Northwestern Among the Top Teach for America Producers

EVANSTON, ILL. --- Northwestern University, a top producer of Teach For America (TFA) participants, ranks eighth this year among medium-sized schools for the number of graduating seniors who will join the 2013 corps this fall.

For six consecutive years, Northwestern has been well represented among the 850 universities and colleges whose graduates will begin Teach For America’s two-year continuum of teacher training and support this fall.

Thirty-three new Northwestern graduates will teach in urban and rural public schools across the United States this fall. (Seven percent of the 2013 graduating class applied to TFA.)

“Northwestern graduates showed traits like leadership and perseverance in the face of challenges,” said Shawnee Cohn, TFA manager of regional communications.

“They also showed deep respect for diverse backgrounds and perspectives and a commitment to expanding educational opportunities.”

After an intensive summer training program, TFA members teach for two years in low-income urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. Coming from a variety of academic backgrounds, they are top college graduates and professionals who demonstrate high achievement and leadership.

The Northwestern graduates from the Class of 2013 will join the record 63 members of the Class of 2012 who are embarking on their second year of the program. 

Throughout TFA’s 23-year history, 603 Northwestern alumni have taught as corps members. 

“Northwestern graduates continue to be deeply committed to making an impact in the movement to expand opportunities for high-need students,” Cohn said. “Many are interested in choosing a career path that allows them to have an immediate impact as well as to pass on the gift of a great education to future generations.” 

Members of the 2013 corps who graduated from Northwestern will reach students in regions across the country including the Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and San Antonio.

This fall, more than 11,000 first and second-year corps members will be teaching in high-need classrooms across 48 regions.