(Houston, Texas) Feb. 22, 2024 – Hundreds of Teach For America (TFA) Houston supporters, corps members, and alumni gathered on Wednesday, Feb. 21, for the organization’s second annual “Ignite Potential Luncheon” at the Briar Club.
Attendees honored Janet Clark, retired executive vice president and chief financial officer of Marathon Oil Corporation (2007-2013) and a tireless education advocate. Reginald DesRoches, president of Rice University, shared his profound insights, experiences, and vision for Houston’s education landscape as the luncheon’s keynote speaker.
“The luncheon served as a platform to thank our supporters, including Janet and Reginald, and for all they have done to ensure TFA Houston continues to be an integral partner in providing an excellent education to all students,” said Tiffany Cuellar Needham, executive director of TFA Houston. “It also allowed us to celebrate all we have accomplished to propel educational opportunities for students regardless of socioeconomic status and backgrounds.”
Colin and Sangita Pogge chaired this year’s “Ignite Potential” Luncheon. Deeply tied to TFA and Houston since 2005, the couple embodies the spirit of dedication to education. Colin, a former TFA Houston corps member, taught 5th grade at Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) Judson Robinson Elementary early in his career. Today, he is a well-known Houston trial attorney and sits on the TFA Houston advisory board. Sangita is a board-certified physician with Kelsey-Seybold.
TFA Houston raised more than $434,000 during the Ignite Potential Luncheon, which will support the organization’s efforts in identifying exceptional leaders, matching them with partner schools’ talent needs, and developing their leadership to make a significant impact in the classroom and beyond.
Those seen in the crowd included:
Cathy and Joe Cleary
Cathryn and Doug Selman
Molly and Jim Crownover
Paula and Reginald DesRoches
Janet Clark
Marci Rosenberg and Ben Samuels
Sangita and Colin Pogge
Tiffany and Paul Needham
Elisa Villanueva Beard and Jeremy Beard
Geraldina and Scott Wise
Former Houston Mayor Bill White
Representative Gene Wu
Representative Alma Allen
Representative Christina Morales
For more information about TFA Houston, visit https://www.teachforamerica.org/houston.
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About Teach For America Houston
Teach For America Houston works in partnership with local districts and charter schools to expand educational opportunities for children. Founded in Houston in 1991, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding leaders who make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity. Today, TFA Houston is a force of over 2,100 alumni and corps members impacting more than 31,000 students in pursuit of profound systemic change. From classroom to systems-level positions, their leaders are reimagining education to realize the day when every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org/houston and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
