The caliber of teachers we get from the Teach For America program continues to impress our district. These individuals are motivated, dedicated, and focused. This has led them to make a significant impact on our students' achievement. Their strong sense of compassion and sincerity in wanting to serve our children and community speaks volumes with each corps member I meet.
- Jesus O. Guerra, Jr., Roma Independent School District Superintendent
Teach For America • Rio Grande Valley is playing a critical role in improving schools and communities. This year, a corps of more than 170 of the nation’s top recent college graduates is working in underserved schools across the Rio Grande Valley to ensure that students facing the challenges of poverty are given the educational opportunities they deserve. Our alumni are leaders in the classroom, in education more broadly, and across all sectors. Together, they are making educational equity a reality in the Rio Grande Valley. Learn about living and teaching in the Rio Grande Valley.
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Executive Director |
Recent press coverage
During the 2008-09 school year, more than 170 corps members are directly impacting the lives of more than 15,000 students in the Rio Grande Valley. Carly Alford is one example of the tremendous difference our corps members are making.
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Carly Alford (Rio Grande Valley Corps '07)
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Carly Alford set an ambitious goal to close the gap between her students and the average Texas students not eligible for free or reduced meals. At the beginning of the year, her fifth graders struggled to master math and science skills from previous grades. Carly refused to allow her students to fall further behind; she attended professional development seminars, reflected on her students’ progress, and sought ways to increase her effectiveness. By year’s end, Carly’s students were outperforming the Texas state average in both math and science and had closed the academic achievement gap with students growing up in higher-income communities by 80 percent. Approximately 32 percent of Rio Grande Valley corps members are teaching math and science, working relentlessly like Carly to ensure their students excel.
Principal Satisfaction
*"Teach For America 2007 National Principal Survey,” Policy Studies Associates, July 2007.
Impact on Student
Achievement
A growing body of research shows that corps members have a positive impact on their students' achievement. Read more about our impact.
Student Profile
*Percentages vary depending on school district
Rio Grande Valley: Corps Member Placement
| Assignment | % of Corps* |
|---|---|
| Pre-K, Kindergarten | 1% |
| Elementary School, Lower (1-2) | 2% |
| Elementary School, Upper (3-5) | 21% |
| Secondary Math | 10% |
| Secondary English | 21% |
| Secondary Science | 25% |
| Secondary Social Studies | 20% |
| Secondary Other | 1% |
| Bilingual | 4% |
| Special Education | 7% |
*Percentages are rounded and do not add up to 100 percent; corps members who teach bilingual, ESL, or special education are also accounted for in the grade-level/subject placement percentages
Characteristics of the 2008 Corps
| Corps Profile | Top alma maters by market share* |
|---|---|
| Average GPA: 3.6 | Spelman College: 16% |
| Average SAT: 1320 | Morehouse College, Williams College, Yale University: 11% |
| Held leadership
roles on campus: 95% |
Duke University, Georgetown University, University of Chicago, Wake Forest University, Wesleyan University: 10% |
| People of color: 29% | Amherst College, Harvard University, Haverford University, Notre Dame University, Princeton University, Rice University: 9% |
*Percentage of senior classes who applied to Teach For America
Fostering Alumni Leadership for Systemic Change
As the number of corps members grows, so does our alumni base. By 2010, we will have over 1,000 Teach For America • Rio Grande Valley alumni pursuing professional careers and impacting educational reform from every sector.
JoAnn Gonzales (Rio Grande Valley Corps '97) |
Tom Torkelson (Rio Grande Valley Corps '97) |
Leonore Tyler (Rio Grande Valley Corps '93) |
JoAnn Gonzales, Tom Torkelson, and Leonore Tyler are three of nine RGV alumni furthering our mission as school leaders. Leonore is the founding principal of the Career, College, and Technology Academy in PSJA ISD, which supports students who have not graduated from high school due to failed classes or exit examinations. Since the school’s founding in fall 2007, more than 100 students have graduated, changing their life prospects. In 1998, Tom and JoAnn cofounded the IDEA Academy in Donna, TX. IDEA has expanded into a network of eight high-performing charter schools, preparing students from underserved communities for success. One hundred percent of the first graduating class is currently enrolled in a four-year college or university.
Growing Our Impact: Funding Needs 2007-2011
Each additional recruit is another dedicated teacher for children growing up in low-income communities in the Rio Grande Valley, and another talented leader with the insight and commitment necessary to sustain the reform efforts underway, which is critical to the ongoing vitality of our region.
| School Year | Corps Size | Revenue Needs |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 165 | $2.2 million |
| 2008-09 | 183* | $3.1 million* |
| 2009-10 | 195* | $3.4 million* |
| 2010-11 | 205* | $3.5 million* |
* projected |
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We are grateful to have many supporters who generously contribute to our movement in the Rio Grande Valley. The foundations, corporations and individuals listed below have made it possible for Teach For America to continue to recruit, select, train, and support teachers who are working to eliminate educational inequity in our city.
| Advisory Board |
|---|
| John Herrera (Chairman) General Manager Magic Valley Electric Coop |
| Tony Aguirre Vice-President Broadway Hardware |
| Steve Crain Attorney Atlas & Hall, LLP |
| Irv Downing President Chase Bank |
| David Guerra President and CEO International Bank of Commerce |
| Dr. Sylvia Hatton Former Executive Director Region One ESC |
| Byron Lewis Owner and President Edwards Abstract & Title Co. |
| Romeo Lopez Advisor Texas State Bank |
| David Merrill Vice-President, Investments Wachovia Securities, LLC |
| Nick Serafy Chief Executive Officer Serafy Laboratories |
To support Teach For America • Rio Grande Valley with a gift or to request additional information about our impact or finances, please contact:
Teach For America • Rio Grande Valley
Robert Carreon, Executive Director
Brett Beach-Kimball, Development Manager
1006 South 10th Street, Suite C
McAllen, TX 78501
p 956-630-6781, f 956-682-7619
robert.carreon@teachforamerica.org
brett.beach-kimball@teachforamerica.org
Robert Carreon leads Teach For America • Rio Grande Valley and its 183 corps members, who collectively reach more than 15,000 students per year. Robert joined Teach for America’s regional staff in 2006 as manager of teacher development and district strategy, where he achieved a matriculation rate of nearly 80 percent and secured positions for 100 percent of corps members by the opening day of school. During the 2006-07 school year, he served as a program director in the Rio Grande Valley where he also supported the growth and development of 20 corps members. Robert taught 10th grade world history as a 2003 Rio Grande Valley corps member, during which time he developed a 10th grade world history curriculum for the La Joya Independent School District. Robert is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.
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