“Today’s youth seem to have more challenges and difficulties than ever before. Inner-city youth in Memphis face many challenges, including violence, poverty, and lack of education. The absences of a positive male role model and educator seem to be a missing piece in the lives of most inner-city youth. As a TFA educator, I help make a difference in the lives of so many in my school, community, and city.”
-THOMAS JENKINS
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 in which 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, Teach901 is delighted to introduce some of these bright new recruits and provide a little insight into their individual aspirations.
SAY HELLO TO THOMAS JENKINS
Thomas is a Memphis local who grew up experiencing the city’s struggle for equal education opportunities firsthand. As a child, he was impacted by the lack of ethnically African-American male teachers in his elementary school, and while it did not directly influence his early education, it was a cause of concern to him.
“Memphis is the second largest city in and its population is made up of more than 75% African-Americans. Also 45% of children in Memphis live below the poverty line, neighborhoods have homicide rates that are six times the national average, and youth are on average four years behind in school. These were the challenges I had to face and overcome as well,” says Jenkins. As someone who empathizes with the many struggles Memphis youth experience on a daily basis, he joined TFA to lead young men like him by inspiring them to achieve academically, professionally, and reach for the success they are capable of.
HOW HAS THE TEACH FOR AMERICA EXPERIENCE BEEN BENEFICIAL SO FAR?
“My time with Teach For America was one of the most impactful experiences of my professional journey. Serving in an under-resourced school allowed me to confront educational inequities head-on and develop a deeper commitment to social justice and community-based change. Through this experience, I honed critical skills in leadership, classroom management, and instructional design—all under high-pressure circumstances that demanded creativity, empathy, and resilience. Perhaps most importantly, TFA deepened my belief in the potential of every student, regardless of background. The relationships I built—with students, families, and fellow educators—continue to influence my approach to education and advocacy. I emerged from the corps not only as a stronger educator, but as a more thoughtful and mission-driven leader, committed to ensuring that all children receive the quality education they deserve.”
HOW DO YOU THINK THIS PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT YOUR LONG-TERM CAREER GOALS IN EDUCATION OR BEYOND?
“Teach For America provided me with an invaluable launchpad for a career centered on equity and literacy education. Immersed in a high-need classroom, I learned to craft meaningful, standards-aligned instruction that built fluency, comprehension, and confidence in diverse learners—often in environments where resources were limited but potential was limitless. This experience sharpened my instructional leadership and deepened my commitment to ensuring every student has access to high-quality, culturally responsive education. I developed a reflective, data-informed approach that guides my work today, particularly in designing lessons that meet rigorous standards like RF.3.4 and RL.3.5 while remaining deeply engaging. Long-term, TFA has positioned me to be more than just an educator—it’s helped shape me into an advocate for systemic change. Whether I continue in the classroom, transition to curriculum development, or move into policy or nonprofit leadership, the skills, insights, and relationships I built during my corps years will continue to fuel my work to close opportunity gaps and elevate literacy achievement.”
IF YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR STUDENTS WITH ONE LESSON TO CARRY FOR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“If I could leave students with one enduring lesson, it would be this: your voice matters, and your words have power.”
FUN FACT
Outside the classroom, Thomas is a full on fantasy-buff. A personal favorite of his is the classic Game of Thrones franchise, including the more recent House of the Dragon series.