Melissa Connelly, CEO of OneGoal, believes in the transformative power of on-the-ground work. As a Chicago 2006 Teach For America alum, Melissa has seen firsthand how access to resources, personal support, and a growth mindset can uplift others. Today, she leads a nonprofit organization in expanding access to postsecondary education for all students, regardless of zip code. Among Melissa's top insights from work as an advocate are: connect with like-minded individuals and leverage all the lessons learned in the quest for a more equitable world.

• Grade and Subject Taught: Elementary math
• Current Job/Sector: Nonprofit CEO
• Major/Alma Mater: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois-Chicago; Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education Administration from Dominican University

How did your shared beliefs with fellow corps members evolve into lifelong friendships?

I have learned as a nonprofit executive that it is impossible to do this work alone. Thank goodness that as a TFA alum, I never have to. 

I am connected to an incredible network of some of the most brilliant people on the planet whom I can call and reach out to for advice and perspective. Teach For America alums like Aneesh Sohoni of One Million Degrees or Stephanie Hernandez at Braven are professional peers and dear friends of mine. It is not uncommon for us to share ideas, ask for advice, or trade podcast and book recommendations. Nearly 20 years after we completed the corps, we still share experiences that challenge our thinking. The bonds we formed as alums continue to strengthen us as leaders and are invaluable in many ways.

What wisdom did you develop as a teacher in the corps that surprised you?

My coach taught me that to be a good educator, one must balance both the head and the heart. You must work to be an expert in your subject area—but ultimately, you must understand that students don’t care what you know until they know that you care. 

A teacher must be strategic and planful, but if you are not also joyful and whole, students will not want to follow your lead. Finding that balance empowered me to become an introspective, reflective, and engaged learner while also showing up with love for the students and parents in my community.

Serving in the classroom as a corps member was one of the most formative experiences of my life, second to becoming a parent. Witnessing firsthand the ways in which students navigate systems of oppression while working alongside them as their teacher in a way that centers empathy, love, and academic achievement has shaped not only my leadership approach, it has also shaped who I am as a human being.

What are some ways you are working toward making a positive difference today? 

My passion for systemic change in education started with my experience as a corps member, and it is profound to me that I can still reference the lessons and learnings I had during those years. I have dedicated my career to ensuring that every student, regardless of zip code or racial or ethnic background, will have the tools to achieve their college and career goals after high school. 

At OneGoal, we shifted our definition of what it means to scale so that we aren’t just growing our numbers, we are growing our impact. A decade from now, it will be less about how OneGoal has served tens of thousands of students and more about how OneGoal has been part of the reimagination of supporting our young people across the country on some of the most consequential decisions they make about their education and career. 

We’re imagining a world where young people are truly equipped to pursue a life of their choosing and a career that unlocks real economic opportunity and, more importantly, purpose.