Andrew McRae's leadership path led him from Houston to Cleveland, where he's transforming the lives of students at Breakthrough Public Schools.

Q&A

How has your time in the corps influenced your career trajectory?

Coming into this work, I knew I wanted to make an impact. I initially planned on attending law school, but my corps experience changed that. My corps experience continues to reaffirm my belief that all schools—regardless of community and context—need great teachers.

I began my career as a 2007 Houston corps member, drawn to TFA by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, TFA has shaped my career journey in every way. There were quite a few corps members at my placement school, and I saw how a large volume of corps members could have a real influence.

What was a pivotal moment in your career that shaped your approach to leadership?

There was a moment in my career that I reflected on, in which I didn’t say something and felt like I should have. I learned that you can’t inspire greatness through fear or topline leadership. People need to be equipped and brought along and affirmed in their passion and desire to serve students and communities.

How have you leveraged the TFA network throughout your career, and what opportunities have made the most significant impact?

I followed my placement school, Houston Independent School District Principal to a charter network, YES Prep. Once in the network, I connected with KIPP founders and TFA alumni in Tulsa and eventually moved there. I was deeply motivated by TFA Oklahoma’s alum coordinator at the time and the idea of what it would look like to develop a charter ecosystem in Tulsa led by TFA alums. When I began my time at Breakthrough, TFA Ohio’s leadership was instrumental in getting me connected with the Cleveland community.

Why did you feel that Cleveland was the right place to continue your work in education?

Doing work in education leadership and reform is hard. I had a series of experiences in Oklahoma that were challenging to my identity and values, and I wanted to be in a place to serve kids who look like me while growing an education system that was open to new ideas. I’ve found that in Cleveland.

Cleveland, in particular, has everything you want from the sports, culture, and museums. I like to say, “It’s big enough to matter, small enough to move.” Given the size of the city, you’re able to do exceptional work that impacts so many students and see that change happen pretty quickly.

What advice would you share with prospective corps members?

I would tell them that being an educator is the most beautiful thing you will experience in your life. If you are smart, if you are passionate, if you are gritty, this may be the thing for you. But, above all else, you have to love kids. If you’re the kind of person who rises to challenges and gets back up after getting kicked, then maybe TFA is for you. But, if that sounds like you and you love kids and believe that the world can be different because we make it different, then TFA is the right place for you.