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
This year, a corps of 170 of the nation’s most promising future leaders are teaching in our city’s lowest-income classrooms as a part of Teach For America • Rio Grande Valley. They are working to ensure their students have the educational opportunities they deserve. Our alumni are a leadership force, working from within education and every professional sector to effect broader change. Together they are helping us make educational equity a reality in the Rio Grande Valley. Learn about living and teaching in the Rio Grande Valley.
 |
Press | |
Corps Impact | |
Alumni Impact | |
Financial Sustainability | |
Regional Supporters | |
Contact Us | |
Executive Director |
Recent press coverage
During the 2007-08 school year, 165 corps members are directly impacting the lives of more than 30,000 students in the Rio Grande Valley. Caleb Swaringen is one example of the tremendous difference our corps members are making.
|
Caleb Swaringen (Corps '06)
|
Caleb teaches sixth grade reading at Kennedy Elementary School in Mercedes, Texas. Upon entering his classroom, he found students with limited proficiency in English and reading levels ranging from two to six years below grade level. Undeterred, Caleb set an ambitious goal to move his students forward two years in reading over the course of a single year. He worked relentlessly, employing skits, chants, songs, and creative lessons to inspire his students and help them to achieve significant academic progress. By the end of the year, Caleb’s class attained an average of over two and a half years growth in reading in English, and 66 percent passed the state test in English for the first time. He is now more committed than ever to remaining in education.
Rio Grande Valley: Our Impact on Students and Schools Today
| School Year | Corps Members | Students Reached |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 165 | 14,025 |
| 2008-09 | 183* | 15,555* |
| 2009-10 | 195* | 16,575* |
| 2010-11 | 205* | 17.425* |
* projected |
||
Principal Satisfaction
*"Teach For America 2007 National Principal Survey,” Policy Studies Associates, July 2007.
Impact on Student
Achievement
According to a highly regarded study by Mathematica Policy Research, corps members outpaced fully certified and veteran teachers in their schools in moving their students ahead academically. Read national results.
Student Profile
Rio Grande Valley: Corps Member Placement
| Assignment | # of Corps Members | % of Corps |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 22 | 12.9% |
| Science | 33 | 19.4% |
| Special Education | 14 | 18.2% |
| Social Studies | 31 | 18.2% |
| English | 48 | 28.2% |
| Elementary | 22 | 12.9% |
| Total | 170 | 100% |
*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100 percent.
Characteristics of the 2007 Corps
| Corps Profile | Top alma maters by market share* |
|---|---|
| Average GPA: 3.6 | Duke University, Spelman College, University of Chicago: 10% |
| Average SAT: 1321 | University of Notre Dame, Rhodes College: 9% |
| Held leadership
roles on campus: 95% |
Princeton University, Rice University 7% |
| People of color: 28% | Georgetown University, Stanford: 6% |
*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.
Jeremy Beard (Los Angeles '95) |
Jeremy Beard taught 5th grade ESL/Inclusion in Long Beach, California. After four years in the classroom, he became a program director for Teach For America • Baltimore and designed professional development that led to increased student achievement. Jeremy later moved to IDEA Academy in Donna, where his students averaged a 95 percent passing rate in reading and writing over two years and where he was named Teacher of the Year. He has since received his M.Ed. from Columbia Teachers College and is currently the principal at IDEA College Preparatory, which in 2005, topped all Rio Grande Valley middle and high schools in overall state-assessment passage rates.
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 |
||
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 was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico and attended Washington University in St. Louis. He graduated summa cum laude from the program in Social Thought and Analysis. Robert was a 2003 corps member in the Rio Grande Valley. He joined Rio Grande Valley regional staff in 2006 as manager of teacher development and district strategy, leading regional professional development, matriculation, school district relationships, and regional summer programming. During his time in the role, he yielded a near-80 percent matriculation rate and secured “recommendations for hire” for 100 percent of corps members by the first day of school. During the 2006-07 school year, he supported 20 corps members as a program director, leading a large number of his corps members to achieve significant or solid gains with their students.
back to top
History
Regions
Corps and Alumni