TEACH FOR AMERICA HOUSTON
Funds Will Help Teach For America Recruit, Train, and Support Educators Across Houston
HOUSTON, Texas (Sept. 9, 2024) Teach For America (TFA) Houston announced today that it is the recipient of a $250,000 gift from Houston Endowment Inc. The funding will help the education and leadership development nonprofit recruit, train, and support educators throughout the region during the next two school years. With over 30 years of history in Houston, TFA continues to bring high-quality educators to classrooms across the city. In preparation for the new school year, over 150 new educators, known as corps members, were welcomed to Houston and joined a network of over 1,800 leaders serving in various roles throughout the region, with approximately 70% in roles that impact students.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support of Houston Endowment Inc. Their contribution will allow TFA Houston to continue its mission of expanding educational opportunities, especially for our most vulnerable students,” said Tiffany Cuellar Needham, Executive Director of TFA Houston. “Education is a major factor in driving economic mobility for our young people. With the backing of community partners, we are better equipped to guide the next generation of students toward a future full of possibilities,” Cuellar Needham added.
Teach For America (TFA) selects, develops, and retains talented teachers and system leaders for Houston to address current educational challenges, including pandemic-related learning recovery and critical teacher shortages. TFA collaborates closely with local school districts to ensure a high-quality pipeline of educators that meets local needs. Corps members receive over ~250 rigorous hours of training before entering the classroom and continue to receive support throughout their two-year commitment. Additionally, as program alumni, TFA members benefit from ongoing leadership and career development resources, enabling them to grow as education leaders and take on vital roles to support public education progress across the region. As TFA Houston prepares for a new school year, the organization is set to welcome one of its largest-ever cohorts of leaders as new corps members.
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.
About Houston Endowment Inc.
Houston Endowment is a private foundation established in 1937 by Jesse H. Jones and his wife, Mary Gibbs Jones, to improve the quality of life for everyone in Greater Houston. Today, it has more than $2 billion in assets and invests about $100 million a year in three priorities: strengthening public education, increasing civic engagement, and enhancing the region’s arts and parks. Working with fellow Houstonians, the Foundation pursues bold goals, builds partnerships, and invests in innovative solutions to create meaningful change and expand opportunity for all.