TeachMichigan Sees Additional $5 Million Investment from the State
Detroit – Teach For America (TFA) Detroit today announced TeachMichigan, a talent initiative that is supporting high-impact educators through investment and enrichment, has matriculated 235 teachers ahead of the 2023/24 school year. News of this success comes as the State announced last month it is deepening its investment in the program through the Fiscal Year 2024 State School Aid Budget, investing an additional $5 million to support the organization’s general operations over the next year.
“In order for TeachMichigan to serve as a model for systemic change, we need a statewide demonstration of how investing in high-impact educators can improve the outcomes of their students,” said Armen Hratchian, executive director, TFA Detroit. “Heading into the school year, we feel really good about the momentum we have, and we’re excited that the state sees the value of our program and continues to invest in it.”
TeachMichigan aims to recruit, retain, and develop more than 700 high-impact teachers and improve the outcomes for students in under-resourced schools over the next four years. Fellows are eligible to receive up to $35,000 over three years, including bonuses, funding for National Board Certification, the chance to apply for grants for innovation work, and an average of 10 hours per month in professional development, coaching, and workshops. Each fellow will participate in one of three cohorts (early career educators, nationally board-certified educators, and aspiring leaders) that cater to their individual goals.
Ahead of the school year, the program is set to meet its goal of more than 300 fellows between the 2022 and 2023 cohorts. After announcing TeachMichigan in May of this year with partnerships in Kentwood, Saginaw, Sault Saint Marie, Traverse City, and Benzie County, the initiative recently expanded to Lansing Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools.
“I am thrilled to announce our partnership with Teach for America’s TeachMichigan initiative,” said Jessica Benavides, Lansing School District Deputy Superintendent of Schools. “This expansion will provide invaluable support to our educators, allowing them to make an even greater impact on the lives of our students.”
Since 2019, TFA Detroit fellowships have seen an over 95% retention rate among high-impact educators in Detroit. Through TeachMichigan, the organization aims to address the state’s growing teacher shortage in low-income communities and communities of color, such as Lansing where 80% of students are minorities and 70% are considered economically disadvantaged.
“Through investment, enrichment, and personalized development, our partnership with TeachMichigan empowers our high-impact teachers to thrive in under-resourced schools,” said Paden Stalter, Lansing School District REAP Project Director. “Together, we are transforming education and creating a brighter future for the Lansing School District.”
Over the next year, through its innovation fund, TeachMichigan will invest up to $1 million to activate human-centered strategies that positively impact student outcomes and mental well-being. The fund encourages classroom and school leaders to design and implement practices that support student learning and improve the student experience. It will also support strategies that inspire the long-term retention of high-impact educators.
All project leaders who receive funding will have the opportunity to participate in data- and logic-based design sessions and share the success of their projects with fellow educators. To support broader learning and innovative practices across the state, TeachMichigan is committed to studying the impact of innovation funding and sharing scalable solutions with educational leaders.
“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to help districts grow through innovative teaching practices. Investing in forward-thinking solutions has long-lasting impacts on school systems and students for years to come,” said Hratchian, who was selected by Governor Whitmer for the PK-12 workgroup of the Growing Michigan Together Council. The council was formed to grow Michigan’s economy and population while protecting its natural resources.
To learn more about TeachMichigan, visit www.teachmi.org and follow along on social media @Teach__Michigan.
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About TeachMichigan
TeachMichigan is a state-funded, five-year initiative powered by Teach For America Detroit that invests in the next generation of high-impact educators who serve in under-resourced schools. To learn more, visit www.TeachMi.org
About Teach For America Detroit
Since 2010, TFA Detroit has recruited, trained, and supported more than 900 teachers in DPSCD and charter schools across the city. To learn more, visit www.tfadetroit.org/
About Teach for America
Teach For America works in partnership with 350 urban and rural communities across the country to expand educational opportunities for children. Founded in 1990, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding leaders who make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 64,000 alumni and corps members working in over 9,000 schools nationwide in pursuit of profound systemic change. From classrooms to districts to state houses across America, they are reimagining education to realize the day when every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Contacts
Lauren Detwiler
VVK PR + Creative
P: 248-884-1421
Terrence West
TFA Detroit
P: 313-469-3859