Introducing the Newest TFA Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana Alumni
On May 31, we welcomed our 2022 corps members into alumnihood. Our newest Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana alumni officially join over 3,300 other alumni leaders in our region and 70,000 alumni nationally, who are working in every corner of every community where positive change for kids is happening.
We celebrated at Morgan’s on Fulton in the West Loop where we heard some inspiring words from Executive Director Anajah Philogene, Managing Director of Leadership Development Whitney Knight, and graduating corps member Jeraniqua Martin. Whitney Knight reminded our newest alumni that they are part of a powerful TFA network that will give them a huge advantage moving forward, no matter what career path they follow. They will be forever connected to the educators with whom they did the corps but also the thousands of TFA alumni they have yet to meet. Whitney asked everyone to look around the room and take in the gift of community for a lifetime.
“You will be forever connected to the educators with whom you did the corps but also the thousands of TFA alumni you have yet to meet”
In 2022, when these corps members entered their classrooms for the first time, schools were just beginning to understand what it would take to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the devastating impact of the pandemic, over the two years these corps members were in their classrooms, research showed gains across several areas. In CPS, the graduation rate reached a record high of 84.0% in 2023—up from 41.8% in 2001. Black student scores in CPS grew even more than the district average in reading. District officials said their improvement meant they “emerged from the pandemic two-thirds of a year ahead of where they were in reading than before the pandemic.” There were also more CPS graduates enrolling in college and earning college or career credentials as high school students, while fewer students are dropping out. In Jeraniqua’s speech, she shared her pride in watching several of her fifth graders in North Chicago meet reading standards under her instruction.
There were several alumni in attendance to give our graduating second-year corps members a chance to connect and learn more about some of the fellowships and programs TFA has to offer its alumni. In the Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana region, for example, we offer the Aspire Fellowship, the Rise Fellowship, and the Leaders of Color for Systems Change Fellowship. Whether it is through career development, fellowships, or friendships, our newest alumni will connected for a lifetime, making a collective impact. Congratulations our newest alumni!
