Ohio
About Us
About Us
The Teach For America Ohio region launched in 2020. But Teach For America has been a presence in the region for far longer than that—our TFA Greater Cleveland and TFA Southwest Ohio regions have both been serving the children of Ohio since 2012.
In that time the two regions—now united as a single region, TFA Ohio—have built an impactful network of almost 1,200 corps members and alumni. You’ll find our alumni working in a variety of sectors to advance educational excellence for all children—as teachers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, consultants, lawyers, healthcare workers, and policy advocates.
But there is still so much to do to change the opportunity gap that exists between cities and suburbs in the region. We seek bold leaders and people with extraordinary talent to challenge the status quo and join us in creating system change.
A tight-knit community of around
70
corps members are teaching in our region this year.
We work alongside our neighbors in
5
communities: Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati in Ohio and Covington, Kentucky.
An expansive network of more than
1100
alumni live and work in our region.
Join Us
Living Here
The Birthplace of Aviation. The Mother of Presidents. The Buckeye State. The Heart of It All.
Through its history, Ohio has been home to innovators, risk-takers, thought leaders and change makers. From Cleveland to Cincinnati, Marion to Meigs, there are incredible, innovative things happening every day within Ohio's communities.
Within the state lines, Ohio contains multitudes. It has many urban cities alongside rural villages, cornfields that lead to Broadway stages, a lakefront and a river front. It experiences all four seasons in earnest with all the beauty and power that come with each of them. It has victorious sports teams and cursed legacies that rally the passions of fans across the state. It is the home of 8 presidents, countless critical inventions, over 20 astronauts and even Superman.
Clockwise from top left: Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky are just across the Ohio River from one another. Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland round out the five cities where our corps members teach.
Teacher Certification and Graduate School
Learn more about the process for becoming certified to teach in the Ohio region.
In order to qualify for the Ohio Resident Educator License, all corps members are required to:
- Provide two copies of their degree-conferred transcript from an accredited college or university
- Pay fee to the Ohio Department of Education for initial licensure ($80)
- Pass a FBI and BCI background check ($144)
- Complete Teach For America Institute Training
Certification test passage may be required prior to beginning the hiring process depending on which schools you interview with.
In order to qualify for the Kentucky temporary provisional certificate, all corps members are required to:
- Provide two copies of their degree-conferred transcript from an accredited college or university
- 2.75 GPA requirement
- Pass a FBI and state background check ($144)
- Complete Teach For America Institute Training
Certification test passage may be required prior to beginning the hiring process depending on which schools you interview with.
Earning a master’s degree is an option available to corps members, but it is not required. Our region offers two options.
University of Cincinnati Teacher’s College*
Teach For America partners locally with the University of Cincinnati Teacher’s College for an optional master’s degree program in the following disciples:
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational Leadership
- Literacy & Second Language Studies
- Special Education
Corps members and alumni of Ohio receive a discount on instructional fees and can complete the program in two years. You can apply AmeriCorps education grants to federal loans that you incur during the program.
*subject to change
Johns Hopkins University (Online)
We also partner virtually with Johns Hopkins University to provide corps members and alumni the opportunity to obtain a master’s degree in teaching. Cost is roughly $23,000 total over the course of the two years, and you can apply Americorps education grants to the cost. Learn more about the Johns Hopkins program.
The following programs can be completed in two years:
- Johns Hopkins Master of Science in Teaching
- University of Cincinnati programs in Curriculum & Instruction, Special Education, and Literacy & Second Language Studies.
The Educational Leadership track at the University of Cincinnati is two years, but you must be a second year teacher to enroll.
Get to Know Us
Isabelle Kalubi Harper - Cincinnati Alum
Isabelle Kalubi Harper - Cincinnati Alum
"I love my job because I love working with my students. As much as I enjoy being in the classroom, it's the interactions in the hallways, it's the hugs in the morning, because middle schoolers need love too, and that is something that's really really important to me."
Derrick Holifield - Cleveland Alum
Derrick Holifield - Cleveland Alum
"I can't think of one time where I woke up and said 'I don't want to go to work.'"
Alexandra Retodo - Columbus Corps Member
Alexandra Retodo - Columbus Corps Member
"My experience in TFA Ohio can be really characterized by the support and the community that I have here despite being far from home and despite being a first-year teacher."
BreAnn Hill - Dayton Corps Member
BreAnn Hill - Dayton Corps Member
"I find it an honor to be able to come back and serve the students who are sitting in the seats that I once sat in years ago."
Local Leadership
Jennifer Howard
Metro Atlanta '04
Executive Director
TFA Ohio
Jennifer Howard began her teaching career as a 2004 Teach For America corps member in Atlanta, GA. After her corps commitment, Jennifer first joined TFA staff in 2006 as a Recruitment Director where she led teacher recruitment efforts across the state of Ohio. Jennifer went on to teach at KIPP LEAD in Gary, IN before working in higher education at Northwestern University. Jennifer returned to staff at Teach For America in 2014 to lead the Greater Cleveland Development & Partnerships team. Jennifer served as Interim Executive Director for Southwest Ohio in 2020 prior to the merger of TFA’s two Ohio regions. Jennifer is a graduate of The Ohio State University. She received a Master of Education from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education. Originally from Chicago, Jennifer has lived in Cleveland since 2013.
Connect on Social Media
Support Our Work
Your generosity has allowed our region to grow and flourish, providing teachers to the school districts that most need their assistance, and training leaders who are passionate and driven to help affect our educational environment for the better.