Teach For America is disrupting systemic educational inequity in Washington state through four big bets.
Our History
Since 2011, Teach For America has been relentlessly fighting for educational equity in Washington state. Our region has one of the fastest growing economies in the U.S., and an educational system with elements that are truly world class. At the same time, it remains a deceptively beautiful state. While potential is evenly distributed across lines of race and class, access to opportunity is not, and is particularly limited for students of color and those growing up in poverty-impacted communities.
Building on Accomplishments
As these realities have become clearer at the federal and state level, many efforts have been made to improve educational outcomes for students. The hard work of broad and diverse coalitions throughout the state has garnered a number of successful results, including the adoption the Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the Smarter Balanced Assessments. Building upon these accomplishments, Teach For America has continued to help drive systemic change in Washington through our diverse talent pipeline.
1050
Alumni living in the Washington region
360
Alumni educators leading in Washington classrooms
35
Alumni leading Washington schools and districts as principals, assistant principals, administrators, or deans
31
2018 corps members
Alumni Impact
Over the last five years, we have recruited, selected, and trained more than 125 new teachers. Our alumni network has grown from an initial base of 200 to more than 1,000 today. Three hundred and thirty of our alums are teaching, while another 30 serve as principals, assistant principals, and district leaders. Sixty-seven percent are in education-related fields and many are playing an active role in the fight for equity across sectors such as law, business, and philanthropy. And while the collective effort of our community members, teachers, school leaders, and alumni has been significant, our work is far from over. If we accept the notion that educational equity is a critical ticket to social mobility, we have some heavy lifting to do.
Our Vision
We don’t just strive to make a difference in our state’s educational landscape. Our mission is to transform it. Our vision going forward is to truly disrupt systemic educational inequity in Washington through four big bets:
Transformational Talent
We will continue to grow the diverse network of outstanding individuals who believe that one day, all kids in Washington will have the opportunity to receive an excellent education
Teaching
Ensure the teaching practices of our educators are relevant to the range of cultures in their classrooms.
Leadership
Position our leaders to collaboratively push for systemic change.
Advocacy
Help our network stand in solidarity with those who are most impacted by educational inequity.
“When I think about my students, I always think about how much they hold—knowledge, joy, trauma, curiosity, love, fear, energy—at such a young age. ”
Fin Hardy
Tony Byrd
Los Angeles '93
Executive Director
Teach For America Washington
Tony Byrd entered the education sector as a corps member in 1993, and his experience as a bilingual sixth grade teacher in a low-income school in Pasadena, California, prompted him to pursue advanced degrees in education policy and administration and dedicate his life to public education.