Teach For America New York 35th Anniversary
Join us as we celebrate a 35-year commitment to finding and developing passionate leaders who transform education and expand opportunity for all children.
Celebrating 35 Years of Impact in New York
We've been serving young people across New York since our founding in 1990. Today, more than 7,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite tutors are playing a leading role in the state's movement for educational equity. Together with families, students, schools, and local organizations, we're helping to strengthen the teacher talent pipeline across the state, accelerate student learning, and meet critical needs for diverse talent in hard-to-staff areas. And we're not slowing down.
Our legacy is built on leadership - your leadership - and the unwavering belief in a new tomorrow when all students will have access to the opportunities and excellent education that they deserve.
Looking Back on 35 Years
Teach For America began in New York City in 1990 with a big vision: One day, all children will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education. Learn more about how TFA's community works together across all levels and sectors to create change.
Our Impact
Teach For America New York’s more than 7,000 corps members and alumni are among the countless educators, activists, parents, and community leaders who have pushed to raise the bar for educational excellence in our city, and remain committed to supporting the work of making educational equity a reality in New York.
Share Your Stories & Photos
Help us celebrate 35 years of mentors, friends, students, and community! Submit stories and photos from your time in the corps here.
Upcoming Events
Support Our Work Through Event Sponsorship
-
Learning From Leaders: A Conversation with Alumni Innovators and Disruptors
You're Invited: Thursday, April 3rd, 2025
The ServiceNow headquarters at Hudson Yards (50 Hudson Yards, 74th floor, New York, NY 10001)In our first Learning from Leaders: A Conversation with Alumni Disruptors & Innovators, hear from alumni who have introduced significant and positive change into the education landscape during Teach For America New York’s 35-year history. This inspiring showcase of long-term impact will provide guests with lessons, insights, and learnings from years of systems-level work and help you continue to create a better education for students in New York, and beyond.
Moderator: Natasha Alford (DC ’10), Senior Vice President, The Grio
Panelists:
- Dave Levin (Houston ’92), Co-Founder, KIPP & Co-Founder & Partner, Array Education
- Anu Malipatil (New York ’03), Executive Director, Overdeck Family Foundation
- De’Shawn Wright (New York ’98), CEO & Founder, Keystone Consulting US
- Mark Levine (New York '91), Manhattan Borough President
-
Alumni Happy Hours
You're Invited: April 10 - May 1, 2025
In-person • Location to follow!- Thursday, April 10: 2010s and 2020s Corps Years
- Wednesday, April 23: 2000s Corps Years
- Thursday, May 1: 1990s Corps Years
Is your corps the best corps? 😉 Don't wait for Alumni Homecoming to reconnect with your fellow alumni and flex your corps pride. Mark your calendars for upcoming happy hours dedicated to different corps years.
P.S. Attend a happy hour and be entered into a raffle to win a FREE ticket to this year's Annual Benefit Dinner!
-
Alumni Homecoming
You're Invited: Saturday, May 17, 2025
CUNY Graduate Center (365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016)Featuring Keynote Speaker: Angélica Infante-Green (New York '94), Rhode Island Commissioner of Education
We’re gathering alumni, partners, and corps members in New York for a day filled with networking, coalition-building, panels and workshops to strengthen our community and help inspire our next chapter of change. As we celebrate TFA NY’s 35th Anniversary, this year’s theme “Legacy & Leadership” celebrates those whose leadership changed New York’s education scene and continues to imagine what’s possible for our kids. We'll also be welcoming the next generation of alumni - the 2023 corps - at their Induction. You don’t want to miss this one.
-
Annual Benefit Dinner
You're Invited: Tuesday, June 10th, 2025
Ziegfeld Ballroom (141 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019)Join us in celebration of our network of leaders working every day to realize a future filled with possibility for all kids. We're honoring TFA’s Chief Executive Officer Elisa Villanueva Beard for her 25 years of impact in service of educational excellence for all children, from her time in the classroom as a 1998 Corps Member in Phoenix, through her leadership as CEO for the last 12 years.
Stories From Our Community
Connect on Social Media
