Almost everyone is surprised to learn about the size of Connecticut’s achievement gap, including lifetime citizens of Connecticut. In a state known for its educational strength and tremendous wealth the heartbreakingly low achievement of students in urban pockets of poverty is shocking. However, the conditions that make this achievement gap so embarrassing also make the prospect of eliminating it entirely feasible. The tangibility of seeing this state move from having the largest achievement gap in the nation to true educational equity, in a matter of years, not decades, fuels a growing movement of education reform and drives the work of a corps committed to being a part of that change.
| Quick Stats |
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| Site Since: 2006 |
| Corps Size: 166 |
| Average yearly temperature: 51.7 ° |
| Car: Access to car is essential |
Salary: See cost of living  |
Life in Connecticut offers corps members both the excitement and vibrancy of a metropolitan area and the distinct pleasures of small-town New England. Changing seasons, beautiful coastlines, rolling mountains, and expansive farmland make this a truly beautiful place to live. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s cities are bursting with diverse and perhaps surprising cultural opportunities. Both residents and visitors enjoy exceptional restaurants and unique coffee shops, with legendary pizza and hot java as particular specialties. Every week brings new options to enjoy theater, world-class museums, concerts, movies on the green, farmers-markets, athletic events, arts and music festivals, eclectic lecture series, and dance opportunities for all tastes. In addition, with New York City and Boston easily accessible by train, even more is just steps away.
The benefits of small-city living also include many opportunities to become deeply involved in our communities; corps members serve on district and city committees, join non-profit boards, participate in local politics and quickly become significant leaders in the reform movements in the region.
Teach For America currently places corps members in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford schools. Corps members have the opportunity to share their city preferences in a specific Connecticut placement preference survey after they are accepted to the corps and we do everything we can to honor interests. City assignments are usually confirmed by the middle of the summer and final school placements, contingent upon district need, are confirmed late in the summer.
With Connecticut’s major cities undergoing revitalization efforts over the past five years, corps members enjoy many housing options including renovated historical houses, converted industrial buildings, and newly constructed apartment complexes. Favorite neighborhoods include the West End in Hartford, East Rock, Wooster Square, and Westville in New Haven and Black Rock, the North End, and Downtown Bridgeport. Many corps members enjoy suburban living and find housing in West Hartford, Fairfield, Milford, Orange, Shelton, and Meriden.
Given the current opportunities and challenges in educational reform, being a part of the Connecticut education system right now is very special. The Teach For America • Connecticut corps, now in its third year of operation, is 166 strong, working in over 60 schools and reaching over 12,000 (out of approximately 120,000) students from low-income communities. The Teach For America • Connecticut corps is a on a mission to close the achievement gap by ensuring students achieve dramatic academic gains every year.
Being part of the Connecticut corps means being part of a team. Corps members work closely with each other, regional team members, and our growing alumni movement towards incredibly ambitious goals. The corps is an especially bonded group and the youth of the region affords corps members opportunities to shape corps culture, present and future, and assume positions of significant leadership in the movement in Connecticut and nationally.
Connecticut corps members come together often throughout the year for professional development opportunities, including monthly regional conferences, Learning Team sessions, need-based workshops, and biweekly support dinners for first year corps members during the first three months of the school year. Outside the structures of the regional program, corps members regularly plan together, share lesson plans and teaching strategies and, often living together, serve as each other’s primary source of support. Corps members also come together regularly for social events including happy hours, apple-picking, bowling leagues, holiday parties, hikes and bike rides, intramural sports, community service projects, and state explorations.
Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
