Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas —Teach For America (TFA) is welcoming over 25 educators to the Rio Grande Valley this upcoming school year, all of whom will be trained through the organization’s new hybrid pre-service model, which includes both a virtual component and in-person teaching experience in partnership with Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD). This is the first time in Teach For America’s 30-year history that all of its educators will complete their summer teaching experience in the communities where they will be serving in the fall. Their time in local classrooms at PSJA ISD this summer will offer them an opportunity to learn from other local veteran teachers, and more quickly understand the Valley community, schools and students.
These teachers are part of 245 new TFA educators who will be teaching in Texas schools this fall. They join a growing network of TFA corps members and alumni of the program—over 5,200 in Texas, who are leading classrooms, schools, districts, and working across sectors to impact the education system. TFA corps members make a lifelong commitment to educational equity, and spend at least two years teaching in under-resourced schools in rural and urban areas nationwide; in the RGV, they serve in partner school districts in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Starr Counties.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming these outstanding leaders to the Rio Grande Valley, and deeply excited about our partnership with PSJA ISD,” said Ana Gonzalez, Executive Director of Teach For America Rio Grande Valley. “It is no secret that disruptions to schooling during the pandemic have been extremely difficult for students and educators alike. The partnership with PSJA ISD allows our educators to get to know their local education community immediately and brings critically needed new teachers to local schools.”
“It’s an honor to partner with Teach for America to provide this rigorous training for new educators coming to serve in Rio Grande Valley schools,” said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. “At PSJA ISD, we take great pride in providing high-quality training for our teachers. To see them now mentor and train fellow educators this summer shows the caliber of leaders we have serving in our schools.”
Starting June 13th, these TFA teachers, known as corps members, will collaboratively lead classrooms under the supervision of experienced mentors in PSJA ISD. This summer’s programming is a key component of TFA’s multi-part, nationwide intensive pre-service experience, which began in May and will extend through teachers’ first 90 days in the classroom, and which all 2,000 new teachers will experience. Training will focus on instruction, learning environments, diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, and leadership development.
