Teach for America
Teach for America
Uplifting Underserved Middle School Students Through Educator Support
As teacher shortages and burnout increase, schools – already grappling with large classroom sizes – seek to address low morale and plummeting student achievement scores. The teacher shortage is exacerbated by the lack of teachers of color who can impact student outcomes, especially in racially diverse classrooms.
An All Points North Foundation grant is enabling Teach for America DC Region (TFA DCR) to build a robust and diverse teacher pipeline for middle schools where the majority of students are of color and from low-income households. With the largest and most diverse talent pool in education in the region, TFA DCR aims to recruit, train, certify, support, and place 45 new and experienced teachers in middle schools throughout the Greater Washington Area. This will directly impact more than 3,000 in-need students.
Teachers, corps members, and TFA DCR alumni will receive year-round professional development training, including differentiated instructional and leadership coaching as well as development in content and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Professional development in socio-emotional learning and anti-racism will also prepare aspiring and veteran educators to lead inclusive and supportive classrooms.
Through network outreach and targeted individual recruitment, TFA DCR will work with Teach For America’s national arm to recruit experienced alumni nationwide to fill high-need positions in schools in Washington, D.C., Alexandria City, Virginia, and Richmond, Virginia. Groundwork will also be laid for a School Leader Professional Learning Community to develop principals and other school leaders through networking, school site observations, and professional learning opportunities.
In the end, TFA DCR hopes its racially diverse, highly trained educators will renew their commitment to teaching and provide a needed spark for improved academic performance among all students, especially low-income middle school students in the Greater Washington Area.
Photo credit: Teach for America