Teach For America Miami-Dade

Who We Are

Since 2003, Teach For America Miami-Dade has partnered with schools and communities to grow a collective group of diverse leaders moving the needle toward educational equity. We believe that one day, all students across Miami-Dade will have access to an excellent education. To reach this vision, we find, develop, and train the most promising leaders to teach in Title I schools across Miami-Dade’s low-income communities. After their initial two-year commitment to the classroom, we support alumni through mission-aligned career paths in education and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate.

The Problem

We know potential is distributed equally, but opportunity is not. Education is one of the most powerful ways to disrupt the cycle of poverty. While we have seen pockets of progress across the state over the last decade, the data shows Miami still has work to do. Especially with the lingering effects of the pandemic, our community must do more to live up to the promise of providing every child an opportunity to attain an excellent education. To add to the student achievement challenges, Florida’s schools are experiencing record-high teacher shortages. As a result of the dwindling enrollment in traditional teacher preparation programs, our districts cannot keep pace with the number of experienced teachers leaving the field. This teacher shortfall is most acutely felt in low-income communities that have been historically marginalized. 

Our Approach

First, we find and match exceptional leaders who commit to providing small group instruction via our Ignite Tutoring Fellowship Program, teach for two years in our flagship Corps Program, or continue their commitment in our Alumni Educator Fellowship. Second, we develop our network to support students in driving toward positive outcomes while ensuring our leaders build the skills and mindsets to effect systems-level change. Third, we support our network of 70,000 fellows, corps members and alumni driving progress in communities as they remain lifelong change agents and advocates for educational excellence.

Our Network & Impact