The Bay Area is widely considered the entrepreneurial and innovation capital of the world. It is one of the most diverse and highly educated communities in America where residents think globally and act locally. Many of the region's innovations — from the iPhone to internet search engines to green living — influence the way our country and world operate.
| Quick Stats |
|---|
| Site Since: 1991 |
| Corps Size: 200 |
| Average yearly temperature: South Bay/Silicon Valley, 61.4°; East Bay, 57.4°; San Francisco, 56.8°. |
| Car: Access to car is essential |
Salary: See cost of living  |
Despite the incredible capacity and accomplishments of the community, we are not living up to our potential or to our ideals. Not all Bay Area residents are equipped to pursue their dreams or to participate equally in this community. A recent Stanford University report found that the State of California, where one of every eight children in America is educated, ranks the seventh lowest in the nation in mathematics, third in reading, and second in science — ahead of only Louisiana and Mississippi.
Yet, the cumulative success of Teach For America corps members, alumni, and other kindred spirits over the last 16 years in the Bay is clear. In the same district where just 34 percent of students reach proficiency in mathematics is a school with the same demographics where last year 93 percent of students did; another school in that district went from the lowest performing middle school in Silicon Valley to the second highest in just three years. The first school is led and primarily staffed by Teach For America alumni, and more than 50 percent of the staff at the second school are corps members and alumni. Across the bay in Oakland, Teach For America alumni are leading the design and execution of reform efforts that resulted in the largest Academic Performance Index (API) score increase of any urban district in California. The school that made the most progress, increasing 109 points on the 1000 point scale, is led and staffed by our alumni. It is becoming clearer that educational equity is within reach.
By 2010, Teach For America • Bay Area will grow to 400 corps members who will change the life prospects of nearly 34,000 students from Gilroy, San Jose, and East Palo Alto in the south, Oakland and Richmond in the east, and in the city of San Francisco. They will be joined by nearly 1,500 Teach For America alumni, of which 80 will lead schools.
With Gilroy 80 miles south of the city of San Francisco and Richmond 20 miles east - one of the most obvious factors in corps members’ choice of where to live is where they teach. Fortunately, with a year-round Mediterranean climate, an unparalleled landscape, and a plethora of unique and diverse communities, one can’t go wrong in the Bay Area.
Those teaching in San Jose, East Palo Alto, and Gilroy live in the sub-region referred to as the South Bay, more well-known as the Silicon Valley. This sub-region is anchored by San Jose, which is home to the largest Vietnamese population in America and includes well-known communities such as Mountain View and Palo Alto. The combination of the robust economy of Silicon Valley and an average of 300 days of sunshine attracts people from all over the word. From outdoor concerts, day trips to the beaches for surfing in Santa Cruz or and biking and hiking in the hills and Santa Cruz mountains, to locally owned coffee shops, ethnic restaurants from around the world, professional and Division I sports teams, and world-class museums, the diversity of activities to choose from matches that of its residents.
Corps members teaching to the east in Oakland and West Contra Costa typically reside in the East Bay. This sub-region is anchored by the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, best known for their progressive political and social discourse. The activist spirit and individualism that characterize this community are present today and influence much of the life of East Bay residents. From local live performances and hip-hop shows, open mic and slam poetry performances at coffee shops to outdoor flea markets, farmers' markets, and independent film festivals, the East Bay is brimming with activity. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy Oakland's Lake Merrit, the largest urban lake in America, or the hills near UC Berkeley, while sports fans have the Oakland A's, Warriors, and Raiders. The majority of corps members live in Lake Merrit and Rockridge in Oakland or neighboring Berkeley, both of which are near or part of the communities in which they teach.
In 2008, corps members will also teach in the San Francisco Unified School District. These corps members and others, depending on their proclivity for commuting and traffic, may also choose to live in the city of San Francisco. Known as the "capital" of the Bay Area, San Francisco has long been the cultural, financial, and urban center of the region. The second most densely populated city in the United States, San Francisco offers residents and visitors eclectic neighborhoods, internationally renowned cuisine, a thriving arts scene, and scenic hikes and drives — all within 49 square miles. There is always something to do in the city and often the city itself is an activity. Peruse the shops and cafes in the Haight, experience the dynamic amalgamation of Latino culture in the Mission, take a run through Golden Gate Park, or check out the galleries in modern, artsy SoMa. Whether corps member call it home or not, San Francisco is only a short drive or train ride away.
Life in the Bay Area would not be complete without mention of a few of the exhilarating places that are just a short drive away. To escape the hustle and bustle, corps members can easily get away to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Monterey and Big Sur, Point Reyes, and Napa and Sonoma.
The Bay Area spans a large geographic distance; consequently, the corps typically operates as distinct East Bay and South Bay corps but come together periodically for professional development and social events. To encourage collaboration and support, most corps members are placed at a school with other Teach For America corps members or alumni, and the regional program team actively engages corps members through professional development. Key support structures include quarterly differentiated workshops, semi-annual all-corps conferences, and an ongoing cycle of reflection, observation, and problem-solving designed to help corps members work most effectively and strategically toward the goals they’ve set for their students.
The nearly 1,000 Bay Area alumni also serve as valuable resources through their contributions to the vast and growing Teach For America community in the Bay Area. Alumni are currently working in different sectors all across the region including business, education, law, medicine, and policy. Corps members have connected with alumni in a variety of ways, such as informal career discussions, classrooms observations, and formal networking events.
Like the region in which they live, the Bay Area corps culture is characterized by an optimistic, entrepreneurial spirit; by taking personal responsibility for maximizing their impact as individual leaders and collectively as a social movement; by respect and humility for all those engaged in this work; and by a strong work ethic.
Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
