Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge

Teach For America - Greater Baton Rouge is a proud AmeriCorps partner! We appreciate Volunteer Louisiana, Louisiana’s state service commission that supports AmeriCorps, sharing more about what it means to serve as an AmeriCorps and Teach For America corps member and welcoming our 2024 corps members to Greater Baton Rouge.

The 2024 Teach For America Corps is here!

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the beginning of their journey towards One Day in Greater Baton Rouge. A special thanks to our guest speakers: Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, Brandon Smith: Assistant Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Community Relations at LSU, TFA Board Chair & 2005 TFA alum, and Kylie Altier: 2024 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year and 2013 TFA alumna, for sharing their journeys and welcoming our new corps members to Greater Baton Rouge.

We appreciate the sponsorship of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana in supporting the 2024 Corps Welcome Dinner and Pre-Service Training.

Teach For America has launched the 2024-2025 Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA)! Congratulations to Marcie, Natasha ('14), and Samantha ('11) on their acceptance to the fellowship.

The Rural School Leadership Academy is a yearlong fellowship where fellows develop the knowledge and skills necessary for school leadership roles while building a powerful network of aspiring school leaders in rural communities.

Learn more about RSLA here: https://www.teachforamerica.org/life-as-an-alum/alumni-resources/rural-school-leaders-academy

Thank you to First Horizon Bank for their donation to Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge to ensure we can recruit and develop leaders for Greater Baton Rouge classrooms. We appreciate your support, First Horizon!

"For 160 years we have strengthened communities by collaborating with non-profits, community development leaders and partners. We believe in the mission of Teach for America and are proud to invest in educating and developing the next generation of leaders." - John Everett, Baton Rouge Market President, First Horizon

Thank you to Air Products for donating to Teach For America in Greater Baton Rouge. We are so thankful for their support, which is dedicated to our focus on recruiting and supporting talented leaders for Donaldsonville schools.

"Learning about science and technology in the classroom can help students at a young age begin a lifelong interest in these subjects, and we’re proud to support Teach For America’s STEM efforts in Donaldsonville," said Danna LeBlanc, Commercial Executive Director of Air Products' Louisiana Clean Energy Complex.

Allie Diefendorf, Chief of Programs at Baton Rouge Youth Coalition and 2017 TFA alumna, shares about her leadership journey and the role BRYC plays in supporting students through and beyond college.

Read more about Allie, the impact BRYC is having, and how to get involved here:

Baton Rouge Youth Coalition goes beyond K-12, mentoring students through college, careers During her time at Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, Allie Diefendorf has served in a number of roles. She started part-time in fall 2019 and transitioned to full-time as the director

🎉 The 2024 Greater Baton Rouge Corps begins Pre-Service today! 🎉

Join us in welcoming them to Teach For America! We can’t wait to see what these changemakers will accomplish with students in classrooms across Greater Baton Rouge.

Thank you to Louisiana Clean Energy Complex for their donation to Teach For America in Greater Baton Rouge. This support is dedicated to our focus on recruiting and supporting talented leaders for Donaldsonville schools.

Learning about science and technology in the classroom can help students at a young age begin a lifelong interest in these subjects, and we’re proud to support Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge’s STEM efforts in Donaldsonville through this $15,000 donation to the organization.

When operational in nearby Darrow, our new clean hydrogen production facility will create 170 jobs with good-paying salaries for decades to come, which is why we want to help plant the seeds of science education in the community.

Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wJQSa

“You can see how this program can work equally in both urban and rural settings,” said Liz Cohen, policy director at FutureEd and the report’s author. “College students, it turns out, can be very effective tutors.”

She added: “They can build real relationships with students, even over a virtual connection.”

This spotlight on Teach For America's Ignite Fellowship in Greater Baton Rouge speaks to our Ignite Fellows' (college students) impact with Kenilworth Science and Technology students and across five other partner campuses this school year.

Can a college student in Ohio tutor first graders in Louisiana? This program makes it possible. More than two dozen headphone-clad first graders at Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School sat quietly at their desks on a recent afternoon, listening with rapt attention as their instructors

We are continuing to celebrate the 2024 recipients of the annual Cordell Haymon Teaching Excellence Award! Kendrick Henson is the 2024 Corps Member Award Finalist. Kendrick teaches at IDEA UP and is a 2022 TFA AmeriCorps corps member. Congratulations, Kendrick! 🏆

The Haymon Award honors the critical contribution that TFA alumni teachers make to the movement for educational equity through providing students with life-changing educational opportunities. The award highlights those accomplishing this at the highest level.

We are thankful for Mr. Haymon’s generosity and shared desire to celebrate the impact TFA educators have in the classroom.

We are continuing to celebrate the 2024 recipients of the annual Cordell Haymon Teaching Excellence Award! Re*****on Gillis is the 2024 Corps Member Award Recipient. Re*****on teaches at Lowery Elementary School and is a 2022 TFA AmeriCorps corps member. Congratulations, Re*****on! 🏆

The Haymon Award honors the critical contribution that TFA alumni teachers make to the movement for educational equity through providing students with life-changing educational opportunities. The award highlights those accomplishing this at the highest level.

We are thankful for Mr. Haymon’s generosity and shared desire to celebrate the impact TFA educators have in the classroom.

Join us in celebrating the 2024 recipients of the annual Cordell Haymon Teaching Excellence Award! Gelisa Patin is the 2024 Alumni Finalist. Gelisa teaches at Plaquemine Senior High School and is a 2018 TFA alumna. Congratulations, Gelisa! 🌟

The Haymon Award honors the critical contribution that TFA alumni teachers make to the movement for educational equity through providing students with life-changing educational opportunities. The award highlights those accomplishing this at the highest level.

We are thankful for Mr. Haymon's generosity and shared desire to celebrate the impact TFA educators have in the classroom.

Join us in celebrating the 2024 recipients of the annual Cordell Haymon Teaching Excellence Award! Danielle Wilson is the 2024 Alumni Recipient. Danielle teaches at Kenilworth ST and is a 2019 TFA alumna. Congratulations, Danielle! 🎉

The Haymon Award honors the critical contribution that TFA alumni teachers make to the movement for educational equity through providing students with life-changing educational opportunities. The award highlights those accomplishing this at the highest level.

We are thankful for Mr. Haymon's generosity and shared desire to celebrate the impact TFA educators have in the classroom.

We are proud to be Volunteer Louisiana partners. Teach For America AmeriCorps members serve in classrooms across Louisiana and nationwide due to the support of AmeriCorps and Volunteer Louisiana.

“Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. proudly celebrates the dedication and passion of educators in Greater Baton Rouge and their tireless efforts in shaping the minds and future of our community. Thank you for inspiring and empowering students every day.”



Thanks to donors like Coca-Cola UNITED, Teach For America teachers will receive gifts throughout the week! Thanks, Coca-Cola UNITED!

Teach For America and PSC Group employees showcased the importance of literacy with students at Scotlandville Middle Magnet (SPEMA) yesterday during D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) hour. We appreciate the work of the PSC Group's Helping Hands Foundation, which made this possible, and the leadership of Scotlandville Middle Magnet for bringing this opportunity together for students.

Thank you, PSC Helping Hands Foundation, for giving every student a copy of a summer reading book. Teach For America appreciates your partnership and focus on literacy!

Thanks to donors like Hancock Whitney, Teach For America educators will receive special gifts throughout Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you, Hancock Whitney!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Lowery Elementary School for STEM Demonstration Day! 🚀🔬 Students in grades 3-5 had a blast exploring STEM careers with demonstrations from local organizations like Air Products, BASF, CF Industries, Entergy Louisiana, Hancock Whitney, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Shell, and Turner Industries. Teach For America is grateful to Capital Area United Way, in partnership with Ascension Vision Council, for the grant supporting this event.

Together, we're inspiring the next generation of innovators!

"Subaru of Baton Rouge appreciates the hard work, commitment, and dedication of Teach for America educators. You are an important part of our future.”

Thanks to donors like Subaru, our teachers will receive special gifts
throughout the week! Thank you, Subaru of Baton Rouge!

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! At Teach For America, we know that excellent teachers can change lives. More than 100 TFA educators in classrooms across Greater Baton Rouge are impacting their students’ lives every day.

“As education designers, Grace Hebert Curtis Architects is a vested partner in our local schools and believes strong educators can help shape our community. We are so thankful to the educators that make a difference every day in the lives of students creating the next generation of leaders in Greater Baton Rouge.”

Thanks to donors like Grace Hebert Curtis Architects, our teachers will receive special gifts throughout the week! Thanks, Grace Hebert Curtis Architects!

“More than a dozen demonstrations have been slated, including from Air Products, BASF, CF Industries, Entergy, Hancock Whitney, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Shell and Turner Industries.”

We thank Capital Area United Way for the grant that brought STEM Day to Lowery Elementary School school. We can’t wait for next Wednesday! 🔬🧪

Teach for America Greater Baton Rouge's STEM demonstration day set for May 8 at Lowery Elementary School Teach for America Greater Baton Rouge has scheduled May 8 at STEM Demonstration Day at Lowery Elementary School in Donaldsonville as a way to bring together local industry partners to showcase STEM careers to local students.

Baton Rouge Area Foundation's Currents Magazine features Kylie Altier, TFA alumna and Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, and Teach For America's impact in: "Lessons for Progress: Meet the change agents reshaping education in South Louisiana" on pages 50-55:

Currents Q1 2024 Currents_2024_web…

The 74Million spotlights lessons from high-impact (dosage) tutoring programs, including insights from Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge’s Ignite Fellowship at Jackson Elementary, and the incredible leaders who ensure Ignite makes an impact with students.

More than 210 Teach For America Ignite fellows will tutor K-3 students in literacy throughout Greater Baton Rouge in the 2024-2025 school year.

https://www.the74million.org/article/leadership-is-key-autonomy-matters-lessons-in-why-tutoring-programs-work/?fbclid=IwAR3C99xNHHqFtKJqb88UW7T4gVXJjnBOo-JdNEXex06CbigewjI9_l3UT5M_aem_ATbZYNvUhjakxaCe7-8AtRVwec22bm1oNcmhs--3ttqVEKJNYUM5amDCmHN1JERCWCQ

Leadership Is Key, Autonomy Matters: Lessons in Why Tutoring Programs Work Cohen: Study from Louisiana, Texas and New York finds not all tutoring is equal, relationships motivate students, federal funding is needed.

We are proud AmeriCorps partners. Louisiana schools and communities are full of incredible AmeriCorps members who are supported by Volunteer Louisiana, including Teach For America corps members. Check out the op-ed authored by our Louisiana Executive Directors.

"Across Louisiana, Teach For America’s network of 600 teachers and district leaders have been working with local students, families and communities in New Orleans and Baton Rouge for over 30 years to increase learning and opportunities for Louisiana’s students.

Teach For America calls for a renewed investment in AmeriCorps, which, for three decades, has brought more than one million people together in service, with nearly 50,000 individuals serving in 10,000 K-12 schools. Teach For America teachers, known as corps members, are also AmeriCorps members."

Letters: Investing in AmeriCorps is investing in Louisiana's future Across Louisiana, Teach For America’s network of 600 teachers and district leaders have been working with local students, families and communities in New Orleans and Baton Rouge for over 30

Thank you to State Representative Barbara Reich Freiberg for drafting House Resolution No. 55 that recognizes Teach For America’s efforts to address educational inequity. We appreciate your support and ongoing commitment to education, Representative Freiberg!

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation recently honored Cordell Haymon, Past Board Chair, a current member of our Board of Directors, and longtime champion of Teach For America in Greater Baton Rouge, with the 7th annual Marcia Kaplan Kantrow Baton Rouge Visionary Award. We congratulate Mr. Haymon on this recognition and are grateful for his ongoing commitment to improving Baton Rouge.

2024 Marcia Kaplan Kantrow Baton Rouge Visionary Award On March 20, 2024 the Baton Rouge Area Foundation honored Cordell Haymon with the Marcia Kaplan Kantrow Baton Rouge Visionary Award.

Happy ! We're proud to celebrate AmeriCorps Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge corps members and alumni. Thank you to Kenilworth Science and Technology Academy team for spotlighting AmeriCorps Teach For America corps members and alumni at their schools this morning with the Volunteer Louisiana team!

Mr. Dillard is a TFA AmeriCorps alum educator in his sixth year of teaching. During this , we celebrate his contributions and the impact of all Teach For America AmeriCorps members and alumni.

“As a male educator, I recognize the importance of my presence in the classroom. I understand that my role extends beyond just teaching lessons; I serve as a positive role model for all students. I am proud of the remarkable progress my students have made. At the beginning of the year, 80% of my students were significantly below their expected grade levels; by the midpoint assessment in January, 80% were at or above grade level reading standards.”

Thank you to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation for inviting us to share more about the Ignite Fellowship and its focus on student well-being and learning outcomes during their Baton Rouge Partner Convening yesterday. Thank you to Chloe Wiley and Michael Tipton for designing a productive day of connection and learning.

Applications for the Ignite Fellowship are open until April 24th. Share with a college student in your network: https://lnkd.in/gAAHzhfW

⭐️ Applications due April 3 ⭐️

The Cordell Haymon Teaching Excellence Award celebrates alumni teachers and one second-year corps member who exemplify excellence in the classroom and the core values of Teach For America. This award recognizes the critical contribution teachers make to the movement for educational equity though providing students with life-changing educational opportunities and highlights those accomplishing this as the highest level.

Please find the application and more details here: https://bit.ly/49YeEiO