Alumni Advisory Board, and Civic Leadership Series. We also offer programming to connect alumni with each other and our corps members through events like our annual Grits & GRIND Alumni Brunch.
Check out these great resources available to our alumni!
Alumni on AIR podcast
Alumni on AIR podcast
The idea behind our "Alumni on AIR" initiative was to find alums who are doing amazing work and sit down with them in our "Alumni Impact Room" at the TFA office (hence, Alumni on AIR ) for a wide-ranging conversation about the work they're doing, what brought them to TFA, why they stayed in Memphis, and how they are living into their vision for "One Day".
TFA Alumni Hub
TFA Alumni Hub
The TFA Alumni Hub is your one stop shop for information about career resources, fellowships, university partners, regional and relocation services, and so much more.
Backrs
Backrs
TFA Memphis has a new social impact partner! Founded by Andy Bobowski (Memphis '08), Backrs is offering you a new and convenient way to empower Memphis students.
Chances are, you worked around the clock to support young Memphians when you were a teacher. Chances also are, this wasn't enough to guarantee college and career success. In addition to a good education, your high-performing, under-resourced students needed connections. Industry-specific mentorship. And opportunities.
With the Backrs social app, you can help ensure they have access to these resources on YOUR time.
Alumni Leaders
Amber Huett-Garcia, MSCS Board Member
Amber Huett-Garcia, MSCS Board Member
Amber has been committed to public service for her whole career. Beside serving as a TFA Memphis corps member she was a Public Policy Fellow with Shelby County; was a TFA Memphis staff member; and was the Senior Director, Student and Family Supports Comprehensive Planning for the TN Dept. of Education. Amber’s experience in education, advocacy, and politics serves her well in her current role as the Memphis Shelby County Schools Board Member for District 8.
Britney Thornton, JUICE Orange Mound
Britney Thornton, JUICE Orange Mound
A native Memphian from Historic Orange Mound, Britney is a master social worker, licensed educator, and former law student. From all her years of service, she has found her passion as a community organizer. A graduate of Baylor University and the University of Pennsylvania, Britney has called Memphis home for over 30 years.
Founder of the non-profit JUICE Orange Mound, Britney continues to challenge systems of oppression by thinking of new and creative ways to address old issues. Under her leadership, she mobilized Orange Mound residents and supporters to invest over $12,200 in spare change to fund community-based initiatives. In 2022, she became the youngest Shelby County Commissioner in the history of Shelby County.
Grant Monda, Aurora Collegiate Academy
Grant Monda, Aurora Collegiate Academy
Since 2010, Grant has been committed to students as a teacher, coach, principal, and now Executive Director. Grant’s leadership at Aurora has driven incredible results for students and families, including being named the 2020 Charter School of the Year by the Tennessee Charter School Center. Grant was also a 2022 New Memphis Educators of Excellence awardee and a 2022 Barbara Rosser Hyde Alumni Leadership Award honoree.
Memphis Alumni Awards and Fellowships
The Barbara Rosser Hyde Alumni Leadership Award is a $1,000 award honoring alumni who are doing innovative work to disrupt systems of inequality in Memphis. The award celebrates profound acts of leadership that ensure we are making progress toward One Day for the students and communities we serve and that our students are globally competitive, socially aware, and have access to opportunities that develop their leadership potential. Learn more about the 2023 award honorees.
Interested in school leadership? Our Aspiring School Leader Fellowship will build and hone your leadership skills to make you an effective and passionate school leader. You will hear from new and seasoned school leaders who will share their tricks of the trade. To accommodate busy schedules, this hybrid program features virtual and in-person sessions. Virtual sessions focus on a book study of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, while the in-person sessions focus on learning the specific skills that effective leaders have mastered. Participants will complete a leadership proposal as part of their capstone project. If you are interested in this program, please complete this form.
Are you interested in running for public office? This accelerated four month fellowship, a joint venture with LEE, will help you sharpen your policy making and civic leadership skills by providing you with the behind the scenes tools to effectively run a political campaign. Fellows will learn how their LEE membership can help break down common barriers to serving, such as how to raise the money needed to win. The series features local elected leaders sharing what it takes to run a successful campaign. If you're interested, please complete this form.
Our Leadership
Christopher Coleman, III
Executive Director
Teach For America Memphis
Chris has been with Teach For America for seven years and most recently served as vice president, program and development for the Memphis region. Chris brings over twenty years of professional experience in the education industry including experience in secondary, post-secondary, and adult education. He holds a B.S. in mathematics and M.Ed. from Southern Arkansas University and received his MBA in finance from the Fogelman School of Business at University of Memphis.
Chris is a proud native Memphian and is deeply rooted in the Memphis community. He has an undeniable passion, commitment, and vision toward every child in Memphis receiving an education that affords them a future full of possibilities.
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Support Our Work
Your generosity helps us build a diverse force of corps members and alumni serving Memphis students and working from all angles to ignite the movement for educational equity.