Teach for America 2009 Houston Benefit Raises $675,000 - Kingwood

Teach for America’s 2009 Houston Benefit Dinner raised $675,000 to help fund 250 new teachers in the area this fall, setting a new record for the region’s largest corps.

Tonight’s event, held at Hilton Americas Houston, celebrated leadership in math and science and honored Ernest H. Cockrell and Dr. Reagan Flowers, both of whom clearly understand the contribution that excellent math and science teaching makes toward a quality education for all children and toward building a strong and diverse workforce and society.  

Mr. Cockrell’s leadership in engineering, as well as his work to support a mathematics education program called “Reasoning Mind,” has made a huge impact on Houston youth.  Dr. Flowers, meanwhile, has been a driving force behind programs to engage students in the concepts of communication, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
 
“I don’t think there is any question that we still have a lot of work to do to reach into those corners of America where the light of learning, and achievement, has yet to fully penetrate — but not only do we have to reach into these communities, we have to do so in ways that work, and make a difference, and change lives for the better,” said Marvin Odum, president of Shell Oil, TFA lead sponsor.  “That’s exactly what Teach for America does right here in Houston and in so many cities across America.”

This fall 250 new Teach for America’s corps members began teaching in Houston bringing the total to 450, with a record 40 percent teaching math and science at the middle and high school levels.  Houston’s new Fall 2009 teacher class are part of a national corps of 4,100, the largest incoming class in the organization’s 20 year history.

Beyond their impact in the classroom, Teach For America alumni are staying in Houston as teachers, principals, and leaders who continue to advocate for children and families in our lowest-income communities. Nearly 600 alumni call the area home, including Natasha Kamrani, a member of the Houston Independent School District school board. Twenty-five alumni are expected to be leading Houston schools next year, including Port Houston Elementary principal Reid Whitaker; and many more will be preparing to do so through Teach For America’s partnership with the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program.

Of the 14,400 Teach For America alumni across the United States, some 380 serve as school principals or superintendents, more than 500 work in government or policy, and more than 20 serve as elected officials.

“We’re inspired by the record number of outstanding recent graduates who are choosing to channel their talent and energy toward addressing the unacceptable disparities in educational outcomes that persist in our country”, said Wendy Kopp, Teach for America’s founder and chief executive officer.  “Our corps members and alumni, together with many other educators, are demonstrating every day that it is possible to ensure that all of our nation’s children have the opportunities they need to excel academically. “
 
About Teach For America

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for at least two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. In the 2008-09 school year, 6,200 corps members are teaching in over 1,600 schools in 29 regions across the country while more than 14,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity.

For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org <http://www.teachforamerica.org> .