Teach For America Los Angeles has one of the largest and most diverse alumni networks; together they are changing the educational landscape for students in the region.
Our Alumni Network
Informed and inspired by their students, many Teach For America Los Angeles alumni continue to teach in high-need schools and communities beyond their initial two-year commitment. Our diverse community of teachers, school and systems leaders, social entrepreneurs, CEOs, organizers, and public officials remain committed in their pursuit of educational equity for all children.
Our Vision
Our Alumni work towards the collective impact of our region. We foster a culture of support and ownership towards educational equity, developing connection and community. Alumni will be able to access opportunities and draw connections to career and leadership development that will "provide them skills and access to catalyze our coalition of alumni into action, allowing us to actualize educational equity.” Through a clear vision and direction, our Alumni will thrive and catalyze into action.
Our Alumni Network
Are you new to LA? Check out our Los Angeles Welcome Guide (coming soon)
Make sure you update your address in our Alumni Directory to receive communications from LA’s Alumni Team and stay up-to-date with current events, opportunities, and more.
3823
Alumni
833
Teachers working in the classroom in LA
308
Alumni working as system or school leaders (Principals, school directors, assistant principals, and deans)
293
Alumni working as system or school leaders (Principals, school directors, assistant principals, and deans)
Connect with Fellow Alumni
Teach For America Los Angeles knows that together we can accomplish so much more. In an effort to help strengthen connections across our alumni network, we’ve developed several ways to build community and share knowledge.
A professional networking community made up of TFA LA Alumni.
An online space designed to help foster connection and collaboration for Teach For America Alumni and CMs working in schools in Los Angeles.
The Collective LA is the local chapter of Teach For America's national association for alumni who identify as Black, Native, Indigenous, and people of color. Email us to learn more.
The Teach For America (TFA) Los Angeles Alumni Council is a group of professionals who aim to catalyze alumni leadership across the greater Los Angeles area in their commitment to equity for all children. Email us to learn more.
The Greater TFA Network and all its resources are available to you at any time and includes programs, networking and career support, fellowship opportunities, affinity groups, and more.
Alumni Programing - Awards & Fellowships
Invest in your leadership and professional growth with these opportunities from Teach For America, and get involved locally through our regional opportunities outlined below.
The One Day Fellowship is a one-year program for third- and fourth-year Teach For America Los Angeles alumni. During the year, fellows engage in leadership development, receive coaching, and participate in a culminating project in which they develop a research-based public narrative or proposal addressing an education topic of their choice. Email us to learn more.
There will be several opportunities to gather as an alumni community in the coming year to celebrate, learn, and network. This space will be updated with more information as events and programs are finalized.
In our progress towards a future in which all students in Los Angeles have access to a high-quality education, expanding the pipeline of strong school leaders is a critical priority. LeadLA is an annual two-day condensed interview and hiring process to match great candidates with open classroom, mid-level, and school leader roles. LeadLA is an accelerated talent-matching experience that positions Teach For America alumni for final interviews with our partner schools and networks. For two years straight, 100% of alumni who participated in LeadLA received at least one offer of employment from our partner schools/networks for the 2022-2023 school year. Applications for the LeadLA 2023 will open in late January. Email us to learn more.
Alumni Induction is a culminating celebration for corps members finishing their second year of service. This moment in time is meant to celebrate, elevate, and connect recent alumni to the broader TFA LA Alumni Network.
Our New to Los Angeles event provides a space for new alumni to the region and alumni looking to reconnect and expand their network, gain access to resources and opportunities, and learn about TFA LA’s current impact. Connect with us on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter for updated event details.
Alumni Communications
In the Loop is a monthly newsletter with the latest opportunities, information, and happenings related to Los Angeles alumni. Sign up to receive the newsletter here.
See previous newsletters:
Connect with our Team
Yvette Meza-Vega - Director, Alumni Strategy and Engagement
Cristian Ruiz - Managing Director, Alumni Strategy and Engagement
Kelsey Gilliland - Director, Alumni Strategy and Engagement
Hear From Our Alumni
Kelly Gonez, TFA LA '11, Board of Education President for Los Angeles Unified School District
“The Black and brown students we serve cannot thrive in a system built to undermine their promise. As a board we must lead with equity in mind and confront the racist vestiges in our public schools...that means in every board decision prioritizing our most historically underserved students.”
Che Caruthers, TFA LA '17
“One of my favorite moments would have to be when a student wrote me a letter at the end of the school year about how he feels more comfortable about himself as a gay teenager, thanks to me being a person who can be openly gay. I still have the letter and it reminds me why I decided to be a teacher. TFA’s continuing impact will be that there are folks who want to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Dr. Jessica T. Boro, TFA LA '02
“Because of TFA, I obtained my first school leadership role out of the classroom. TFA/LA alumni support structures are unwavering. The opportunity to co-lead with Hrag Hamalian, 2005 Los Angeles corps, as Valor Academy Charter School’s Director of Curriculum & Instruction solidified my legacy of leadership in Los Angeles. As a result of this leadership role I gained more than professional experience; I developed new friendships and together we established a school that has transformed an entire community!”