Fall All Corps
This full‐day session deepens CMs’ content knowledge and instructional practice while bringing the entire corps together in a shared learning space. CMs engage in collaborative workshops, skill‐building, and community connection to strengthen their impact in classrooms across GCNWI.
Schools to Learn From
Schools to Learn From: Leadership Learning at The Noble Academy
Step inside The Noble Academy for a day of learning, connection, and reflection with fellow TFA alumni school leaders. Participants will explore how leadership decisions, school culture, and instructional systems come together in practice, learn directly from The Noble Academy’s team, and leave with ideas they can adapt in their own context.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Noble Academy | 1443 N. Ogden Ave, Chicago
Space is limited. Registration is required.
Register: https://forms.gle/3yD3TGkGnLxAV6bR8
2026 Jingle Mingle
Celebrate the end of the year with us at Punch Bowl Social, a night of food, drinks, games, and good vibes with the TFA Chicago–NWI community.
When: Wednesday, December 10, from 6:00–8:30 PM
Where: Punchbowl Social - Fulton Market 310 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
What’s included: Free food, drinks, gifts, and games
Parking & Transportation: Paid parking may be available nearby; public transit and rideshare encouraged.
Attire: Come comfy and festive, whatever helps you feel your best!
Who can come? 21+. Open to all TFA alumni and current corps members.
Join us to unwind, connect, and reflect on the year.
RSVP Here by December 1st
Spring All Corps
This mid‐year convening supports CMs in refining their instructional practice, expanding content expertise, and learning alongside peers from across the region. It offers a collective moment to reflect, grow, and strengthen teaching moves for the second half of the year.
Alumni Induction
Induction is a required celebration where we honor our second‐year CMs as they transition into Teach For America alumnihood and welcome first‐year CMs into their next stage as 2CMs. This milestone event recognizes impact, builds community, and prepares CMs for the year ahead. RSVP to come.
CPS Districts 10A & 10B Candidate Forum
Candidate Conversation with CPS School Board Candidates
Perspectives Charter Schools invites you to a conversation with the District 10B Candidates: Patrick Watson and Connie Anderson. Students will be leading an hourlong conversation with the candidates. Participants are invited to come with their questions as well.
Tuesday, October 13
Doors open at 5:30 pm. Event from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Perspectives High School of Technology & Leadership Academy
8522 S Lafayette Ave, Chicago, IL 60620
Celebrating our 35th Year
Prepare to connect, learn, co-create, and recommit—to each other and to the future of excellent education for all.
We’re bringing together alumni from every era of TFA’s history, alongside corps members, supporters, partners, and community leaders. This gathering promises to inspire and energize us all, sparking bold action that creates lasting impact in communities across America.
Join us for this extraordinary convening, featuring thought-provoking panels, dynamic presentations, interactive workshops, and immersive experiences led by some of the most prominent voices across education and other industries.
Together, we’ll explore critical topics like the future of education, innovation and technology, civic leadership, and community-driven impact.
Register Here: https://www.events.teachforamerica.org/35years/home
CPS District 3 Candidate Forum
Noble Pritzker College Prep | 4131 W. Cortland St.
Meet the candidates running to represent District 3 and learn more about their priorities for Chicago Public Schools. This forum is an opportunity for community members to better understand candidate perspectives before Election Day.
RSVP: Register Here
Hosted by Noble Schools.
CPS District 5 Candidate Forum
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
Noble Chicago Bulls Prep | 2040 W. Adams St.
Residents of District 5 are invited to hear directly from candidates seeking to represent their community on the Chicago Board of Education. The forum will provide an opportunity to learn about candidate priorities and ask questions about issues impacting local schools and students.
RSVP: Register Here
Hosted by Noble Schools.
Opportunity for Chicago Educational Leaders | IALAS Networking Event
The Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (IALAS) is hosting a special networking event in Pilsen on Friday, September 25. IALAS is dedicated to empowering educational leaders who serve Latino/a/x communities and creating opportunities for connection, leadership development, and collaboration across Illinois.
While IALAS has historically had strong participation from suburban educational leaders, this event is intentionally bringing the statewide network to Chicago to connect with the many talented, passionate, and impactful leaders leading schools and systems across our city.
Event Details
Pre-Event Reception: National Museum of Mexican Art
📍 Main Event: HOSTE (Pilsen)
📅 Friday, September 25
Register here: https://lnkd.in/e6ViUeCi
September Cohort Social & School Year Kick-Off
The September event is a welcoming, community‐building kickoff where CMs meet their full cohort, connect across the region, and set the tone for the year ahead. This gathering creates space for relationship‐building and shared purpose as we launch into the 2026–27 corps year.
Chicago Board of Education Candidate Forum
The Chicago Public Education Fund, Kids First Chicago, Mikva Challenge, and the Chicago Education Alliance will host a nonpartisan candidate forum featuring candidates for all 2026 Chicago Board of Education districts.
The forum will give principals, teachers, parents, students, and community members from across Chicago the opportunity to engage directly with candidates in small-group breakout conversations and hear their perspectives on the future of Chicago’s public schools.
Event Details: Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 AM | Intentional Sports | North Austin.
RSVP here: 2026 Elected School Board Candidate Forum
School Board President Candidate Forum Watch Party
Malcolm X College | 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
Join Kids First Chicago and community partners to watch the live School Board President Candidate Forum broadcast from WTTW Studios. This community gathering will give attendees the opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking to lead Chicago's Board of Education, connect with fellow community members, and engage in conversation about the future of CPS.
Bonus: Free parking (with validation), refreshments, and community performances.
RSVP: Register Here
Hosted by Kids First Chicago and community partners.
More Than a Job: How to Build a Career with Purpose
A meaningful career isn't about finding one perfect path - it's about understanding what matters most to you. As you explore internships, first jobs, graduate school, and future career possibilities, it can be difficult to balance practical considerations like salary and stability with the desire to make a meaningful impact.
In this interactive workshop, you'll reflect on your values, strengths, and long-term goals while exploring what meaningful work can look like across different careers and industries. You'll leave with practical tools to evaluate opportunities, make more intentional career decisions, and build a career that reflects both what you care about and how you want to contribute.
RSVP here
The Power of Us: Summer Happy Hour
Join us for our Chicago–Northwest Indiana Summer Happy Hour as we celebrate Teach For America’s 35th Anniversary and the strength of our community.
Anchored in The Power of Us, this gathering will bring together alumni and current corps members across cohorts as welcome our newest corps members into the network for an evening of connection, reflection, and celebration. Whether you are new to TFA or have been part of this work for years, this space is designed for you.
Friday, July 24
5:00–7:30 PM
Monochrome Brewing
RSVP is required to attend. RSVP by 7/22
RSVP HERE
Corps Members of Color Affinity Space
Stories and Community for our corps members of color
Corps Member Graduation
Alumni Induction is a milestone event that marks the transition into Teach For America alumnihood. It is designed as both a celebration of impact and an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far while looking ahead to what comes next.
The experience centers community and connection, bringing together alumni across industries for an evening of relationship-building, meaningful conversation, and shared celebration. It will include a brief program alongside interactive elements that support continued growth, connection, and next steps beyond the corps.
The festivities will take place at Little Black Pearl (1060 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60653).
RSVP Here: https://calendly.com/greater-chicago-northwest-indiana-alumni-team/alumni-induction
Retaining & Sustaining Diverse Educators Workshop
Register for the Retaining & Sustaining Diverse Educators Workshop
Join the Illinois Affinity Group Network and expert practitioner Dr. Andrea Terrero Gabbadon on June 11 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for an exploration of practical strategies and practices that school and district leaders can implement to support and retain diverse educators. During this workshop, participants will develop clarity on the research and data regarding educator attrition and identify specific strategies and practices that result in educator retention. Additionally, participants will receive resources and a guidebook for building belonging through affinity spaces.
Teacher Appreciation Happy Hour
Join us for a Teacher Appreciation celebration at Paradise Park on Friday, May 15 from 6–8 PM! We’re bringing together corps members and alumni for an evening of connection, gratitude, and fun as we celebrate the incredible impact educators are making every day.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflZzvk-1lGxOkKTk-SoCFt1OKhMPYJnl89JbEmF2FK6sMUWg/viewform
Insatiable Learning in High School: Designing Engaging Classroom Experiences
Join Brittanee Rolle for a hands-on lab for high school educators focused on designing engaging learning experiences that spark curiosity, build connection, and become school experiences students never forget.
Facilitated by:
Brittanee Rolle (GC-NWI ‘14)
Brittanee Rolle is a 2014 TFA Alumni with 12 years of classroom experience. For the greater part of those years, she has spent them joyously teaching English to high school students on the South Side of Chicago, in the Roseland community. She has been awarded grants from National Geographic, Fund for Teachers, Chicago Beyond and a local literary author. Her focus on rigorous instruction coupled with culturally relevant teaching strategies made her a recipient of numerous awards honoring her expertise.
This event is part of our Teacher Learning Labs series
Alumni-Led. Practice-Focused. Community-Centered.
Teach For America alumni and corps members are invited to a new Teacher Learning Lab Series—monthly, in-person evening gatherings created for the TFA educator community.
Each lab is led by experienced TFA alumni educators who are seeing strong results in their classrooms and schools. These sessions are designed to be hands-on and collaborative, with practical strategies, honest conversation, and space to learn with and from one another.
RSVP - Annual Benefit Event
We are thrilled to invite you to join us for Teach For America Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana’s Benefit Event on Friday, May 8, 2026, a gathering of supporters and partners who are deeply committed to expanding opportunity for students across our region. Your partnership helps fuel the progress Chicago has made over the past 25 years—and the momentum we are building today.
This year’s event will uplift stories of impact across our community and highlight how TFA continues to meet this critical moment. As both a strategic talent partner and a network activator, we are recruiting and developing early-career educators, launching our new Ignite tutoring fellowship, and mobilizing our network of more than 3,200 alumni to strengthen schools and accelerate student learning.
Morgan Manufacturing
401 N Morgan St Suite #100
Chicago, IL 60642
Register here: https://events.bizzabo.com/2026benefitevent/home
Save the Date - 2026 ISBE Career Connections Conference
Mark your calendars! The 2026 ISBE Career Connections Conference, "Ignite Learning: Spark Success in CTE," is set for May 5-6, 2026, at the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal. This event will bring together educators, administrators, and industry partners for a jam-packed two days of learning and networking with CTE professionals around the state of Illinois. More details about conference sessions, speakers, and registration will be shared by ISBE in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Sustainable Self-care Starter Kit: Tips and Tricks for Educators and Youth Workers
Join Monique Smith and Anna Campbell for a nourishing evening centered on sustainable self-care, shared wisdom, and community—designed to support educators and youth workers doing deeply meaningful work.
Facilitated by:
Monique Smith (GC-NWI ‘14)
Monique Smith is a Gary, Indiana native and Teach For America alumna with over a decade of experience working alongside underrepresented communities in Chicago Public Schools. She currently serves in school leadership at Piccolo School of Excellence in West Humboldt Park, where her work centers on strengthening educators and school systems through holistic practices that respond to the realities of toxic stress experienced by many students and communities. Monique has shared her expertise with audiences at EducationWeek, DePaul University, and Google, and earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University. Beyond education, she is also an aspiring filmmaker—bringing creativity and storytelling into all aspects of her work.
Anna Campbell (GC-NWI ‘12)
Anna Campbell is the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Lead at Piccolo School of Excellence in Chicago's West Humboldt Park neighborhood. Her thirteen-year career in education began as a 2012 Teach for America Corps Member, followed by seven years teaching lower elementary and serving as a Reading Interventionist in Chicago Public Schools. Anna is passionate about creating school-wide systems that dismantle barriers to student success and center each child's whole self. She holds a Master's in Public School Building Leadership from Teachers College Columbia University (2025) and remains driven by her commitment to building equitable education systems that serve the individual needs of students, families, and communities.
This event is part of our Teacher Learning Labs series
Alumni-Led. Practice-Focused. Community-Centered.
Teach For America alumni and corps members are invited to a new Teacher Learning Lab Series—monthly, in-person evening gatherings created for the TFA educator community.
Each lab is led by experienced TFA alumni educators who are seeing strong results in their classrooms and schools. These sessions are designed to be hands-on and collaborative, with practical strategies, honest conversation, and space to learn with and from one another.
Play Beyond K: Reclaiming Joy Through Developmentally Responsive Learningin Elementary Schools
Join Brittanei for a joyful, hands-on lab for elementary educators that breaks down what play-based learning actually looks like beyond kindergarten—and how purposeful play can deepen learning, boost engagement, and make the classroom a more joyful place for both students and teachers.
Facilitated by:
Brittanei Cain (GC-NWI ‘20)
Brittanei is a passionate educator and learning designer dedicated to bringing joy and curiosity back into the classroom. She creates playful, student-centered experiences that foster connection and growth. A 2020 TFA Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana alum, she teaches second grade on Chicago’s West Side.
This event is part of our Teacher Learning Labs series
Alumni-Led. Practice-Focused. Community-Centered.
Teach For America alumni and corps members are invited to a new Teacher Learning Lab Series—monthly, in-person evening gatherings created for the TFA educator community.
Each lab is led by experienced TFA alumni educators who are seeing strong results in their classrooms and schools. These sessions are designed to be hands-on and collaborative, with practical strategies, honest conversation, and space to learn with and from one another.
Microsoft x TFA: Human First, AI Supported- Networking and Career Growth
Teach For America Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana is partnering with Microsoft to host an interactive evening exploring how AI can support career growth, networking, and leadership development.
This hands-on experience is designed for corps members, alumni, and members of the TFA community who want to better understand how AI can serve as a tool to help strengthen professional relationships and open new career pathways.
Participants will:
• Learn practical AI tools they can apply immediately
• Explore strategies for networking and career mobility
• Connect with educators, alumni, and professionals across sectors
Space is limited.
Register by April 3, 2026: https://calendly.com/greater-chicago-northwest-indiana-alumni-team/microsoft_tfa_aievent
Schools as Safe Harbors: Supporting Students and Families in Crisis
Join Brittnay Connor for a conversational, community-centered lab using her school as a real-world model to share practical strategies for coordinating supports—like food pantries, medical care, and safe passage—to better support families in crisis.
Facilitated by:
Brittnay Connor (Dallas-Fort Worth ‘16)
Brittnay Connor is an instructional coach, Teach Plus Change Agent and Research Fellow, and award-winning bilingual educator. At José de Diego Community Academy, she leads initiatives in biliteracy and holistic community support, managing wraparound services such as food and medical care for families. A former Fulbright scholar and dual-language expert, Brittnay was recognized as the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year for both East Dallas and Geneva Heights IB World School.
This event is part of our Teacher Learning Labs series
Alumni-Led. Practice-Focused. Community-Centered.
Teach For America alumni and corps members are invited to a new Teacher Learning Lab Series—monthly, in-person evening gatherings created for the TFA educator community.
Each lab is led by experienced TFA alumni educators who are seeing strong results in their classrooms and schools. These sessions are designed to be hands-on and collaborative, with practical strategies, honest conversation, and space to learn with and from one another.
AutomatED: Using AI to Save Time and Reduce Burnout in Your Classroom
Teachers are already reclaiming hours of their week with Otto Zhen’s AI strategies—join him for a hands-on session to build tools and prompts that fit your classroom, with time to engage around ethics and environmental impact.
Facilitated by:
Otto Zhen (GC-NWI ‘22)
Otto Zhen is a 4th‑year CPS high school math educator and TFA alum who has been creating education technology since high school, from a language‑learning mobile app to a collaborative virtual whiteboard tool he later refined during his studies at Stanford. In addition to teaching, he leads AI professional development for other teacher and is also building Echieve, an edtech venture creating automation tools that help math teachers streamline their preparation and focus more on students and teaching.
This event is part of our Teacher Learning Labs series
Alumni-Led. Practice-Focused. Community-Centered.
Teach For America alumni and corps members are invited to a new Teacher Learning Lab Series—monthly, in-person evening gatherings created for the TFA educator community.
Each lab is led by experienced TFA alumni educators who are seeing strong results in their classrooms and schools. These sessions are designed to be hands-on and collaborative, with practical strategies, honest conversation, and space to learn with and from one another.
Attend - Fireside Chat on Linguistic Justice & Advocacy with Dr. Lillian Ardell
Finding Our Voice in This Moment
Fireside Chat on Linguistic Justice & Advocacy with Dr. Lillian Ardell
What does it mean to find our voice when language, power, and safety are deeply intertwined? Join us for an intimate fireside chat with TFA alumna Dr. Lillian Ardell, founder of Language Matters, as we reflect on linguistic justice and advocacy amid current immigration enforcement efforts shaping the lived experiences of families across Chicago. Light refreshments will be served.
Be among the first 20 people to RSVP and receive a free copy of Dr. Ardell’s new book, Disrupting the Monolingual Bias: A Framework for Teacher Advocacy.
February 20 | 5:30–7:30 PM
227 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60606
Register here
Enroll in the Alumni Career Design Program
TFA Alumni Career Design Program: Clarify your direction. Build a concrete roadmap.
In this 30-day online program, you’ll work through a proven, structured process to get clearer on what’s next — whether that’s deepening your current path or exploring opportunities. Expert career design facilitators, who are alumni, will help you develop a clear, structured path to design your career with clarity. Over 500 alumni have completed the cohort experience, with 98 % stating they're glad they participated.
Cohort: Feb 28–Mar 30, 2026
Early Enrollment: Feb 7 • Apply By: Feb 23
Apply here: https://www.missioncollaborative.com/school-directory/tfa
Attend an Aspire Fellowship Info Session
Jointly run by TFA and UIC's EdD program in Urban Education Leadership, The Aspire Fellowship is a 10-month program that prepares teachers of color to enter principal certification programs in the next two years. The Fellowship is free to participants and Fellows receive ongoing support after completing the Fellowship, including scholarship and career coaching opportunities. Prospective applicants and those looking to support teachers of color in their school or network are encouraged to join a virtual Info Session on February 3, 2026, to learn more. Applications open in February and close early March, via the Lead with CPS Common Application.
Harnessing Your Strengths: Turn Your Top 5 into Your Next Opportunity
Gallup’s CliftonStrengths is a research-backed self-assessment that helps you identify your top talents and understand how you naturally think, feel, and work—providing a strong foundation for self-reflection, personal growth, and more intentional career development.
Alumni can join a team-based Gallup Strengths workshop led by a certified Strengths Coach to receive a free CliftonStrengths code and discover their Top 5 strengths. Through collaborative activities and guided reflection, alumni will explore how to understand and apply top 5 strengths in professional settings, recognize how strengths combine and show up in your career, and leave with a strengths-based elevator pitch that can be used in interviews and networking opportunities.
Register:
Apply - 2026 Aspiring Principals Scholarship
The Aspiring Principals Scholarship application is now open for alumni living in Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana! We are offering a limited amount of scholarships up to $5000 toward principal certification programs. You must be currently enrolled in a principal preparation program to qualify. Check out the website and apply here.
Website: https://lnkd.in/drCSieFv
Application Form:https://lnkd.in/dBvc2JYj
Apply - Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship
APPLY TODAY! Applications for @lee_national’s 2026 Policy & Advocacy Summer Fellowship are officially open. This eight-week, full-time, paid experience is designed for aspiring policy and advocacy leaders.
Work with mission-aligned organizations, build real-world skills, and make lasting community impact this summer.