Teach For America - South Louisiana
At Teach For America, our first promise is to kids. To serve our nation's children, TFA finds, develops, and supports a diverse network of leaders who expand opportunities for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate. We are committed to achieving the day when all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.
More About Us
In 1990, TFA entered South Louisiana as 1 of 5 founding regions nationwide. Thirty-two years later, TFA continues to impact the education landscape of the Capital Area, serving Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, and Pointe Coupee parishes. We recruit, train, and support promising leaders to teach in low-income communities for at least two years, with the goal that they will continue to transform our education system as alumni. Additionally, TFA operates the Ignite Fellowship, a program that trains college students to support Kindergarten to 3rd-grade students as tutors. Ignite also exposes college students to the field of education, thereby building the Louisiana educator workforce. There are eight staff members and 17 advisory board members supporting 100 Ignite fellows and 300 corps members and alums working to serve 15,000 students in South Louisiana.Our strategic impact has continued to evolve over the past three decades in response to the changing needs of Capital Area students. The community-wide trauma and educational challenges of the past three years have disproportionately decreased literacy outcomes for low-income communities in Louisiana. As a result, only 28% of 4th graders and 27% of Louisiana 8th graders achieved reading proficiency on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Students not reading on grade level by fourth grade are unlikely to catch up, whereas students reading proficiently by the third grade are six times more likely to graduate high school on time. Conversely, two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by then are more likely to be incarcerated or on welfare.
Using recent research to understand the importance of early literacy success on academic achievement and economic mobility, we defined our bold goal for the next decade: By 2030, twice as many children in communities we serve will reach proficiency in 3rd-grade reading, indicating they are on a path to economic mobility and a future filled with possibility. Our teachers' positive impact on students' academic achievement provides tangible evidence that all children can succeed. In a recent survey, 100% of principals surveyed stated that they believed that the TFA corps members and alums teachers in their schools contributed to the personal growth of their students, along with ratings of 100% for alums and 91% for corps members positively impacting their students' academic growth. Additionally, 100% of school partners said they would recommend hiring a TFA teacher to a fellow school leader.
Teach For America is a community of changemakers; we are a collective force of educators, advocates, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community members. We fight for the aspirations of students and their families. While our goal in South Louisiana is specific to improving literacy rates for our students, we know that can only happen within an educational ecosystem focused on meeting our students' personal and academic needs and supporting their dreams. We hope you'll financially support this dynamic network of leaders who work daily to co-create a future filled with possibility with and for the children of South Louisiana.
Testimonials
Teach For America educators are making an impact in the community leading and serving over 15,000 students daily. A 2021 corps member's reflections on why they joined Teach For America:
"My most memorable teacher who first sparked my interest in education equity was a part of Teach For America Corps. His passion for education had a direct impact on my life, as well as the lives of many of my peers in high school. He was able to inspire so many students and encourage them. Being in his class made me grow a passion for education equality. It made me have a deep desire to support students from low-income areas so that they have the tools necessary to compete with other students globally."
TFA alum educator teaching 3rd grade at Rosenwald Elementary in Point Coupee parish also serves as a trainer for Ignite fellows last year. She was thrilled the growth that her students made in part because of the additional support their received from their Ignite tutor:
"One of my 3rd-grade students tested in DIBELS [a literacy assessment] in the winter at 55 words per minute, whereas in his fall test, he could only read three words."
Shauna Walters, a 2017 Teach For America alum, was awarded the 2020 District Elementary Teacher of the Year Award for East Feliciana and was entered into the Louisiana state's Teacher of the Year Award. Megan Phillips, Jackson Elementary School Principal and 2001 corps member, shared:
"Miss Walters truly loves and appreciates all of her students for the unique individuals they are, and they love her right back! When her class learned she was selected as the Teacher of the Year, you could hear them screaming with excitement from every corner of the building!"
Students share their appreciation too! One student of TFA alum, Tayler Pierre said:
"In such a short amount of time, Ms. Pierre has incredibly impacted my life. Not only has she been an amazing teacher, she has also been understanding, helpful, and has been more than a teacher -she has been a key point in my year, both academically and personally."