Teach For America’s (TFA) mission is to enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of the nation's most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence. For more than two decades, Teach For America has been a pacesetter for education reform in the city of Houston.The same entrepreneurial spirit that made Houston the world's energy capital has propelled efforts in education and we've been a big part of it.
Thousands of corps members have taught in Houston’s lowest-income schools, reaching nearly 200,000 students collectively and becoming some of the city's most prominent education leaders.The city is currently home to thousands of Teach For America alumni, many of whom are still in the field of education—teaching, serving as principals, administrators, or school and district leaders. These school and district leaders—along with a cadre of alumni in other sectors and several non-profit organizations targeting educational inequity—are pushing Houston to live out its promise to transform outcomes for underserved students. TFA Houston currently work with three alternative certification partners in Houston. Placement in these certification programs is dependent on which school district you will teach. Teach For America Houston partners with John Hopkins University and Relay Graduate School of Education to offer our corps members a master's degree in the field of education.
Having been a classroom teacher, I am also uniquely positioned to elevate the voices of our children, teachers, school leaders and communities toward thoughtful systemic solutions.
Tonyel Simon
- 12 monthsProgram Duration
- HybridProgram FormatCombination of in-person and online courses.
- Pre-Test RequiredNo
By joining Teach For America, you will lead alongside a powerful network of 53,000 other individuals from all backgrounds and sectors. Like you, they are driven by their own ambition and passion to change our country and empower the next generation. There is no perfect fit for Teach For America. Corps members come from more than 700 universities, represent dozens of college majors and fields, and have varied experiences that contribute to their success in the classroom. What connects them all are common mind-sets, skills and work styles. Corps members' unique backgrounds make TFA diverse and give you an unparalleled opportunity to grow as a leader.
To help ease the transition from college or your current job into the corps, Teach For America offers need-based transitional funding packages to eligible corps members. You can apply for a need-based transitional funding package at the time of your final interview and again after being admitted to the corps. Details and deadlines are provided on the application. You may also be eligible for additional financial benefits and discounts. Partnerships with AmeriCorps, education-related companies and private retailers make these incentives possible for Teach For America corps members and alumni. As a Teach For America corps member, you will be a full-time, salaried employee of your school district or charter school. Your salary and benefits will be the same as other beginning teachers working for the same employer. Starting salaries in Teach For America – Houston range from $51,000-$53,000. Teach For America's certification program takes one year and costs $4,500-$5,000, which is automatically deducted from first-year teaching salaries.
- 12 monthsProgram Duration
- HybridProgram FormatCombination of in-person and online courses.
- Pre-Test RequiredNo
- DeadlinesProgram Start
- Priority DeadlineOct. 16, 2020Summer
- Priority DeadlineDec. 04, 2020Summer
- Priority DeadlineJan. 29, 2021Summer
- Final DeadlineMar. 05, 2021Summer
- Priority DeadlineMar. 05, 2021Summer
- Priority DeadlineApr. 09, 2021Summer
Core Subjects (Birth-6)
English Language Arts and Reading (4-8)
English Language Arts and Reading (7-12)
Mathematics (4-8)
Mathematics (7-12)
Science (4-8)
Science (7-12)
Program Semesters/Steps Overview
- Program Overview
The summer before you begin teaching, Teach For America hosts a six-week training session in Houston.
At the end of May or beginning of June, you will get a chance to learn about our city and the work that is being done here. You will spend the rest of the training gaining the knowledge and skills to be successful in the classroom. This happens amongst fellow corps members at local schools in Houston.
We also offer ongoing training through Professional Development sessions facilitated by highly effective TFA alum and Houston educators throughout the year.
Program Hallmarks
- Hands-On Experience
Teach For America recruits remarkable and diverse individuals to become teachers in low-income communities. They commit to teach for two years and are hired by partner public schools across the country. During these two years they are called corps members. TFA trains and support corps members in the practices of great teachers and leaders. With hard work, perseverance and strong partnerships with their students, students’ families and communities, corps members can dramatically increase the opportunities available to their students in school and in life.
- Preparation for Diverse Populations
Diversity is at at the heart of TFA’s Foundation and they are dedicated to ensuring that teaching is a financially sustainable option for a diverse and effective teaching force. Over 75 percent of our corps are people of color, 41 percent are first in their family to graduate from college, and 54 percent are Pell Grant recipients. Teach For America partners with local school districts, universities, and other nonprofits to raise the bar for teacher training and student learning.
- Mentoring & Coaching
As a TFA corps member, you will partner with a manager of teacher leadership and development (MTLD) who will provide individualized coaching, support and guidance. Your MTLD will observe your classroom and provide feedback, coaching and support tailored to you and your students' needs; model instructional or leadership techniques and give guidance on building stronger relationships with your students, their families and community; and help you develop your leadership capacities to enact change in the short and long term. Throughout the year, you will celebrate progress and successes together.
- Program Commitment to Improvement & Excellence
Teach For America has a dramatic impact on students. TFA is one of the largest and most studied teacher-preparation and educational-leadership development organizations in the country. In 2016, What Works Clearinghouse published a review of seven independent research studies on the effectiveness of TFA corps members. This review—which looked at more than 65,000 students across multiple states—concluded that TFA corps members have positive effects on student outcomes, especially in math and science.
- American Indian or Alaskan Native
- Asian
- Black
- Hispanic/Latino
- Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
- White
- Two or more races
- 0%
- 5%
- 33%
- 23%
- 5%
- 19%
- 13%