Teach for India

Teach For India The Asia Society Conference March 26, 2008

Teach For India (TFI) TFI is a national program designed to narrow the achievement gap by recruiting the best and brightest college graduates and having them commit two years to teaching in some of India’s most under-privileged schools. In the short term, TFI fellows work tirelessly and strategically to improve the educational outcomes of their students, all the while, building unique leadership, life and management skills. In the long run, TFI alumni--informed by their experiences and insights--create a powerful leadership force, working from inside and outside of education to effect the fundamental, long-term changes necessary to realize educational opportunity for all.

Teach For India (cont.) Background on TFI TFI is based on the Teach For America model. Teach For America, in partnership with Teach First, an adaptation of Teach For America in the U.K., has launched a new organization called Teach For All. Teach For All will support TFI and other local initiatives that are pursuing the development of the Teach For America model locally. TFI, however, will be an independent, locally owned and locally managed entity. The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation has already committed some funding support for TFI.

Social impact of Teach For America/Teach First In the short run , Teach For America and Teach First provide another source of committed teachers who expand the educational opportunities available to students in economically disadvantaged areas. More than 5,000 Teach For America corps members are currently teaching in 26 urban and rural regions in the U.S., while Teach First currently fields more than 500 fellows in London, Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham, all of whom will go above and beyond traditional expectations to move their students forward. A 2001 independent study by Mathematica Policy Research provides evidence that Teach For America corps members make greater gains in reading and significantly greater gains in math than would typically be expected in a year. In 2006, an independent London Metropolitan University report claimed that “Teach First teachers have a positive impact, delivering high quality lessons, undertaking extra-curricular activities and in some cases reinvigorating other staff.” In the long run , Teach For America and Teach First build a leadership force of alumni who, with conviction and insight from their teaching experience, work for the fundamental, long-term changes necessary to ultimately realize educational opportunity for all. More than 60% of the 12,000 Teach For America alumni are still working full-time in education, where they are pioneering innovative education reform initiatives, winning the highest accolades teachers can win (e.g., the 2007 and 2008 Arizona Teachers of the Year are alumni, as is the 2006 National Teacher of the Year), running many of the nation’s highest-performing schools serving low-income communities as principals, and assuming significant district leadership roles. At the same time, other alumni are working from other sectors to impact this issue – through authoring books, advising senators, governors, and mayors on education policy, and marshalling the resources of corporations, law firms, and medical schools in this direction. Similarly, about half of the Teach First alumni continue teaching in challenging urban British schools, with most of them quickly moving into leadership positions. After only three cohorts, over 100 of the Teach First alumni are already in middle leadership roles (heads of year or department) and 8 are in senior leadership roles (assistant head teachers). Other alumni continue to stay involved with the Teach First mission through schemes such as mentoring, school governors placements, or volunteering at their old school.

Recognition/Awards for the Existing Models Teach For America and Teach First are ranked #10 and #15 respectively on Business Week’s list of Best Places to Launch a Career The Economist has highlighted Teach For America’s contributions to ending educational inequity Teach First's Chief Executive has won the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007(presented by Ernst and Young) Teach For America has won the Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capitalist Award The Princeton Review recommends Teach For America to graduates seeking the best entry-level jobs Teach For America has been named as one of America's most innovative nonprofits Charity Navigator gives Teach For America its highest rating for sound fiscal management Teach First is ranked as the 14th most prestigious employer in the U.K. in the Times annual survey of graduate employers

Why has Teach For America had such a high impact on education? Teach For America adheres to a well-researched, well-established and well-executed operational model, one that will serve as the basis of TFI’s foundation. This model’s core programmatic principles are: Talent Sourcing Talent Development Talent Placement Alumni Support Measurable Impact

CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE MODEL THAT UNDERPIN ALL MEMBERS OF THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION INCLUDING TFI Talent sourcing Recruit as many of the highest-quality college graduates as possible who demonstrate core competencies to drive impact on student achievement and become long-term leaders able to effect systemic change Talent development Provide fellows with training and professional development needed to impact student achievement Talent placement Place fellows for a minimum of 2 years in Full-time teaching positions with clear accountability for their classrooms, In areas with educational inequality where impact on student achievement will be maximized Measurable Impact Drive measurable short-term impact on student achievement and long-term development of leaders who will help eliminate educational inequality Alumni support Provide support and development that streamlines and clarifies path to leadership in order to eliminate educational inequality Principle 1 2 3 4 5

Talent Sourcing Recruit the highest quality college graduates who demonstrate core competencies to drive impact on student achievement and become long-term leaders able to effect systemic change (from both inside and outside of the classroom) TFI will have a rigorous selection process and will screen applicants based on criteria that, among other things, tests: Achievement (professional/academic, personal, extra-curricular) Problem-solving ability (critical thinking skills, resourcefulness) Ability to influence and motivate others (effective and engaging communicator, good listener, past leadership experience) Willingness to learn and be flexible (ability to be thoughtful, reflective and self-critical) Commitment to TFI’s mission and core values (belief in mission, sense of social responsibility)

Talent Development Provide fellows with the training and professional development needed to impact student achievement In addition to being trained in classroom management, curriculum development and effective pedagogy, TFI fellows will receive training in the Teaching as Leadership (TAL) rubric, which operates on the simple premise that good teachers should function as effective leaders would in any context. The components of TAL are: Setting the vision Investing students and their families in working hard toward the vision Purposeful planning and execution Working relentlessly and improving continuously Making success sustainable

Talent Placement Place fellows for a minimum of 2 years in full-time teaching positions with clear accountability for their classrooms, in areas where impact on student achievement will be maximized Fellows’ every action is purposeful and strategically taken to improve students’ learning outcomes. TFI staff provide fellows with feedback/resources on a regular basis by conducting site visits and on-going trainings.  In its launch year, TFI seeks to place ~150-200 fellows in at least 2 regions. By its fifth year, TFI will aim to place ~2000 fellows in eight metropolitan cities and rural areas in surrounding 4-5 districts. Fellows will be placed in low-income primary and upper primary, English and regional medium schools (mainly government and some low-end private schools)

Alumni Support Provide support and development that streamlines and clarifies path to leadership in order to eliminate educational inequality TFI alumni channel this defining two-year experience into a life dedicated to addressing the factors that result in educational disparities. TFI will offer the following services/benefits to its alumni to help them become effective leaders and advocates for change: Career services Graduate school partnerships Employer partnerships Power of the TFI (and Teach For All) network

Measurable Impact Drive measurable short-term impact on student achievement and long-term development of leaders who will help eliminate educational inequity TFI’s organisational performance will be tracked along the following key performance indicators: TFI impact on students TFI impact on fellows TFI impact through alumni Organisational growth/development TFI economics Marketing/Brand value

What does TFI need? Ideas An outstanding team The support, endorsement and partnership of Indian industry in recruiting the best and the brightest Government support in placing fellows in schools as teachers Financial support

Action items for CII so that it can assist TFI in realizing its mission: Endorse TFI by becoming our visible partner and supporting us in our marketing efforts (e.g. promote TFI during recruitment campaigns). Provide TFI at least one of the most outstanding entry-level employees from your organization who can help TFI with recruitment efforts at their Alma mater. Give new hires an option to defer their offer of employment for two years if they are accepted by both TFI and a member corporate organization (i.e. joint placement). Provide privileged internship opportunities for TFI fellows. Make a long-term commitment to recruit a minimum number of TFI alumni per year Recognize the career value of skills developed by participation in such a program and encourage member corporates to individually make a commitment to offer financial support to TFI.

What does the industry gain from being involved with TFI? Gain access to the most outstanding future leaders of India: Access to an untapped pool of high caliber recruits that are selected through a very rigorous criteria from undergraduate colleges across the country Access to fellows who have developed distinct leadership skills during their commitment period as a result of both their classroom experience and their TFI training

What does the industry gain from being involved with TFI? (cont.) 2. Improve one’s brand value by becoming a corporate partner: Branding opportunity as partner of a high profile and impactful education reform movement Being seen in over 150 top colleges (and throughout India) as a socially-conscious organization

What does the industry gain from being involved with TFI? (cont.) 3. Join an impressive network of international organizations that are supportive of Teach For America’s and Teach First’s mission. Some corporate sponsors include:

TFI’s current status The search firm, Egon Zehnder, is running the TFI CEO search We have developed a short-term strategic plan for TFI and accordingly started to move forward with the programmatic and organizational development of TFI, while continuing to search for a CEO The law firm of Amarchand Mangaldas is helping get TFI incorporated We have started building the TFI Board - currently includes Ms. Anu Aga, Mr. Girish Bhakoo, Mr. Rajat Gupta and Ms. Shaheen Mistri Mariyam Farooq, who is a Teach For America alum, will serve as the country relations manager for TFI, and in such capacity will use Teach For All resources to help build, launch and run TFI in an impact-maximizing manner

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