Q & A
What led you to apply to Teach For America?
I had personally benefited from attending an excellent public high school, and there I was, a low-income, first-generation student getting a world-class education at Northwestern. I wanted that so badly for other kids like me, so applying to TFA was an easy decision.
How has TFA given you the skills to be successful at your current job?
To be successful in the corps, you have to think really big and then break big goals into small parts. I think that’s true in any field. I also learned how to track and analyze data, both for instructional purposes and for communicating student/school needs to leadership staff. Without that skill, I wouldn’t have the job I have today.
How have you been able to utilize the TFA network after the corps?
The majority of the leadership teams at both of the charter networks I’ve worked are TFA alumni. There is an understanding among alumni that if you made it to TFA, you’re prepared to get results. You can’t go very far in education without running into someone with a connection to TFA.