August 4, 2025—As students head back to school, a new generation of Teach For America teachers— nearly all members of Gen Z—are stepping into classrooms with urgency, purpose, and a fresh perspective on what students need most. This fall, Teach For America Phoenix is welcoming over 240 teachers and tutors to local classrooms in nearly 50 schools, all of whom will be working in classrooms in low-income communities. These corps members and tutors are often just a few years older than their students and deeply connected to the challenges and aspirations of today’s learners. They join over 1,200 alums of Teach For America who are living and working in the region. Nationwide, the organization’s network of tutors, educators, and program alumni tops 70,000.

This month, the organization also welcomes its newest Executive Director, Lauren Arndt. Arndt, who grew up in Phoenix, began her career in education in 2010 as a TFA teacher in New York City before returning to Arizona to work as a teacher in Maryvale and later for Teach For America Phoenix.

“With over 15 years of experience in education, leadership, and community engagement, I enter this role deeply committed to expanding opportunities for our students,” said Arndt. “As someone who was born and raised in Phoenix, and whose own children attend public schools in our community, this work is deeply personal to me. I’m grateful to be a part of this incredible network of educators and leaders who continue to show what’s possible when we believe in and act for what all students deserve.”

Gen-Z has demonstrated a profound commitment to changing the world and solving the many problems our country faces. Teach For America is focused on creating the conditions for them to say yes to teaching in rural and urban classrooms, where they learn first-hand what it takes to expand educational opportunity to all students.

But the structure of the teaching profession is increasingly out of step with what matters most to this generation of college graduates. The profession has to evolve in order to recruit and retain this generation of leaders who are essential for reinventing the education system. As a result, TFA has developed the following focus areas in its recruitment and programming:

• Supporting teacher and student mental health and wellbeing
• Ensuring that learning is relevant to the real world
• Building strong community and culture
• Fostering teachers’ sense of purpose and impact

Today, wherever you find positive change in education, chances are you’ll find a connection to Teach For America. The organization’s growing number of corps members and Ignite tutors join more than 70,000 alumni who are leading classrooms, schools, and districts; running for office; working in public policy; and driving change in all the systems that impact kids. Their collective efforts are creating a ripple effect, expanding and transforming students’ access and opportunity across the more than 300 communities where Teach For America works.

About Teach For America Phoenix

Since 1994, Teach For America Phoenix has brought over 2,500 teachers to serve in the area. This year, there are 115 1st- and 2nd-year teachers impacting over 8,000 students across nearly 50 district and charter schools in Phoenix. They join 1,200 local alumni of the program who serve in roles across Phoenix.

Contact:
Rachel Tennenbaum
408.250.2877
Rachel.Tennenbaum@teachforamerica.org