“I hope to leave kids feeling confident, capable, and prepared to be the next generation of change makers and leaders in this city.”
-AJ OPPENHEIMER
What is Teach For America?
Teach for America is a nonprofit working to eliminate the educational partisanship plaguing our country by mentoring leaders and growing them into educational change-makers. Teach for America believes every child deserves to achieve, regardless of circumstance. To advance this objective, new corps members are given opportunities to teach up to two years in local, under-resourced public schools where they can help students to succeed.
In 2006, TFA established a branch in Memphis TN. Fueled by the mission of Martin Luther King Jr, Teach for America Memphis is combating academic inequality by recruiting talented educators and introducing them to a professional environment where they can develop skills for change in a city of great potential. In the past month alone, TFA Memphis has gained 35 new educators, all eager to foster an even playing-field for Memphis schools. Over the next few weeks, CL is delighted to introduce some of these bright new recruits and allow a little insight into their individual aspirations.
Say Hello to AJ Oppenheimer
AJ came from near and far to join TFA, having grown up in San Francisco and attended King’s College in London. During college, AJ participated in a life-changing volunteer experience in which he got to teach abroad at several high schools in Europe. The opportunity awakened his passion for education, and he realized it was something he wanted to do long after he graduated. He is looking forward to working with TFA this year and utilizing the experience to understand the barriers that different students face.
Why did you choose to join Teach For America?
“I wanted to teach in a way that would make a meaningful impact. TFA’s mission attracted me as exactly the kind of initiative that would allow me to do that.”
Why did you choose to come to Memphis specifically?
“I wanted to see a brand new part of the US and get a little out of my comfort zone. Memphis struck me as a particularly interesting city, so I decided to go for it.”
How has the Teach For America experience been beneficial so far?
“It’s taught me so much about how to be a great teacher and make sure all your kids succeed, it’s given me an amazing community in Memphis, and it’s given me hands-on experience in the classroom.”
Fun Fact
AJ is well-versed in travel and language! He can speak Spanish and French, as well as English.