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 - 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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
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 - Full Time Public Policy Fellowship
APPLY TODAY! Applications for @lee_national’s Public Policy Fellowship are officially open. This full-time, nine-month, paid opportunity for LEE members with policy or advocacy experience.
Work alongside senior leaders, build your policymaking skills, and join a nationwide network of changemakers advancing equity and impact.
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.
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
Rise Teacher Leadership Series
Join Teach for America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana and the Rise Fellowship for a special professional development series exploring Teacher Leadership skills. Sessions will occur on March 5, April 2, and April 30 from 5:30-7:30 via zoom. Current educators can sign up for one or more seminars, and all attendees will receive a book of their choosing by Elena Aguilar. Reach out to Caryn Lichtenberg (caryn.lichtenberg@teachforamerica.org) with questions. Register here.
Aspire Fellowship Information 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. Fellows also receive a stipend, scholarships, and post-program career support. Prospective applicants and those looking to support teachers of color in their school or network are encouraged to join an Info Session on February 21st or April 3rd.
For more information, visit the Aspire Fellowship website. To sign up for an Info Session, click here.
Rise Teacher Leadership Series
Join Teach for America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana and the Rise Fellowship for a special professional development series exploring Teacher Leadership skills. Sessions will occur on March 5, April 2, and April 30 from 5:30-7:30 via zoom. Current educators can sign up for one or more seminars, and all attendees will receive a book of their choosing by Elena Aguilar. Reach out to Caryn Lichtenberg (caryn.lichtenberg@teachforamerica.org) with questions. Register here.
Rise Teacher Leadership Series
Join Teach for America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana and the Rise Fellowship for a special professional development series exploring Teacher Leadership skills. Sessions will occur on March 5, April 2, and April 30 from 5:30-7:30 via zoom. Current educators can sign up for one or more seminars, and all attendees will receive a book of their choosing by Elena Aguilar. Reach out to Caryn Lichtenberg (caryn.lichtenberg@teachforamerica.org) with questions. Register here.
Aspire Fellowship Information 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. Fellows also receive a stipend, scholarships, and post-program career support. Prospective applicants and those looking to support teachers of color in their school or network are encouraged to join an Info Session on February 21st or April 3rd. Register here.
One Florida Alumni Fellowship
The One Florida Alumni Educator Fellowship is a two-year development program for courageous and talented alumni leaders in education who will change the trajectory for students in Florida.
The key program components include:
Cohort-based learning with educational leaders from across the country
Virtual and in-person professional development courses focused on building skill sets in leadership and instructional competenciesOpportunities to engage in curriculum development, facilitation and the coaching of TFA Florida corps members
Expert content designed and delivered specifically with educational leadership and mentorship in mind
Community with other like minded individuals committed to the betterment of Florida’s underserved schools
Career and Technical Education Equity Promising Practices
Nontraditonal careers are those that have less than 25% of any gender in the career pathway. Breaking stereotypes and biases within CTE career pathways encourages more students to follow their dreams regardless of their gender, race, religion, or socioeconomic status. Educators will learn strategies to break the myths of gender roles as they relate to careers and gender bias, as well as receive access to resources to promote career exploration as young as elementary school. Register here.
Rise Fellowship-DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 1/7!
CALLING ALL TEACHERS! We've extended the deadline to apply to the Rise: Teacher Leadership Fellowship until January 7th. This fellowship is designed to grow your skills in leading other educators in an antiracist way and will cover topics such as Leadership Identity, Building Adult Trust, and Conflict Resolution. Contact caryn.lichtenberg@teachforamerca.org with questions.
Wild Ride Ahead: A Workshop on District Finances Post ESSER
Edunomics Lab at Georgetown is offering Wild Ride Ahead: A Workshop on District Finances Post ESSER. The live virtual training is designed to get district leaders up to speed on what looks to be a very messy budget season. Participants will consider how to develop and weigh different options for budget cuts, invest in a way that is financially sustainable and transparent, enhance equity in the short and long term, and build trust by engaging communities in financial choices.
Sessions will take place virtually 12-2 pm ET on Dec 5-8; participants attend all four sessions. More info here. Please let me know if you have any questions about the workshop.
https://edunomicslab.org/wildride/
2023 Multilingual Illinois Statewide Conference in Conjunction with ESSA
The 2023 Multilingual IL Statewide Conference, in Conjunction with ESSA, returns as an in-person event this year on December 5-7, 2023, at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook, Illinois. Mark your calendars and check back here in the coming months for information about calls for proposals and more!
Registration for Multilingual Illinois 2023 costs $500 for a three-day pass (includes lunch each day) or $185 for a daily one-day rate (includes lunch that day). A virtual option will not be available.
Teachers for Social Justice - Chicago Curriculum Fair
Join us for the 2023 Teachers for Social Justice Curriculum Fair in Chicago
The TSJ curriculum fair brings teachers together for keynote speakers, workshops, curriculum sharing, and resources. It is an energizing experience that connects teachers with radical political education and each other - reaffirming a commitment to social justice teaching. The Curriculum Fair attracts roughly 1000 attendees, most of whom are practicing K-12 teachers.
This year's theme is Our Fight Is One: Dismantling U.S. Imperialism, Teaching for Solidarity
Join Kids First Chicago’s (K1C) Curriculum Design Team!
K1C, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), is establishing a team of current parents, teachers, and students to co-design and co-develop a series of family-friendly resources on Skyline, the district's universal PK-12th grade curriculum.
BACKGROUND In 2021, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) launched Skyline, the district’s first-ever universal PK-12 curriculum with digital resources across six content areas: English language arts, math, science, social science, and two world languages (Spanish and French). The goal behind Skyline is to engage all 322,000 CPS students with high-quality instructional resources.
WHY IT MATTERS CPS and K1C believe that a shared understanding of Skyline will foster strong partnerships between educators and families, which will help accelerate students’ learning and improve family-teacher collaboration.
Deloitte Courageous Principals training (open to Superintendents, Principals, and APs)
Teach For America will sponsor a limited number of alumni assistant principals, principals, and school systems leaders for the February and April 2024 sessions of The Deloitte Courageous Principals (CP) training programs (value of $750). Participants will be immersed in a series of learning experiences focused on enhancing the critical relationship building, communication, and influence skills of K-12 school leaders.
Past alumni attendees highly recommend this award-winning program. Apply today! The deadline is Friday, November 17. Questions about the sponsorship? Reach out to Phil Kang.
Program overview
Application
Phil Kang: phil.kang@teachforamerica.org
Rise Fellowship Opens!
Opportunity for Any Current or Aspiring Teacher Leaders!
The application for the Rise: Teacher Leadership Fellowship is now OPEN! The Rise fellowship consists of six seminars where current or aspiring teacher leaders learn and practice key skills for leading other educators and improving school outcomes. Apply here by 12/3. Contact caryn.lichtenberg@teachforamerica.org with questions.
Aspire Fellowship Information Session 3
Want to learn more about the Aspire Fellowship? Join an upcoming Information Session on December 6th, 2022, February 8th, 2022 or March 15th, 2023 from 5:00-6:00pm!
RSVP Here
Aspire Fellowship Information Session 2
Want to learn more about the Aspire Fellowship? Join an upcoming Information Session on December 6th, 2022, February 8th, 2022 or March 15th, 2023 from 5:00-6:00pm!
RSVP Here
Aspire Fellowship Information Session 1
Want to learn more about the Aspire Fellowship? Join an upcoming Information Session on December 6th, 2022, February 8th, 2022 or March 15th, 2023 from 5:00-6:00pm!
RSVP Here
Rise Fellowship Application Deadline
The Rise Fellowship application for 2022-2023 school year is now open! The deadline to apply is September 30, 2022. Click here to learn about more information on the fellowship and details on dates of the session.
Leaders of Color for Systems Change Application Deadline
The Leaders of Color for Systems Change fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of BIPOC system changers who are passionate about making education more equitable in the immediate future.
The application window for this fellowship ends August 15, 2022.
Leaders of Color for Systems Change Application Window Begins
The Leaders of Color for Systems Change fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of BIPOC system changers who are passionate about making education more equitable in the immediate future.
The application window for this fellowship opens July 15.
Aspire Fellowship Information Session
Attend the information session to learn more about the Aspire Fellowship.
Aspire Fellowship Information Session
Attend the information session to learn more about the Aspire Fellowship.
Teach Plus IL ECE Policy Fellowship Application Deadline
This policy fellowship is for all levels of ECE educators (birth-3rd grade) and allows participants to address policy issues by engaging directly with their local legislators and receive professional training. $1600 stipend. Apply here.
Aspire Fellowship Application Deadline
The Aspire Fellowship applications for 2022-2023 school year are now open! The application window will be open from April 8th - June 19th.
The Literacy Architect's LLC Professional Development Opportunities
Are you a K-9th grade teacher ready to join community-based, implementation-focused PD experience rooted in the science of reading? Come join one of our March series and explore how to support students who need decoding and fluency to become grade-level readers. For more information and to register click here.