Announcing the 2026 Alumni of the Year Winners
TEACH FOR AMERICA GREATER CHICAGO–NORTHWEST INDIANA ANNOUNCES 2026 ALUMNI OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Three Leaders Recognized for Transformational Impact in Classrooms, Schools, and Systems
CHICAGO, Illinois, April 27, 2026 – Teach For America (TFA) Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Alumni of the Year awards, recognizing three exceptional leaders whose work is driving meaningful change for students, schools, and communities across Chicago and beyond.
The Alumni of the Year awards celebrate outstanding alumni educators, school leaders, and systems leaders who exemplify excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for all students. Each winner receives a $5,000 award.
“We had an incredibly strong pool of candidates this year, making the selection process both inspiring and challenging,” said Anajah Philogene, Executive Director of Teach For America Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana. “Our alumni continue to lead with vision, courage, and an unwavering belief in what is possible for students. Brittany, Tierionna, and Jonathan stood out for their extraordinary impact and their ability to create lasting change at multiple levels of the education system.”
The winners of the 2026 Alumni of the Year awards are:
Frances and Elliot Lehman Alumni of the Year Award – Brittany Parks
Teacher of the Year
Brittany Parks (Delaware ‘13), a College Counselor at Noble Schools, is recognized for her exceptional impact on college access and persistence outcomes for students. Through a data-driven and student-centered approach, Brittany redesigned college counseling systems to ensure students make informed decisions aligned with both academic fit and financial sustainability.
Her work has led to remarkable outcomes: up to 96% of her students secured financial award letters from their final college choices, and over 90% selected colleges aligned to their long-term success metrics,far exceeding network benchmarks. Beyond results, Brittany empowers students, particularly first-generation college-goers, with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to navigate complex systems and persist through them. Her leadership has also strengthened school-wide practices and influenced peers across her network.
Zell Family Alumni of the Year Award – Tierionna Pinkston
School Leader of the Year
Tierionna Pinkston (Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana ‘11), Principal of The Noble Academy, is honored for leading a comprehensive school transformation rooted in equity, excellence, and community trust. Since stepping into leadership, Tierionna has reimagined instructional systems, school culture, and staff experience to ensure every student receives a high-quality, affirming education.
Under her leadership, The Noble Academy has seen dramatic improvements, including a reduction in safety incidents from 400 to 96, staff retention rising to 100%, and significant gains in student academic growth, particularly in courses using innovative, discussion-based instructional models. Tierionna’s work demonstrates that justice-centered leadership and academic excellence are deeply interconnected, creating sustainable systems that elevate outcomes for students and educators alike.
Systems Leader of the Year Award – Jonathan Chaparro
Jonathan Chaparro, Chief Regional Success & Innovation Officer at Braven, is recognized for his national impact on strengthening the college-to-career pipeline for first-generation and low-income students. As a founding leader of Braven Chicago and a key architect of its national growth, Jonathan has built scalable systems that expand access to career pathways and economic mobility.
Through his leadership, Braven has grown into a multi-market organization serving thousands of students annually. His innovations, including the launch of BravenX, a scalable digital learning model, have extended opportunity nationwide. Today, Braven Fellows significantly outperform national peers in college graduation rates, internship access, and post-graduate outcomes. Jonathan’s work exemplifies systems-level leadership that transforms not only individual trajectories but the structures that shape them.
“As I reflect on their accomplishments, I am deeply inspired by the scale and depth of their impact,” Philogene added. “Brittany, Tierionna, and Jonathan represent the very best of our alumni network leaders who are not only changing outcomes for students today but building an excellent future for generations to come.”
Teach For America Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana extends its congratulations to this year’s honorees and looks forward to celebrating their achievements.
For more information on the Alumni of the Year awards, please visit: https://www.tfachicagonwi.org/alumni-of-the-year
For media inquiries, Brittany Parks, Tierionna Pinkston, Jonathan Chaparro, and Anajah Philogene are available for interviews upon request.
About Teach For America
Teach For America Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana is part of a national leadership development organization working in partnership with communities to ensure all children have access to an excellent education. Since 2000, the region has trained and supported more than 3,500 leaders who begin their impact in classrooms and go on to lead at every level of the education system. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, the region is committed to doubling the number of students reaching key educational milestones by 2030.
Founded in 1990, Teach For America has spent 35 years developing a diverse network of leaders who expand opportunity for children across classrooms, schools, and sectors. Today, this network includes over 70,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite fellows working toward a future where all children can learn, lead, and thrive. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org