Texas Border Business
Mission, Texas —Teach For America (TFA) Rio Grande Valley is welcoming over 45 educators to the Valley this fall, all of whom will be trained through the organization’s 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). Their time in local classrooms this summer will offer them an opportunity to learn from local veteran teachers, and more quickly understand schools and students in the Valley.
Students and educators have been working hard to regain academic ground since the pandemic hit. Summer learning is an effective means of slowing learning loss and helping students get to grade level, particularly in math, and has shown to be a successful academic intervention post-covid. Teach For America educators will be supporting this additional learning at two middle school campuses in PSJA ISD.
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 Rio Grande Valley, they serve in 12 partner districts across the region. These 45+ teachers join a growing network of TFA corps members and alumni of the program—over 5,600 in Texas, who are leading classrooms, schools, districts, and working across sectors to impact the education system.
“We’re deeply excited about our partnership with PSJA ISD to reach students this summer,” said Ana D. González, Executive Director of Teach For America Rio Grande Valley. “Our summer programming provides critical summer education opportunities to students, while helping our newest educators get to know the local community.”
“We are honored to continue partnering with Teach for America to provide this important training for new teachers serving our students here in the Rio Grande Valley,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alejandro Elias. “Every day, teachers make a difference in the lives of our students, and trainings like this are imperative in helping them be prepared to educate our future.”
As of June 11th, these TFA teachers, known as corps members, are leading classrooms under the supervision of experienced mentors in each district. This summer’s programming is a key component of TFA’s multi-part, intensive pre-service experience, which began in May and extends throughout the summer, and which all new TFA RGV educators who will be teaching in local schools this fall will experience. Training will focus on instruction, learning environments, diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, and content.
Teach For America staff and educators are available for interviews.
About Teach For America Rio Grande Valley
Teach For America Rio Grande Valley (TFA RGV) works in partnership with local districts and charter schools to expand educational opportunities for children. Founded in the Rio Grande Valley in 1991, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding leaders who make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity. Today, TFA RGV is a force of about 275 alumni and corps members impacting more than 4,000 students in pursuit of profound systemic change. From classroom to school-systems positions, these leaders are reimagining education to realize the day when every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org/rio-grande-valley and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
