-->

• Teach for America is a non-profit organization founded by Wendy Kopp that brings teachers to low-income neighborhoods.

• Teach for America: An idea

  Kopp proposed the idea of Teach for America in her undergraduate thesis when she was a senior at Princeton University. She felt that people in her generation wanted a way to assume responsibility that would make a difference in the world. She also felt that most top college graduates would pick teaching as an option over other ideas.

• Teach for America's launch

  Kopp, at 21-years-old, raised $2.5 million in startup funds. She hired a skeleton crew and launched a campaign. In Teach for America's first year 500 men and women began teaching in six different low-income neighborhoods throughout the United States. Since 1990 the program has grown to include 17,000 individuals. It is the nation's biggest provider of teachers for low-income communities.

• Fast Facts

  1. Founder: Wendy Kopp
  2. 21-year-old when she developed the idea
  3. Attended Princeton University
  4. Raised $2.5 million to start up Teach for America
  5. First began in 1990
  6. Started with 500 people but has grown to 17,000
  7. Originally helped six low-income neighborhoods
  8. Nation's largest provider of teachers for low-income areas

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Laura Bush | Jenna Bush | Read All About It | How to Become a Tutor

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page